Importing

Importing Personal Effects (except vehicles)

If you are moving to Tenerife, and wish to ship personal effects, then the appropriate arrangements should be made. You should consult the Spanish Embassy in the country of departure before making any assumptions about the procedure. Generally, the key points are -

• The importation of these personal effects will generally be exempt of any taxation.
• Documentary evidence of your intended residence will be required.
• These effects cannot be sold in Tenerife within two years.
• A full and complete inventory listing every item will be required.
• NIE number will be required (see NIIE page)
• You will need to get a 'Certificado de Domicillio' from the town hall of your intended municipality.
• Some town halls may require you to 'register with padron' before issuing the above. Ask them.
• These arrangements should be made with 6 months of being resident.
• Non-resident Owners or Tenants are subject to very different procedures.

Importing Commercial and other Goods

Generally, you will ALMOST CERTAINLY require a handling agent in Tenerife to successfully get your goods out of the dockyard with any degree of certainty. If you use a handling agent, then there is not much point in obtaining an Import Licence, the agent will be importing it for you. So, as a generalisation, an Import Licence is not required by you, if you need to import goods. For me, the key points are -

• Appoint and consult a good Handling Agent at Santa Cruz on your requirements.
• If possible, use a shipper that already has a Tenerife handling agent, an can deliver direct to you address.
• All goods must be accompanied with their documents, invoices, etc, which must be the originals
• The costs will normally be between 10% and 15% of the Invoice value of the goods.
• You almost certainly won't know the exact costs until the whole transaction is complete.
• If you are the recipient, you will need NIE number, Residencia, qualified delivery address etc.
• Every time you see an expensive commodity in Tenerife, don't assume its an import opportunity. Its probably because the commodity is expensive to get successfully imported into Tenerife.