The documents customs asks for to approve your relief

Terms used

• Solicitud de franquicia — The solicitud de franquicia is the written request asking customs to admit your household goods without import duties.
• DUA — The DUA is the single customs declaration filed when goods are imported into Spain.
• Empadronamiento — The empadronamiento is your registration as a resident at your town hall.
• Agente de aduanas — An agente de aduanas is a licensed customs agent who files import paperwork for you.
• AEAT — The AEAT is Spain's tax agency, which also runs customs.

Key rules

• Where to file: You lodge the claim at the customs office where your goods are cleared, usually the port, airport or border office of entry.
• Previous residence: Customs must be satisfied that you lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months.
• No-sale declaration: You sign a declaration that you will not sell the goods for 12 months.
• Customs agent: A customs agent is not mandatory, but most people use one or the removal company.

Who approves the claim and where you file it

Spanish customs approves the relief. It sits inside the tax agency (AEAT), in its Aduanas service. You lodge the claim at the customs office (aduana) where your goods are cleared. That is normally the port, airport or border office where they enter Spain. Goods that travel inland under transit are cleared at an inland customs office.

Procedures vary by point of entry. Confirm the details with the clearing customs office or your customs agent.

The form

You make a written relief request, the solicitud de franquicia. It goes together with your inventory and the customs declaration (DUA) filed at clearance. You or your customs agent prepare the request, before or at arrival. Ask the agent or the customs office for the exact form name and whether an electronic route is available.

Documents to assemble

• Detailed inventory with values. Write it in Spanish or English, together with your mover, before the shipment leaves.
• Proof of previous residence abroad. Customs must be satisfied that you lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months. Useful evidence includes a lease or property deed, utility bills, a deregistration or residence certificate from the former country, an employer letter or contract, and passport stamps. Officers look mainly for continuous residence and for proof that it has ended.
• Proof of Spanish residence. This can be a visa, a residence card or empadronamiento (your registration at the town hall). You need it when you file.
• Passport copy. Have it ready for filing.
• Transport document. This is the bill of lading, air waybill or CMR. The carrier issues it when the goods ship.
• Signed no-sale declaration. You declare that you will not sell the goods for 12 months.
• Power of attorney. Sign it for your customs agent before clearance.

Vehicles need extra documents. Ask your agent.

Who files the customs declaration

You may file the DUA yourself, and no representative is mandatory. It must be filed electronically through the tax agency's systems. For that you need an electronic certificate or Cl@ve, plus an identifier compatible with EORI (the EU customs registration number). The customs office may also ask to see documents in person. Most people use a customs agent (agente de aduanas) or their removal company, because the process is complex. If you use an agent, sign the power of attorney first.

Timing

1. Before shipping: prepare the inventory and gather proof of previous residence.
2. At shipping: collect the transport document from the carrier.
3. Before clearance: sign the power of attorney and the no-sale declaration.
4. Before or at arrival: have the relief request ready.
5. At filing: show proof of Spanish residence and your passport copy. The agent files the DUA when the goods arrive.

The timeline and checklist below follow the same order.

Timeline and deadlines

• Prepare the detailed inventory with your mover: before the goods ship

• Make sure the carrier issues the transport document: when the goods ship

• Prepare the relief request with proof of previous residence abroad: before or at arrival

• Sign the power of attorney for your customs agent: before clearance

• Give your proof of Spanish residence and passport copy, and the agent files the customs declaration: at filing, when the goods arrive

• Keep the signed no-sale declaration in force: for 12 months after import

Documents you need

• Detailed inventory of your goods with values, in Spanish or English, prepared by you with your mover before shipment.

• Written relief request (solicitud de franquicia), prepared by you or your customs agent, before or at arrival.

• Proof of previous residence abroad, such as a lease or property deed, utility bills, a deregistration or residence certificate from your former country, an employer letter or contract, or passport stamps.

• Proof of Spanish residence from the authorities: a visa, residence card or empadronamiento (town hall registration), shown when you file.

• Copy of your passport, shown when you file.

• Transport document (bill of lading, air waybill or CMR), issued by the carrier when the goods ship.

• Customs declaration (DUA), filed by your customs agent when the goods arrive.

• Signed declaration that you will not sell the goods for 12 months.

• Power of attorney for your customs agent, signed by you before clearance.

Customs papers and questions for every mover

• Check that your relief depends on living outside the EU before the move, setting up normal residence in Spain, and owning and using the goods before they ship. Customs also asks for proof of Spanish residence, such as a visa or residence card, empadronamiento (town hall residence registration), or a lease or property title.

• If your visa outcome or residence plan is not yet known, ask every mover to quote both with and without relief, and hold the shipment until the outcome is certain. If you ship earlier, expect duty and IVA (Spanish VAT) may be charged and you may have to dispute them afterwards.

• Prepare a detailed inventory with values, in Spanish or English, together with your mover before the shipment leaves.

• Prepare the relief application (solicitud de franquicia) with proof of your previous residence abroad. You or your customs agent produce it, before or at arrival.

• Get your proof of Spanish residence (visa, residence card or empadronamiento) from the authorities and have it ready when you file the claim.

• Copy your passport so it is ready when you file the claim.

• Make sure the carrier issues the transport document (bill of lading, air waybill or CMR) when the goods ship.

• Ask your customs agent to file the customs declaration (DUA) when the goods arrive.

• Sign a declaration that you will not sell the goods for 12 months.

• Sign a power of attorney for your customs agent before clearance.

• Ask every mover whether their price includes the customs agent, the declaration and handling of the relief application.

• Ask every mover who pays storage and demurrage charges if the goods are held, and for how many days storage is included.

• Ask every mover which papers they need from you, and by what date, before the goods ship.

• Ask every mover for one quote that covers both the with-relief and without-relief cases, so you can compare like for like.

• Act fast if goods arrive without the right papers: they are held in a customs-approved warehouse with storage and demurrage charges that grow daily, and duty and IVA are assessed on the full value without a relief approval.

• Regularise held goods through your customs agent by supplying the missing documents, applying for relief, or paying and then claiming a refund. Goods left unclaimed can be treated as abandoned and auctioned or destroyed, and wrong declarations can bring penalties.

Frequently asked questions

Can I file the customs declaration for my belongings myself?

Yes, you can file your own import declaration (DUA) without a representative, but you must submit it electronically with an electronic certificate or Cl@ve and an EORI-compatible identifier. The customs office may still ask for papers in person.

Where do I lodge the relief claim?

You lodge the relief claim at the customs office (aduana) where your goods are cleared, normally the port, airport or border office of entry. Goods arriving under transit are cleared at an inland customs office. The office used depends on how your goods arrive, so confirm it with your agent.

What proof of my previous residence abroad does customs accept?

Customs accepts documents showing you lived outside the EU continuously and that this residence has ended. Typical examples are a lease or property deed, utility bills, a deregistration or residence certificate from your former country, an employer letter or contract, and passport stamps. Requirements vary by office, so bring more than one.

Do I need a power of attorney if a customs agent files for me?

Yes, a customs agent needs a power of attorney signed by you before clearance. You also give the agent your passport copy, inventory and relief application. Vehicles need extra documentation.