It's a bit more complicated to move your household goods to Belgium since the UK left the EU, which makes it more important than ever to use an experienced European Removals company.
Before Brexit it was fairly simple to move household goods from the UK to Belgium. Goods moved freely within the EU and so there were no customs processes to follow, no special paperwork, typically no duties or taxes and there weren't restrictions on what items you could take with you.
Now that the UK has left the EU, household goods removals from the UK into EU countries such as Belgium must meet the same import regulations as moves from the rest of the world. European Removal Companies need to provide additional documentation and follow new customs procedures to move their customers' belongings from the UK to Belgium.
Yes! The good news is it is still completely possible to move your household goods with you when you move to Belgium. A good removal company will have put systems in place and trained their staff so that everything still runs smoothly.
At Bournes, we invested heavily in learning about the new requirements, setting up and testing the new systems for customs processes, training our team and providing guidance to our customers. This means we have already completed many successful removals to Belgium since the new processes are in place.
Hiring a professional removal company to move your household goods when you relocate from the UK to Belgium is more important than ever.
The complexity of the processes required to legally import your belongings into Belgium would make a move very challenging for a private individual or inexperienced company. If you get this wrong you could face large bills for duties and taxes or other penalties in future.
When you work with a professional European Removals company you should expect them to:
Your removal company should advise you on the documents you need to provide and how to complete any forms. They should check that these are all in place in plenty of time to avoid delays or issues with your move.
At the date of publishing this article the documents you need to provide are:
There are additional documents required by customs that your removal company will complete.
At Bournes we provide a dedicated European Move Manager. When you book they will let you know the documents you will need and provide you blank copies of any forms you will need to fill out. They will guide and advise you every step of the way to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Typically there are no duties and taxes to import household goods to Belgium when you are moving your main residence, but this depends on meeting certain criteria like what you are taking and your individual circumstances.
At the date of publishing this article duty-free entry is granted providing that:
Duties and taxes are applicable in some other cases, for example for second homes, commercial businesses or tobacco and alcohol. Visit the FIDI Customs Guide for Belgium to find out about the application of duties and taxes for specific items or circumstances.
Providing proper planning is in place the Covid-19 pandemic shouldn't be having a bit impact on your move. This includes making sure the removal company knows what is required regarding driver testing and travel restrictions.
You will need to have all your documents in place before a delivery date can be confirmed and your shipment leaves the UK to avoid further charges and delays on arrival.
To find out more, get answers to your specific questions or to get a quote please just get in touch. Our team will be happy to talk you through the process for your individual situation.