Hello everyone,
During one's big move abroad, shipping personal belongings to the host country can be stressful. Customs regulations differ from one country to another and you never quite know what to expect when trying to recover your belongings once you're settled. How about helping expats considering moving to Ecuador by answering some questions about custom regulations?
What are the procedures to get your belongings cleared by customs once you have arrived in Ecuador? Who do you have to contact and how do you get in touch with them? How do you go about from there?
How long does this process usually take?
How do you then carry your belongings to your new home?
Are there any items that are restricted by customs in Ecuador?
How much does it cost to get your belongings cleared by customs in Ecuador? Does the cost change depending on the amount or on certain specific items?
Do you think it is better to seek the help of a contractor to get your belongings cleared in Ecuador?
Please share your experience,
Priscilla
Clearing your belongings through customs in Ecuador
Quito - my Items took about two months to arrive but did so without many problems. One thing that did happen was I was notified by customs they had found a knife in my belongings. I had no idea what they were talking about and no had no furthers problems other than that notification. I suspect if I had been in Guayaquil rather than Quito I would have had to make some kind of payment.
One thing I missed was the fact that you must actually present your residential VISA in person to the Ministry to have the one time tax grace applied. The shipper notified me two weeks after the deadline (would have been nice had he told me of this requirement and also notified me two weeks before) and taxes on my items were promptly garnished from my bank account. Process here is much more challenging and more so the center of focus than in the US.
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