Should I Ship Goods to Italy or Buy New When I Arrive?
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Hi Robin,
When moving to Italy, it’s good to keep in mind the old phrase—less is more!
Italian Customs Officers, Dogane, are very thorough. Every box and every item must be accounted for, listed, described, and can be taxed. Therefore, it’s wise to move only used, personal items—not new items or things that can be purchased in Italy.
The Italian Customs Authority is protective of their country’s economic well-being and wants you to purchase what you need in Italy. Ordinarily, much of what you need to buy is available at less expense in Italy than the cost of shipping and customs duty.
The customs information forms in Italian are time-consuming and detailed. But once the documents are complete, your shipped items are delivered intact and complete.
To ship a container can cost between $1,150 to $4,850, depending on the size (20ft. to 40ft.).
The average delivery time is three to four months from the date of shipping from the U.S. to the date of delivery to your location.
If you’re buying a home in Italy you should consider that, most of the time, it will come furnished. Italians seldom take their furnishings, leaving most essential items behind, but this is case-by-case. Always ask what will be available.
You can find more information that will help your move to Italy on the dedicated page of our website.
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Robin, this is a great question that I have been asked multiple times. Unequivocably, don't send your stuff to Italy! Sell your US stuff, and buy new in Italy.
The biggest mistake we made was shipping a pallet of stuff from the US to Italy. First, the customs forms are horrid. Second, there is a daily charge for storage while Customs looks at your stuff, piece by piece. I could go on here, but suffice it to say that you are better off selling everything in the US and buying new in Italy! Without question! Chip Stites, Italian correspondant. -
Thank you, We will be starting new and keeping a few things for our daughters here, if they choose to stay in the US.
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Does anyone have a recommendation for Financial Planner to help set up alternative "Passive Income" that meets the ERV requirements?
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hi Robin, that is a great question and one that we get often. My advice is to ship as little as possible for three excellent reasons. First is that most things outside of tourist areas cost less in Italy. Second, shipping is expense and takes months. We shipped a pallet of used colthing and books. We shipped in October and it arrived in late Jan if my memory serves. The third reason is customs. They are very picky about what gets in and what does not. WE were charged a fee of $10 or so per day, and had forms in triplicate and discovered that most of what we sent was not necessary, took forever and cost us about $5,000. If I were you I would by new without question. Chip Stites, IL Italy Correspondent.