Moving to El Salvador
PROHIBITED AND RESTRICED GOODS
Firearms, pornography material of any kind, liquor (*certain restrictions apply, see below)
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Household Goods
• Original AWB, B/L or Cargo Manifest
• Original TIN (Tax Identification Number, to be obtained by consignee in El Salvador) Original Packing List
• List of items with reasonable values in US Dollars, following the correlative order "item by item" shown in the packing list. This has to be provided by the client (consignee) and should be in Spanish
• Certification of Migratory Movement (only for returning Salvadorian citizens). This document will be obtained by consignee in El Salvador.
• Diplomatic Franchise (only for diplomats)
Household Goods
• Original AWB, B/L or Cargo Manifest
• Original TIN of Importer (to be obtained by consignee)
• Original commercial invoice
• Original title of ownership, showing consignee as legal owner
Upon arrival, client (consignee) should provide the following documents for Customs clearance:
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
• Original passport
• Original TIN
• Sworn statement letter in Spanish
• A letter authorising OUR AGENT Member to carry out Customs clearance
AUTOMOBILES
• Original passport
• Original TIN of Importer
• Sworn statement letter in Spanish. This letter must be authenticated by a Lawyer in El Salvador
• Diplomatic Franchise (Only for Diplomats)
** PLEASE LOAD THE AUTOMOBILE IN FRONT OF THE CONTAINER'S DOOR **
IMPORTANT - Please send original documentation to our agent by courier A.S.A.P.
• If you declare Household Goods and an automobile in the same B.L or Cargo Manifest, it's very important that you provide 2 original B/L since Customs clearance for HHGDS and automobiles are made separately.
• We do not recommend that you send shipments LCL (consolidated) as Customs clearance is taking up to 1 month to be processed, because Customs is demanding the documentation of all the shipments consolidated in the container in order to start Customs clearance.
• It is very important that you declare the Inland and sea shipments only as "HouseHold Goods", if you declare them as "Household Goods and Personal Effects" Customs will apply a fine which will be billed to you.
• The air shipment must be declared only as "Personal Effects" (This applies only if there is not furniture in the shipment) If you declare it as "Household Goods and personal Effects" Customs will aply a fine which will be billed to you.
• B/L must show: Value of ocean freight, exact net weight, volume (cbm) and also the real number of pieces shown in the packing list.
• AWB must show: Value of air freight, gross and chargeable weight, and also the exact number of lift-vans showing the real number of pieces that each lift-van contains, coinciding with the number of pieces shown in the packing list.
• If there are any additional items not shown on the AWB, B/L, Cargo Manifest and packing list, Customs will confiscate such items and the client / consignee will be subject to pay a fine of 300% over the duties value
• Please note that the original B/L ("Express Release" will NOT be accepted) and packing list are necessary in order to make Customs clearance.
• Note: If the steamship that you are using is Maersk Sealand, you will have to provide 4 (four) original B/L to make Customs clearance, otherwise it will be impossible to clear shipment from Customs. If another steamship line is being used, 3 (three) original B/L will have to be provided.
