Moving out of Israel
If you’re moving out of Israel – to the US, Canada, the UK, or some other country – there are several important issues to keep in mind when shipping your belongings.
If you used your customs privileges as an oleh/olah (immigrant) within the past six years to import goods into Israel, you will need to show Israeli customs that you did one of the following with the goods you imported using these privileges:
- Exported them to another country
- Paid taxes on them
- Transferred them to another oleh/olah.
If you’re taking the goods out with you when you leave Israel, you’ll need to have the customs documentation from when you brought them in. Contact your shipping company if you can’t find this.
A foreign resident of Israel (under a B/1 or A/3 visa) who received an exemption from customs duties on household goods upon depositing a guarantee with the organization or institution that invited him or her to Israel can have the guarantee returned after providing proof that the goods were exported.
Other issues apply when bringing goods into other countries. Details are provided at the links under “Resources” below.
In the US, customs regulations require that you be in the country before the goods arrive, or pay substantial additional charges. If you aren’t present to help clear customs and accept immediate delivery, there will be charges for storage, demurrage (container rental), etc.
If you’re moving to Canada, you will need to be physically present when your container is clearing customs.
Since containers can arrive a week or more before (or after) the scheduled arrival date, you’ll need to take this into account when making your travel plans.
Customs inspections are very common, especially for containers arriving in the US. Thus, you may not want to accept any items belonging to others in your shipment, as any illegal articles will be considered your responsibility. You may also have to pay customs duties in the country you’re moving to.
Kef International Relocations manages and expedites shipments from Israel to anywhere in the world.
