Moving: Customs Regulations
Revised on September 1st, 2007
General Information
Household goods and vehicles always required that the transport document shows the shipping cost, the bill of lading by sea and the airway bill by air.
To expedite the import procedure, is necessary to get at least eight days before the shipping arriving date, transport documents copies and the packing list.
Diplomatic Shipments: The following documents are required:
a) Original and copy of the bill of lading or airway bill.
b) Diplomatic Franchise, to be obtained by the embassy in El Salvador with the original documents of the shipment. It takes 4 to 5 working days to finish this process.
c) Original and copy of the packing list numbered in order from 1 on in electronic form or typed. The articles detailed must be the same as the content of each package, if not there would be fines due to false declaration.
d) NIT (Numero de Identificación Tributaria) this must be obtained directly by the client at the office of the Ministry of Finance of El Salvador and registered as “importer”.
Time for custom clearance: Two working days (if all of the above documents are Complete)
Duties: The importation of household goods is duty free.
Foreign citizens the follogin documents are required:
a) Original and copy of the bill of lading or airway bill.
b) Original of the passport and NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria de El Salvador) this must be obtained directly by the client in the offices of the Ministry of Finance of El Salvador and registered as “importer”.
c) Original and copy of the packing list numbered in order from No. 1 and so on in electronic form or typed. The articles detailed must be the same as the content of each package, if not there would be fines due to false declaration.
d) An extra copy of the packing list with reasonable values for customs. The value declared must not be less than 50% of the original purchase value. Customs make a physical check of the values declared if it deems that some products are undervalued it will impose fines. Electronics should be described accurately and include brand and model to present a value accepted by.
e) Do not send the items on their original packaging, because customs will consider them as new articles and will required to be valued with the original price and will required the original invoice.
f) Time required for custom clearance: Five working days with normal customs inspection.
g) Duties: Subject to payment of duties and IVAtax on CIF value. Approximately 30% of CIF value.
Returning Citizens
a) Original and copy of the bill of lading or airway bill.
b) Original of the passport and NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria de El Salvador) this must be obtained directly by the client in the offices of the Ministry of Finance of El Salvador and registered as “importer”.
c) Original and copy of the packing list, numbered in order from No. 1 an so on in electronic form or typed. The articles detailed must be the same as the content of each package, if not there would be fines due to false declaration.
h) An extra copy of the packing list with reasonable values for customs. The value declared must not be less than 50% of the original purchase value. Customs make a physical check of the values declared if it deems that some products are undervalued it will impose fines. Electronics should be described accurately and include brand and model to present a value accepted by.
d) Do not send the items on their original packaging, because customs will consider them as new articles and will required to be valued with the original price and will required the original invoice.
e) A certificate of Migratory Movement that is obtained at the Immigration General Office in El Salvador. (The consignee must request and obtain personally this document after his/her arrival) it is issued takes up to 8 working days.
Time for custom clearance: Five working days with normal customs inspection.
Duties: After three or more years, the customer may import his household goods and personal effects duty free up to a maximum of US$15,000.00 on the CIF value.
In order to retain the right for free entry of their household goods, Salvadorean citizens cannot stay for more than 30 consecutive days per year in their visits to El Salvador during the last three years and the shipment must arrive within 90 days after the arrival of the owner to the country.
Automobiles
New and used automobiles could be imported into El Salvador with a maximum of eight years of manufactured date.
Prohibited Articles
Fire arms, ammunition, clothing and military items, illegal drugs, and pornographic material, cleaning materials, chemicals, plants, jewelry, alcoholic beverages and food.
No diplomatic shipments for foreign or returning citizens that have lost their import rights, will pay an import tax of 30% over the CIF cost.
If you require further assistance contact the Moving department at phones:
(503) 2250 9311 (503) 2250 9334 – (503) 2250 9332, 2250-9330 o our PBX: (503) 2250 9300
E-mail: [email protected]
