Importing Personal Effects into Reunion: Documents & Customs Rules

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

Personal effects

• Information form on which arrival contact details must appear, as well as your date of arrival in Reunion.
• Detailed, valued, dated, and signed inventory for used effects, in Euros, in French, on which your address at destination must appear.
• Attestation concerning prohibited articles to be returned to your local agent, dated and signed.
• Colour scan of passport or ID (both sides) if European.
• “Déclaration pour l’entrée à la Réunion” to be completed, dated and signed
• Proof of main residence in mainland France or any other country OUTSIDE OF REUNION for at least a year (e.g., the last two tax returns).
• Military
• Copy of the transfer order. If not available, you will have to submit a change of residence certificate to your agent prior to shipment of effects.
• Civil servants and companies
• Order of transfer or employment attestation. If not available, you will have to submit a change of residence certificate to your mover prior to
• shipment of effects.
• Individuals
• Change of residence certificate or work contract for individuals, on which must appear the period spent in the country of origin.
• To be submitted prior to shipment of effects.
• Copy of plane ticket
• Proof of residence in Reunion: copy of lease contract in Reunion or accommodation attestation from a third party (as well as an electricity bill from the person who will accommodate you in Reunion and their identity document) or a hotel attestation for clients who will temporarily stay at a hotel / invoice less than three months old.

• Since February 2014, a fee based on the gross weight, in Euros per ton, is payable for offloaded personal effects, loaded or transshipped at Reunion Port. This is RSM tax as following.
• (80 euro for 20’ container + 25-euro admin fees)
• 155 euro for 40’container + 25-euro admin fees
• For groupage shipment.
• 1 ton = 10 euro +25 eur admin fees
• 2 ton = 20 euro +25 eur admin fees
• 3 ton = 30 euro +25 eur admin fees
• 4 ton =40 euro + 25 eur admin fees
• 5 tons = 50 euros + 25 eur admin fees
• More than 5 tons = 76 eur +25 eur admin fees
• The inventory must be detailed per item, as taxation rates vary based on the item categories and materials.
• For each non exempted file where dock dues will apply, we will bill back client at cost + 160 euro for admin fees.

New and used vehicles, classic or vintage vehicles.

• New vehicles
• Copy of identity document or passport
• Latest tax return
• Certificate of origin if vehicle was bought in a foreign country.
• Proof of residence in Reunion: copy of lease contract in Reunion or accommodation attestation from a third party or a hotel attestation for clients who will temporarily stay at a hotel / invoice less than three months old.
• In Temporary Transit
• Copy of vehicle registration documents in TT
• Copy of Invoice excl. VAT
• If vehicle is exported by car dealer: T2L / COA / EX1.
• In WW
• Copy of temporary vehicle registration documents in WW export
• Copy of Invoice
• International “carnet” (if you have a foreign vehicle)
• Certificate of sale (if vehicle is foreign)
• If the vehicle is exported by car dealer: T2L / COA / EX1.
• Excl. VAT without registration
• Copy of Invoice
• Certificate of sale (if vehicle is foreign).
• Used vehicles
• Copy of identity document or passport
• Most recent tax return
• Copy of vehicle registration documents
• Valid original Certificate of Administrative Status (CSA)
• Change of residence certificate, transfert letter or work contract
• Proof of residence in Reunion: copy of lease contract in Reunion or accommodation attestation from a third party or a hotel attestation for clients who will temporarily stay at a hotel / invoice less than three months old.
• Cars and motorbikes
• Descriptive inventory of the car or motorbike in euros, in French, dated and signed.
• Proof of main residence in mainland France or any other country OUTSIDE OF REUNION for at least a year (e.g., the last two tax returns).
• Copy of the latest income tax notification
• Purchase invoice if the vehicle was
• purchased from a professional or if it belongs to the shipper for less than a year.
• Registered scooters
• Descriptive inventory of the scooter in Euros, in French, stating brand and engine size, dated and signed.
• 49.9 cm3 scooter not registered before July 2004
• Descriptive inventory of the scooter in French, in euros, stating brand and engine size, dated and signed.
• Classic or vintage vehicles
• If your vehicle does not have a certificate of compliance:
• You must apply to the FFVE for a certificate of manufacture, which will enable you to obtain a classic vehicle registration certificate.
• Importing a vintage vehicle from abroad used to incur customs duties of almost 30%. The FFVE has obtained a reduction in taxes to 5.5% for classic vehicles.
• Inflatable watercraft with outboard engine
• Descriptive inventory in French
• Invoice for the craft and its engine
• For registered craft: copy of official documents (“carte de circulation”).

• In case of a change of residence, only vehicles classified as VP or Caravane (selfpropelled vehicle) on the vehicle registration document will be exempted from Dock Dues (octroi de mer).
• Vans, pick-ups, and commercial vehicles are subject to dock dues (octroi de mer).
• Starting February 2014, a fee based on the gross weight, in Euros per ton, is payable on offloaded motor vehicles (motorbikes incl.), loaded or transhipped at Reunion Port.
• 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 / PACS certificate.
• All 49,9cm³ scooters bought after 1 July 2004 must be registered. Refer to “Registered scooters” for the list of documents to be submitted.
• For each non exempted file where dock dues will apply, we will bill back client at cost + 160 euro for admin fees.