Country Guide

Shipping Luggage to the UK from South Africa

Shipping luggage and personal effects from South Africa to the UK: Transfer of Residence relief, documents, timing and what not to pack.

WhatsApp 068 058 2700

Call Johannesburg 011 972 1111

Transfer of Residence relief

Used personal effects can enter the UK free of duty and VAT when you move your home there, if you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 months and have owned and used the goods for at least six months. You apply with HMRC's Transfer of Residence form (ToR01).

Timing

Goods can usually arrive up to six months before and up to 12 months after you move, and must not be sold, lent or hired out within 12 months of import.

Cartons being checked against a delivery list

Documents

Passport copy, the Transfer of Residence reference, the airway bill or bill of lading, and a signed, valued inventory. All shipments can be inspected.

Do not pack

Food, including pet food, delays clearance and adds costs. Alcohol, tobacco and perfume attract duty and VAT, and weapons such as flick knives and self-defence sprays are prohibited.

Checklist

Documents for United Kingdom

South African citizens: a copy of your ID (customs wants the ID, not the passport)

Foreign nationals: a copy of your passport

If you ship for someone else, a copy of their ID or passport as well

A signed clearing instruction for customs, which we send you to sign

A valued inventory list of what is in each piece (complete it online)

Full addresses in South Africa and at the destination on the inventory

Contact details at the destination: telephone, mobile and email

Describe what is in every bag or box: many countries reject inventories that just say 'misc' or 'packed by owner'

Your visa or residence permit, and any customs relief form United Kingdom requires

Two Options

Door to Airport or Door to Door

Door to airport (CFR): recommended

Includes collection, customs clearance in South Africa, airline handling in South Africa and transport to the destination airport. You clear it and collect it at the destination.
Excludes destination clearance, depot or terminal charges at the destination, storage and examination fees if stopped, and AMS filing for sea freight to the USA.

Door to door (DAP)

Available to some countries only, and much more expensive. Includes collection, delivery to your door abroad, customs clearance in South Africa and at the destination, airline handling and all transport fees.
Excludes storage and examination fees if customs stops the shipment, and AMS filing for sea freight to the USA.

Our tip: save by clearing it yourself

Door to airport is by far the cheaper option. You pay the airline handling fee at the destination, process customs yourself with your passport and the inventory, and collect your baggage at the airport. Ask us for both prices and we will tell you what the destination's customs office will ask for.

Customs rules change. We confirm the current requirements for United Kingdom when we quote.

Questions

Shipping Luggage to the UK: Questions

Tap a question to open the answer. For anything else, WhatsApp us.

Do I need the ToR01 reference before shipping?

Apply before the goods arrive, so the reference can be given to customs at clearance.

Can I send new items?

New goods are generally not covered by Transfer of Residence relief and may attract VAT and duty.

Can I clear my baggage myself?

Often, yes, with a door-to-airport booking. Take your passport, the ToR01 reference and the inventory to the airport cargo handler.

Collection

We Collect Across South Africa

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Sending Luggage to the UK?

WhatsApp 068 058 2700 with the number of pieces and your destination city.