Foreign Citizens

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

CUSTOMER MUST ARRIVE IN CHINA BEFORE SHIPMENT ARRIVAL, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE IMPORT FORMALITIES.

• Before the shipment is allowed to leave the origin country, Allied Pickfords China must have confirmation from the local employer that the Work Visa and Residence Permit will be ready by the time the shipment arrives into China. Validity should be 365 days for both.
• Every shipper must apply for the Import Permit through the local Customs Bureau in the city where the residence visa and employment permit are issued. The Import Permit can only be applied for after the shipment has actually arrived. The Import Permit application can take 3-5 working days to be approved by local Customs Bureau. During the application of the Import Permit, the shipper’s passport, residence and employment permits will be kept by the Customs so please do not make any travel plans during the application process. After the Import Permit is approved, Customs Clearance for an air shipment can take 5 to 7 working days, and for a sea shipment it can take 7 to 10 working days; which include customs physical inspection as well as the quarantine inspection. Shipments are subject to 100% quarantine inspection and physical inspection.
• Only one air and one sea shipment may be imported within 6 months of customer’s arrival date.
• All wooden packing material must follow the "International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM No. 15). The new rule requires all wood packaging material (WPM) associated with consignments to China should be treated and labeled with IPPC mark by the manufacturers. Any non-compliance WPM will be treated, destroyed, or returned with the consignments together under supervision of China Inspection and Quarantine.

Note: The following requirements apply for shipments at the seaports in Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

• The apartment lease permit is required since 2014
• A clear list of any books in the shipment is required showing: Title – Type of Book (Novel/Biography/Reference) – Quantity
• For Televisions or Computer Monitors, the screen size must be listed on the packing list – Do not list “Computer Equipment/Accessory” on the packing list.
• All electrical appliances must be identified with the brand on the packing list.
• Authorities will only permit a “reasonable” quantity of dry food stuff for personal use in sea shipment – Brand and quantity is required on the packing list for the import of wine/alcohol and milk powder milk powder (Both are subject to 50% import tax at local market value)
• Golf clubs are not recommended as each individual golf club will be taxed at US$60 per club.
• If the shipment includes children’s books or toys, a copy of the passport and residence permit of the children is required for clearance.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• Original Passport
• Original Visa / Work Permit (Valid for at least one year)
• Original Residence Card / Permit (Valid for at least one year)
• Detailed inventory in English (describing general carton contents - PBO "packed by owner" and "misc." are not acceptable.
• Ocean Bill of Lading / Air Way Bill
• Baggage Declaration Form original must be completed by customer on arrival at port of entry and get endorsed by Customs together with packing list.
• Original Import Permit Application Form which to be provide by local Allied Pickfords office signed and chopped with the company stamp.
• Customs Declaration Form For Sea Shipment

MOTOR VEHICLES

• The foreign citizen is not allowed to import automobiles to China

PETS

• Only one pet per Residence Permit, regulations for licensing of dogs are complicated and strict Health Certificate and original Certificate of Rabies Vaccination is required
• Subject to strict quarantine regulations
• Veterinary inspection must be arranged by owner upon arrival
• Original Baggage Declaration Form to be completed by customer on arrival at port of entry.

IMPORT DUTY / TAX

• Every shipment is subject to Customs import duty (except for diplomat shipments) regardless of nationality and whether the items are new or used.
• The Import Duty amount is calculated based on Customs Assessed Valued, solely at the discretion of the local Customs Bureau and quite differs from city to city.
• Estimated Duty List
• As a general guideline, while all clothes, shoes and kitchenware can be imported duty free for first time importers. Alcohol and tobacco products, electrical appliances, furniture, lighting fixtures, food stuff and luxury items like golf clubs and cosmetic products are subject to import duty.
• Second or subsequent applications of the Import Permit will attract import duty on all items.

RESTRICTED ITEMS

REASONABLE QUANTITY RESTRICTION – Check with your agent prior to shipping multiple items such as computers/electronic items.

Books (magazine, booklet also counted and regarded as books)

• Air – Maximum 50 books
• Sea – Maximum 500 books
• CDs & DVDs & VCDs & Videotapes & Computer Disks
• Air – maximum 20 Pieces
• Sea - Maximum 400 Pieces

Alcohol & Wine

• Not allowed to be imported to North China like Beijing and Dalian, not recommended to be imported to South China, but can be imported to Shanghai.
• Air – Strictly Prohibited
• Sea – Maximum 50 bottles

Dried Food including vitamins and medicine

• Air – Strictly Prohibited
• Sea – Maximum 30kgs (in which powdered milk cannot exceed 6kgs)

Musical Instrument & Bicycles

• Reasonable quantity depending on the number of family members.
• If over than 2pcs, a copy of the passport and residence permit of the family members is required for clearance

PROHIBITED ITEMS

• Firearms, Ammunition, Weapons & Explosives ( Included Strapped-down Gun, dagger)
• Bow
• TV Satellite Dish
• Telecommunication equipment.
• Over size office items, such as large photocopier machine, printer, which are not consider for personal or family usage.
• Animals, Plants, Related Products and Other Quarantine Objects
• Poisons or illegal drugs, Neuropathy Medicine, daily medicine and Vitamin.
• Printed/recorded material deemed detrimental to the political, economic, cultural, or moral atmosphere in China (including all pornographic materials)
• Maps (where the Chinese border is not in accordance with Chinese law)
• All kinds of equipment /tool associated with gambling (such as poker cards, chips, jackpot machine, etc.)
• Endangered and rare animals and their products such as ivory
• Counterfeit currencies
• Unhealthy animals
• Motorcycles, Mowing machine, Model with large engine
• Diving Equipment
• Pet Food
• Grand Piano is not allowed to import to Shanghai
• It is not allowed to import medicine, liquid items, cosmetics, soap, candles and more than one identical electrical appliance in an airfreight shipment
• Any other items that are determined by the local Customs Bureau to be of non-personal or non-family use. These items may be seized if found in the shipment

NOTE - Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Returning Citizens

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

• CUSTOMER MUST ARRIVE IN CHINA BEFORE SHIPMENT, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE CUSTOMER MUST ARRIVE IN CHINA BEFORE SHIPMENT ARRIVAL, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE IMPORT FORMALITIES.
• Only one air and one sea shipment may be imported within 6 months of customer’s arrival date.
• It is not necessary for returning Chinese citizens to apply for the Import Permit. Customs Clearance can take 2-3 weeks which include customs physical inspection as well as the quarantine inspection. Shipments are subject to 100% quarantine inspection and physical inspection.
• In general, the returning Chinese are not allowed to import furniture to China. However, exception could be granted depending on the length of time the Chinese citizen has resided overseas. China Customs Bureau may at their own discretion allow a”reasonable” quantity of furniture to be imported to China. Please check before packing.
• All wooden packing material must follow the “International Standards for phytosanitary Measures No.15 (ISPM No.15). The new rule requires all wood packaging material (WPM) associated with consignments to China should be treated and labeled with IPPC mark by the manufacturers. Any non compliance WPM will be treated, destroyed or returned with the consignments together under supervision of China Inspection and Quarantine.

Note: The following requirements apply for shipments at the seaports in Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

• The apartment lease permit is required since 2014
• A clear list of any books in the shipment is required showing: Title – Type of Book (Novel/Biography/Reference) – Quantity
  Televisions or Computer Monitors must list the screen size on the packing list – Do not list “Computer Equipment/Accessory” on the packing list.
• All electrical appliances must identify the brand on the packing list.
• Authorities will only permit a “reasonable” quantity of food stuff for personal use – Brand and quantity is required on the packing list for the import of wine/alcohol and milk powder (Both are subject to 50% import tax at local market value)
• Golf clubs are not recommended as each individual golf club will be taxed at US$60 per club.
• If the shipment includes children’s books or toys, a copy of the passport and residence permit of the children is required for clearance.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Attention: The returning Chinese citizen refers to those who hold a mainland Chinese passport. If you are a Chinese citizen who has permanent residency or green-card of a foreign country, you are considered a foreigner and therefore you are subjected to the eligibility of a foreign citizen.

• Original Passport
• The stay/work visa of the foreign country where you have resided more than one year.
• Detailed inventory in English (describing general carton contents - PBO "packed by owner" and "misc." are not acceptable.
• Ocean Bill of Lading / Air Way Bill
• Baggage Declaration Form (sample) original must be completed by customer on arrival at port of entry and get endorsed by Customs together with packing list.
• Company Letter (sample)
• Customs Declaration Form for Sea Shipment

MOTOR VEHICLES

• The returning Chinese citizen is not allowed to import automobiles to China

PETS

• Only one pet per Residence Permit, regulations for licensing of dogs are complicated and strict
• Health Certificate and original Certificate of Rabies Vaccination is required
• Subject to strict quarantine regulations
• Veterinary inspection must be arranged by owner upon arrival

IMPORT DUTY / TAX

• Every shipment is subject to Customs import duty (except for diplomat shipments) regardless of nationality and whether the items are new or used.
• The Import Duty amount is calculated based on Customs Assessed Valued, solely at the discretion of the local Customs Bureau and quite differs from city to city.
• Estimated Duty List
• As a general guideline, while all clothes, shoes and kitchenware can be imported duty free for first time importers. Alcohol and tobacco products, electrical appliances, furniture, lighting fixtures, food stuff and luxury items like golf clubs and cosmetic products are subject to import duty.
• Second or subsequent applications of the Import Permit will attract import duty on all items.

RESTRICTED ITEMS

REASONABLE QUANTITY RESTRICTION – Check with your agent prior to shipping multiple items such as computers/electronic items.

Note - Rules on restricted items can differ from city to city and can change frequently. If you have any of these items listed below it is best to check with our agent in China for the latest allowances. This information should be used as a guideline only.

Books (magazine, booklet also counted and regarded as books )

• Air – Maximum 50 books
• Sea – Maximum 50 books

CDs & DVDs & VCDs & Videotapes & Computer Disks

• Air – maximum 20 Pieces
• Sea - Maximum 50 Pieces

Alcohol & Wine

• Not allowed to be imported to North China like Beijing and Dalian, not recommended to be imported to South China, but can be imported to Shanghai and South China.
• Air – Strictly Prohibited
• Sea – Maximum 10 bottles

Dried Food including vitamins and medicine

• Air – Strictly Prohibited
• Sea – Maximum 10kgs (in which powdered milk cannot exceed 6kgs)

Musical Instrument & Bicycles

• Reasonable quantity depending on the number of family members. If over than 2pcs, a copy of the passport and residence permit of the family members is required for clearance

PROHIBITED ITEMS

• Firearms, Ammunition, Weapons & Explosives ( Included Strapped-down Gun, dagger)
• Bow
• TV Satellite Dish
• Telecommunication equipments, including cordless phones
• Over size office items, such as large photocopier machines and printers which are not considered for personal use.

Animals, Plants, Related Products and Other Quarantine Objects

Animals and Animal Products

• 1. Live animals (except cats and dogs), including all mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects and other invertebrates, and animal genetic materials;
• 2. Raw and processed meat (including viscera) and its products, aquatic animal products;
• 3. Animal-derived milk and milk products, including raw milk, fresh milk, yogurt, animal-derived cream, butter, cheese and other dairy products;
• 4. Eggs and egg products, including fresh egg, preserved egg, salted egg, liquid egg, egg shell, mayonnaise and other egg products;
• 5. Cubilose (except canned cubilose);
• 6. Fat and grease, hides, hairs, hooves, bones and horns and their products;
• 7. Animal-derived feedstuffs (including meat meal, bone meal, fish meal, whey powder, blood meal and other single feedstuff), animal-derived Chinese medicinal materials, and animal-derived fertilizer.

Plants and Plant Products

• 1. Fresh fruits, vegetables;
• 2. Tobacco leaves (except cut tobacco);
• 3. Seed (seedlings), nursery stocks and other propagating plant material;
• 4. Organic cultivation media or vitamin and medicine

Other Quarantine Objects

• 1. Microbial Strains, virus strains and other animal and plant pathogens, pests and other harmful organisms, cells, organs and tissues, blood and blood products and other biological materials;
• 2. Animal corpse, animal specimens and animal-derived waste;
• 3. Soil;
• 4. Genetically modified biomaterials;
• 5. Other animals, plants and their products and other quarantine objects prohibited from entering China.
• Poisons or illegal drugs, neuropathy Medicine, daily medicine and Vitamin.
• Printed/recorded material deemed detrimental to the political, economic, cultural, or moral atmosphere in China (including all pornographic materials)
• Maps (where the Chinese border is not in accordance with Chinese law)
• Equipment /tools associated with gambling (such as poker cards, chips, jackpot machine, etc.)
• Endangered and rare animals and their products such as ivory
• Counterfeit currencies
• Unhealthy animals
• Motorcycles, mowing machine with large engine
• Diving Equipment
• Pet Food
• Grand Piano is not allowed to import to Shanghai
• It’s not allowed to import medicine, liquid items, cosmetics, soap, candles and more than one identical electrical appliance in an airfreight shipment.
• Any other items that are determined by the local Customs Bureau to be of non-personal or non-family use. These items may be seized if found in the shipment
• For more information about prohibited items for quarantine concern, you can visit the website at www.aqsiq.gov.cn. Other restrictions on entry items, please refer to General Administration of customs www. www.customs.gov.cn

NOTE - Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Diplomats

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

CUSTOMER MUST ARRIVE IN CHINA BEFORE SHIPMENT, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE IMPORT FORMALITIES

• The Import Permit is required for customs clearance but it must be applied for by the Embassy in China. Without a valid Import Permit, the shipments cannot be cleared by customs
• Only one air and one sea shipment may be imported within 6 months of customer
• All wooden packing material must follow the “International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM No. 15). The new rule requires all wood packaging material (WPM) associated with consignments to China should be treated and labeled with an IPPC mark by the manufacturers. Any non-compliance WPM will be treated, destroyed, or returned with the consignments under supervision of China Inspection and Quarantine.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• Original Passport
• Original valid Diplomatic Card
• Detailed inventory in English (describing general carton contents - PBO "packed by owner" and "miscellaneous" are not acceptable
• Ocean Bill of Lading / Air Way Bill
• Original Import Permit Application Form which is provided by the destination agent and stamped with the Embassy stamp
• Customs Declaration Form For Sea Shipment

MOTOR VEHICLES

• Foreign diplomats are eligible to import automobiles to China. A separate Import Permit (separate from household goods) must be applied for at the Embassy in China on behalf of the foreign diplomat. The Import Permit on automobiles will usually take a longer time to get approved by the local Customs Bureau therefore, do not load the automobile together with the household goods in the same container, or it will delay the customs clearance of the household goods.
• Vehicles owned / and more than 10 years old are prohibited
• Brand New privately owned vehicles are considered a luxury item and are dutiable
• Restrictions and taxes depend on the type and size of vehicle
• Documents must be provided to support the age and value of the auto
• Documents required:
•       o Written application to Customs Office
•       o Import Cargo Declaration
•       o Invoice

PETS

• Only one pet per Residence Permit, regulations for licensing of dogs are complicated and strict
• Health Certificate and original Certificate of Rabies Vaccination is required. Pets coming from rabies free countries are subject to 7-days quarantine and pets from non-rabies free countries are subject to 30 days quarantine. Quarantine fees will apply. Please check with the destination agent to verify the status of the origin country.
• Subject to strict quarantine regulations
• Veterinary inspection must be arranged by owner upon arrival

DUTIABLE/RESTRICTED ITEMS

• All shipments of diplomats are duty-free.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

• Firearms, ammunition, weapons & explosives (including strapped-down gun or daggers)
• Bow
• TV Satellite Dish
• Telecommunication equipment, including cordless phones
• Oversized office items, such as large photocopier machines and printers which are not considered for personal or family use
• Unprocessed food, fresh meat, fresh vegetables and dairy products.
• Live plants, soil and pesticide
• Poisons or illegal drugs
• No medical products or supplies
• Printed/recorded material deemed detrimental to the political, economic, cultural, or moral atmosphere in China (including all pornographic materials)
• Maps (where the Chinese border is not in accordance with Chinese law)
• All kinds of equipment / tools associated with gambling (such as poker cards, chips, jackpot machines etc.)
• Endangered and rare animals and their products such as ivory
• Counterfeit currencies
• Unhealthy animals
• Motorcycles, mowing machine, model with large engine
• Diving equipment
• Pet Food
• Customs are not allowed to import medicine, liquid items, cosmetics, soap, candles and more than one identical electrical appliance in an airfreight consignment
• Any other items that are determined by the local Customs Bureau to be of non-personal or non-family use. These items may be seized if found in the shipment

The rules differ from city to city, like a GRAND PIANO is not allowed in Shanghai and South China unless the shipper is a certified piano specialist but the restriction does not apply to Beijing.

NOTE - Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.