Importing Personal Effects into New Caledonia: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2026 · Download the New Caledonia Import Guide (PDF)

Personal effects

• Information form on which arrival contact details must appear as well as your date of arrival in New Caledonia.
• Detailed, valued, dated, and signed inventory for used effects, in euros, in French, on which your address at destination must appear.
• Declaration of prohibited articles, to be returned to us, dated and signed.
• Copy of invoices for all electrical items more than three months old (if not available, please complete, date, and sign the “Attestation concernant l’acquisition des appareils usagés” form, stating month and year).
• Change of residence certificate for individuals privately employed, reflecting the period spent in the country of origin and the departure date from France. To be submitted prior to shipment of effects.
• Copy of the transfer order for civil servants or military. If not available, you will have to submit a change of residence certificate to your removal company prior to shipment of effects.
• Colour scanned copy of passport or ID (both sides) if European.
• Non-cession declaration, completed, dated,
• and signed.
• Noumea information note, dated, and signed.

• For new items less than three months old or less than 18 months old if from outside the EU.

• For new effects less than three months old:
• COMPULSORY: Create a separate inventory, dated, and signed, stating the exact value of each new effect (as listed on its accompanying invoice), and submit all original invoices to your local agent. All invoices must reflect your name and address at destination
• Complete, date and sign the note concerning new effects as well as the tax refund application form.
• To avoid paying taxes, these personal effects must remain in the shipper’s possession for at least 3 months before the date of transfer of residence (18 months for customers from outside the EEC)
• In the five years following the final importation date, local customs must be informed if the personal effects are lent, lent against surety, rented out, or given to someone else.
• If the move consists exclusively of new effects, customs clearance in New Caledonia will be conducted by a freight forwarder whose costs will be for your account.

New and used vehicles

• New vehicles
• In Temporary Transit
• Original vehicle registration documents in TT
• Original invoice excl. VAT
• Colour scanned copy of passport or ID (both sides) if European
• If vehicle is exported by car dealer
• COM1 T2L N.3.
• With WW plates
• Original temporary vehicle registration documents
• Original invoice
• International “carnet” (if you have a foreign vehicle)
• Certificate of sale (if vehicle is foreign)
• Colour scanned copy of passport or ID (both sides) if European
• If vehicle is exported by car dealer
• COM1 T2L N.3.
• Excl. VAT without registration
• Original invoice
• Certificate of sale (if vehicle is foreign)
• “PV des mines” and car dealer certificate indicating the origin of the vehicle.
• Colour scanned copy of passport or ID (both sides) if European.
• Used vehicles.
• Cars and motorbikes
• Descriptive inventory of the car or motorbike, in euros, in French, dated and signed.
• Original vehicle registration documents
• Two valid original non-lien certificates
• Colour scanned copy of passport or ID (both sides) if European.
• Copy of purchase invoice for all vehicles
• Manufacturer's certificate of origin
• Certificate of value from Argus NC
• If vehicle > 10000.00 € and of EU origin, REX is mandatory.
• Copy of invoice of the car or the motorbike
• Certificate of origin from the car dealer Registered scooters
• Descriptive inventory of the scooter, in euros, in French, stating brand and engine size, dated and signed.
• Original vehicle registration documents
• Two valid original non-lien certificates
• Colour scanned copy of passport or ID (both sides) if European.
• Invoice of the scooter
• Origin certificate to ask from the car dealer.
• 49.9cc scooters non-registered before July 2004
• Descriptive inventory of the scooter, in euros, in French, stating brand and engine size, dated and signed.
• Colour scanned copy of passport or ID (both sides) if European.
• Certificate of origin from the car dealer
• Inflatable watercraft with outboard engine
• Descriptive inventory in French
• Invoice for the craft and its engine
• For registered craft : official documents (“carte de circulation”)

• For land vehicles, to avoid paying taxes, the customer must have owned the vehicle for more than 18 months prior to the date of transfer of residence (Date of departure), and it must be less than 2 years old on the date of export (Date of customs declaration).
• Only the attestation of value at the price of 66.62 € issued by the argus NC is recognized by customs (https://www.argus.nc/obtenirune-cote). Metropolitan argus are no longer accepted.

• When importing a vehicle, including a twowheeler, boat, plane, jet ski, tractor, trailer etc., it is mandatory to provide a cleaning and disinfection certificate, issued by a professional car washing company, and attach it to the phytosanitary declaration.
• Non-compliance incurs a fine.
• Certificates issued by any other entity or by the client will be automatically rejected.
• In the absence of the cleaning certificate, the vehicle will be placed on hold pending the decision of the veterinary, food and phytosanitary inspection service (SIVAP). In extreme cases, the vehicle may be returned at the expense of the importer or destroyed.
• The vehicle may be consigned to a bonded or other area authorised by SIVAP. The hold may not exceed a period of thirty days, after which the vehicle will be destroyed. The release of the vehicle can only be finalised after complete re-registration and issuance of the certificate by the SIVAP.
• Vehicles on hire purchase, in addition to the documents listed, export authorisation from the credit company is needed.
• Non-transferred clients will have to submit a Change of Residence Certificate in their name, copy of ID and marriage certificate (if transferee’s spouse).
• All 49.9cm³ scooters bought from 1 July 2004 must be registered.
• Refer to “Registered scooters” for the list
• of documents to be submitted.
• To avoid taxes, the mention “Part of a move” and the required documents must be submitted.
• To avoid paying taxes on all land vehicles, these must have been owned by the client for more than 18 months (from the date of the transfer of residence - date of departure) and need to be less than two years old on the date of the export customs declaration.
• In the five years following the final importation date, local customs must be informed if the vehicles are lent, lent against surety, rented out, or given to someone else.
• The Argus value certificate in New Caledonia must be provided by the client (www.argus.nc), failing which they will be billed for corresponding fees.

New Caledonia Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-05 · Download the New Caledonia Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

A separate inventory, dated and signed, stating the exact value of each new item as listed on the accompanying invoice, plus all original invoices reflecting the shipper's name and destination address, plus a completed tax refund application form.

Specific Information

Resale restriction. In the five years following the final importation date, local customs must be informed if personal effects are lent, lent against surety, rented out, or transferred to another person.

All-new shipments. If a shipment consists exclusively of new effects, customs clearance in New Caledonia will be conducted by a freight forwarder whose costs are for the importer's account.

Language. All inventories must be in French and valued in euros.

ISPM 15. All wood packaging materials must comply with ISPM 15 and bear the appropriate treatment mark.

Duties & Taxes

New items. Personal effects less than 3 months old, or less than 18 months old if originating from outside the EU, are subject to local taxes. To avoid this, new effects must have remained in the shipper's possession for at least 3 months before the transfer of residence (18 months for customers from outside the EEC). New items must be listed on a separate inventory with all invoices submitted to the local agent.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

Special Categories

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air and sea shipments.

New Caledonia is served by sea through the port of Nouméa and by air via La Tontouta International Airport (NOU), approximately 50km north of Nouméa. The majority of household goods shipments arrive by sea. Air freight is used primarily for urgent or small consignments.

All inventories must be in French and valued in euros. The Noumea information note and non-cession declaration must be completed before shipment; the destination agent should provide these forms in advance.

New items must be listed on a separate inventory from used effects, with all original invoices included. Failure to segregate new and used items will cause delays at customs.

The cleaning and disinfection certificate for vehicles must be obtained from a professional car washing company before shipment. Client-issued certificates are rejected without exception. Confirm the format required with the destination agent before arranging cleaning.

New Caledonia's biosecurity controls (SIVAP) are strict. Any animal or plant material that has not been declared or does not comply with import rules may be seized and destroyed at the importer's expense.

Customs processing times at Nouméa can be unpredictable. Ensure all documentation is complete before the shipment departs origin to avoid storage charges.