Moving from the UAE to Switzerland
In short
Shipping household goods from the UAE to Switzerland takes 22–32 days port to port for a full container to Genoa (transit), or 4–8 days by air through Zurich. Clearance is handled by Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security under Übersiedlungsgut — Form 18.44. Not in the EU: Switzerland runs its own customs and requires Form 18.44 for household effects, cleared inland after Genoa discharge.
| Capital | Bern |
|---|---|
| Arrival port | Genoa (transit) |
| Airport | Zurich |
| Sea — full container | 22–32 days |
| Sea — shared container | 30–42 days |
| Air freight | 4–8 days |
What is different about moving to Switzerland?
Switzerland is not in the EU, so EU relief does not apply and Form 18.44 governs instead. Goods are declared at an inland customs office after discharge at Genoa or Rotterdam, not at the port itself.
Who clears your shipment in Switzerland?
Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, under Übersiedlungsgut — Form 18.44. Switzerland requires you to have owned and used the goods for six months and to keep them for a further year, with an undertaking signed to that effect.
How long does it take, and by which route?
A full container runs 22–32 days port to port to Genoa (transit); shared container space takes 30–42 days because it must be consolidated before departure and unpacked on arrival. Air freight through Zurich is 4–8 days. Add roughly two weeks across packing, clearance at both ends and final delivery.
What happens when it arrives?
Alpine cantons have weight and width limits on mountain roads, and some villages require transfer to a smaller vehicle for the final kilometres. We survey the destination access before quoting rather than discovering it on the day, because a street a full-size vehicle cannot enter means a shuttle, and an upper floor without a lift means a longer carry. Both are priced at survey.
Documents you need
- Passport copy — Photo page, plus the UAE residence visa and exit stamp.
- Itemised and valued packing list — The document customs actually reads. We produce it as the goods are packed.
- Proof of residence in Switzerland — Visa, residence permit or property documents.
- Bill of lading or air waybill — Issued once the shipment is loaded.
- Authorisation for the clearing agent — Lets our destination agent clear on your behalf.
Shipping a vehicle
Vehicles are always declared and cleared separately from household goods, even when they share a container, because they follow a different duty and registration process. The UAE side is the same everywhere: deregistration, surrender of plates and an export certificate, all blocked until any finance is settled and traffic fines are paid. On the Switzerland side, confirm the age limit, the drive-side rule and the conformity requirement before you ship, because a non-compliant vehicle can be refused entry.
Taking pets
Cats and dogs travelling to Switzerland need a microchip, a current rabies vaccination and an international veterinary health certificate, and most destinations also require an import permit obtained in advance. Where a rabies antibody titre test is required, it carries a fixed waiting period after the sample is taken that cannot be compressed — which is why a pet move is planned around the animal's calendar rather than your flight date.
Restricted and prohibited items
- Meat, dairy and fresh produce
- Plants, seeds and soil
- Counterfeit goods
- Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols and paint
- Fireworks, ammunition and explosives
- Narcotics and controlled substances
- Endangered species products (CITES)
What affects the price
Volume is the main driver, then whether you take shared container space or a full container — the crossover usually sits around fifteen cubic metres. Destination charges at Genoa (transit) are billed separately from the ocean freight and vary more than people expect. Delivery to an address a full-size vehicle cannot reach needs a smaller shuttle, and that is quoted at survey rather than added afterwards.
Questions about Switzerland
Why does Switzerland need a different form?
Because it sits outside the EU customs union. EU transfer-of-residence relief has no effect here; the Swiss equivalent is Form 18.44, submitted with your inventory and residence permit, and cleared at an inland office rather than the arrival port.
Where does my shipment actually clear?
Inland, typically near your destination canton, after the container moves under transit from Genoa or Rotterdam. That means the arrival port is a logistics decision rather than a customs one on this corridor.
Who decides whether I pay duty in Switzerland?
Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, applying Übersiedlungsgut — Form 18.44. Goods you have genuinely owned and used abroad normally qualify; anything new, unused or bought shortly before the move is assessed on its own, and alcohol and tobacco are excluded almost everywhere. We confirm your position in writing before booking.
What will hold my shipment up at Genoa (transit)?
A vague inventory, more than anything else. "Kitchen items" invites an officer to open the box; "6 dinner plates, 8 glasses, 1 blender, AED 450" does not. After that it is missing residence documentation, which is why we assemble it before the vessel sails rather than after it berths.
What cannot be shipped to Switzerland?
Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols, paint and ammunition are refused on every route we run. Switzerland adds its own restrictions, including meat, dairy and fresh produce and plants, seeds and soil. Anything on your inventory that will cause a problem is flagged before it is packed.
Customs, vehicle and pet import rules change, and transit bands are corridor averages rather than promises. We confirm what applies to your shipment in writing before booking.
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