Serbia is not in the European Union, so every move across its border goes through a customs procedure. For most people that means a completed packing list and a few minutes at the crossing — but which rule applies depends on where you are going. Below it is set out by group of countries, with the legislation that actually governs each one.
Three different regimes — which one applies to you
Every country page on this site mentions customs, but behind them there are only three genuinely different legal frameworks. Find your destination:
| Regime | Countries | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| EU — transfer of residence | Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and the other member states | Relief from duty and VAT if the conditions below are met; twelve months to bring the goods in |
| CEFTA | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia | A trade agreement covering goods; relief on household effects follows the destination country's own rules, and the procedure is simpler |
| Switzerland (EFTA) | Switzerland | Its own procedure and its own form; two years to bring the goods in |
| United Kingdom | United Kingdom | Transfer of Residence (ToR1) relief, applied for before the goods travel |
| Norway | Norway | In Schengen but outside the customs union — a full declaration on entry |
Moving to an EU country
The same rule applies across the European Union: the transfer of normal residence, set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009. Personal belongings and household effects are relieved of duty and VAT if three conditions are met:
- you have owned and used the goods for at least six months before the move, at your old address in Serbia;
- you have had your normal residence in Serbia for at least twelve consecutive months before moving;
- the goods are imported within twelve months of the date you registered your new residence in the destination country — they may arrive in several consignments during that period.
One further rule: for twelve months after import the goods must not be sold, pledged or lent without notifying the competent customs office first. This rarely matters for ordinary household furniture, but it is worth knowing if you intend to sell a car or valuable equipment soon after arriving.
In practice, at the border — Horgoš, Batrovci, Preševo or Gradina, depending on the direction — you need a packing list, evidence of your new residence or employment status, and your identity documents. We prepare the list and the accompanying paperwork for every consignment.
Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro or North Macedonia
Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia are all parties to CEFTA, the Central European Free Trade Agreement, which removes customs duties on goods originating in the signatory states. CEFTA governs trade in goods; whether your used household effects are relieved of duty on a change of residence follows the destination country's own rules and the documents you provide.
In practice the procedure is simpler than for the EU: a packing list, an ID card or passport, and the CMR consignment note for the vehicle. We prepare the list and clear the crossing on your behalf.
Moving to Switzerland
Switzerland is in neither the EU nor CEFTA, and has a procedure of its own. The core condition resembles the EU rule — you must have used the goods for at least six months before the move and continue to use them in Switzerland — but the paperwork differs:
- customs form 18.44 — Zollanmeldung Übersiedlungsgut (declaration for household removal goods) is submitted in duplicate;
- you will also need proof of de-registration from Serbia and evidence of your new residence in Switzerland — an employment contract, a tenancy agreement or similar;
- the goods may be brought in within two years of the move, twice as long as in the EU, which helps if you are moving in stages.
Moving to the United Kingdom
Since Brexit, the United Kingdom has its own regime. HMRC's Transfer of Residence (ToR1) relief covers import duty and VAT on personal belongings, on conditions similar to the EU rule: at least twelve consecutive months living outside the UK, and at least six months of owning and using the goods.
The difference that matters is timing. The application must be filed before the shipment arrives, and HMRC approval has taken anywhere from 24 hours to five weeks. If the goods arrive without an approved or at least submitted ToR1, customs may charge full duty and VAT, and that is difficult to undo afterwards. The application is made in your name, because the relief attaches to the person moving; we guide you through it and plan the transport around it.
Moving to Norway
Norway is in the Schengen area, so there are no passport checks, but it is outside the EU customs union and goods are declared on entry. For household removal goods (flyttegods) you will need a detailed inventory and evidence that you have lived abroad for at least twelve months. Norwegian rules provide relief on a change of residence subject to conditions — relief is not the same as the absence of a procedure, and the declaration still has to be made.
What we do for you
Whatever the destination, our team:
- draws up the packing list from what we actually load;
- prepares the accompanying documents for the crossing your route uses;
- takes the vehicle through the customs procedure — you do not have to go to the border yourself;
- tells you in advance if your particular case — a recent previous move, high-value items, commercial goods — calls for additional paperwork.
Please note: this is a general guide, not legal advice. The rules change from time to time, and border officers retain discretion in individual cases. For a specific situation — importing a vehicle, a company relocation, valuable equipment — we recommend checking with the competent customs office or the consulate of the destination country.
Frequently asked questions
Is duty charged on personal belongings when moving from Serbia to the EU?
Not if you meet the conditions for transfer of normal residence: you have owned and used the goods for at least six months, and you have lived in Serbia for at least twelve consecutive months. The import is then relieved of duty and VAT in any EU member state. The procedure itself still applies.
How long do I have to bring my belongings in after moving to the EU?
Twelve months from the date you officially registered your new residence in that country. The goods may arrive in several consignments during that period.
What about Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia?
All three are in CEFTA with Serbia, which removes duties on goods originating in the signatory states. Relief for used household effects on a change of residence depends on the destination country's own rules and on your documents. The procedure is simpler than for the EU: a packing list, an ID card or passport, and the CMR note.
Is the Swiss procedure the same as the EU one?
No. Switzerland uses its own form, 18.44, the six-month condition on using the goods is the same, but the deadline for bringing them in is longer — two years from the move rather than twelve months.
What is different about the United Kingdom?
The ToR1 application has to be filed before your belongings travel, and approval can take from a day to five weeks. Everything else resembles the EU rule, but the timing does not — tell us early if you are moving to or from the UK.
Who prepares the customs paperwork?
We do. Our team draws up the packing list and the accompanying documents for every move and takes the vehicle through the procedure at the border. You do not need to attend in person.
Customs in the context of your route
- Moving between Germany and Serbia
- Moving between Austria and Serbia
- Moving between Switzerland and Serbia
- Moving between the United Kingdom and Serbia
- Moving between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia
- All international destinations →
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