Importing Personal Effects into Slovakia: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2024 · Download the Slovakia Import Guide (PDF)

Removal goods – Foreign EU Citizens

• Clear passport copy.
• Clear copy of Slovak residence permit card.
• Copy of rental contract.
• Original of Power of Attorney, filled and signed by shipper (not printed scans!)
• Original, filled and signed declarations.
• Original confirmation from employer in Slovakia - confirming work position, length of stay in Slovakia (must be original document, signed and stamped).
• Inventory/ packing list with serial numbers of all electric items – mandatory.
• Confirmation that the shipper has spent the last 12 months abroad (rental contract, confirmation from employer abroad).
• Confirmation that the shipper ended his/her stay in the country from where shipment is coming (example: end of residence permit card, end of visas, end of rental contract, end of medical insurance – the more the better).
• Value of the shipment.
• Exact delivery address / access information.

• Household goods and personal effects may be imported duty and tax free if the following conditions are met:
• The goods must have been used for a minimum of 6 months.
• The goods may not be sold and may only be used for shipper`s own purposes during the period stated by the Customs office.
• The shipper must have lived abroad for more than 12 months before prior to entry into Slovakia.
• Household goods and personal effects must be imported within 6 months after shipper’s arrival date.
• Alcohol:
• Not exceeding 22% volume: 1 litre
• Exceeding 22% volume or denatured ethyl alcohol 80% volume and higher: 1 litre
• Beer: 14 litres
• Wine: 3 litres
• From all alcohols are being paid duties and taxes in amount of 30-40 % +20% VAT of the value + volume, % of alcohol, name of the alcohol.

• The import procedure must be carried out only at Bratislava city for all shipments.
• No food into the shipment.

Removal goods – Returning Slovak Citizens

• Clear passport copy.
• Clear copy of Slovak ID card “Občiansky preukaz”.
• Original of Power of Attorney, filled and signed by shipper, must be confirmed by Slovak Notary office.
• Original, filled and signed declarations.
• Confirmation that the shipper has spent the last 12 months abroad (rental contract, confirmation from employer abroad).
• Inventory/ packing list with serial numbers of all electric items – mandatory.
• Confirmation that the shipper has spent the last 12 months in country from which is coming to Slovakia (rental contract, confirmation from employer abroad).
• Confirmation that the shipper ended his/her stay in the country from where shipment is coming (example: end of residence permit card, end of visas, end of rental contract, end of medical insurance).
• Value of the shipment.
• Exact delivery address / access information.

• Same as above.

• Same as above.

Removal goods – Non EU Citizens

• Clear copy of the passport.
• Copy of the temporary residence permit card.
• Housing contract in Slovak language.
• Confirmation of the employment in Slovakia (in original and on the letterhead paper of the company, includes the full name of the shipper, passport number and for how long will the employment last with stamp and signature from the company).
• ID card or healthy insurance card or driving licence showing the address from where the client is originally coming.
• Packing list with serial numbers of
• electronics – mandatory!
• Original of filled and signed declarations.
• Original of power of attorney for customs clearance.

• Same as above.

• Same as above.

Diplomat Removal – Foreign Diplomat

• Clear copy of diplomatic passport.
• Clear copy of diplomatic ID card (issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Slovakia).
• Bordereau in original
• Original of Power of Attorney, filled and signed by shipper, confirmed by relevant department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy.
• Original, filled and signed declarations.
• Original confirmation from employer (Embassy, Ministry, Consulate, confirming stay in Slovakia – must be original document, stamped).
• Inventory/ packing list with serial numbers of all electric items – mandatory.
• Value of the shipment.
• Exact delivery address/ access information.

• Alcohol:
• Not exceeding 22% volume: 1 litre
• Exceeding 22% volume or denatured ethyl alcohol 80% volume and higher: 1 litre
• Beer: 14 litres
• Wine: 3 litres

• import procedure must be carried out in the district where the consignee is registered (if the place of delivery is different from the registration district, the goods will need to be transferred from the registration district to the place of delivery and back).
• No food in the shipment.

Diplomat Removal – Slovak Returning Diplomat

• Clear copy of diplomatic passport.
• Clear copy of diplomatic ID card.
• Bordereau (original) if issued
• Confirmation from Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his mission abroad (original required).
• Original filled and signed declarations.
• Original of Power of Attorney, filled and signed by shipper, confirmed by relevant department – embassy/Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Inventory with serial numbers of all electric items – mandatory.
• Value of the shipment.

• Same as above.

• Same as above.

Dangerous items

• Explosives (grenades, ammunition, fireworks, toy caps).
• Flammable goods (matches, firelighters, certain batteries, soldering iron).
• Radioactive materials (radioactive medicine).
• Flammable gas (gas cylinders, lighter fuel, aerosols).
• Oxidising substances (bleach, chlorine, peroxide).
• Corrosives instruments containing mercury, acids (thermometer, laptop battery).
• Flammable liquids (paints, fuel, thinners).
• Poison (poisons, pesticides).
• Miscellaneous dangerous goods (dry ice, magnetic objects, diving lamps, ink cartridges).

Exporting Personal Effects from Slovakia: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2024 · Download the Slovakia Export Guide (PDF)

Household Goods

• Passport copy
• Delivery address at place of final destination
• Copy of the residence permit cards for Slovakia (both sides) for foreign citizens
• Copy of the ID for Slovak citizens
• Copy of the ID card with address from where client is coming
• Goods value

• Without these documents, shipment cannot be released. This is valid for all nationalities.

Slovakia Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-08-19 · Download the Slovakia Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.

• Detailed and valued inventory list in Slovak and English, dated and signed by the owner of the goods; must include brand names and serial numbers of all electronic items
• Copy of passport
• Customs declaration (power of attorney for the customs agent to act on behalf of the owner)
• Sworn statement (*čestné vyhlásenie*)
• Original bill of lading (OBL), sea waybill (SWB), air waybill (AWB), or CMR (road consignment note)
• Slovak residence permit or residence application (if permit not yet issued), or bank guarantee / cash deposit
• Letter of employment on company letterhead, including the owner's date of birth and passport number; must include a statement that the employer will pay any applicable duties or taxes (for employees); for owners of private companies or self-employed persons, the company must be registered in Slovakia
• Lease agreement -- notarized original plus one notarized copy
• Confirmation letter proving the owner worked or resided outside the EU for more than 12 months (for returning Slovak citizens and qualifying non-EU transferees)

• Detailed and valued inventory in Slovak and English
• Copy of passport or EU national ID
• Proof of residence in Slovakia (lease agreement, employment contract, or residence registration)
• Power of attorney for the customs agent (though customs formalities are minimal within the EU)

• Accreditation card from the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or written confirmation of accreditation from the embassy
• Standard documentation as above

• Slovak national ID card (*občiansky preukaz*)
• Confirmation letter proving the owner worked or resided outside the EU for more than 12 months

Specific Information

Slovakia applies the EU Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief framework for imports from outside the EU. Household goods and personal effects may be imported duty-free and VAT-free from non-EU countries if all of the following conditions are met:

• The goods must have been used for a minimum of 6 months prior to import.
• The goods may not be sold and must be used solely for the owner's personal purposes for 12 months after import (the restriction period stated by the customs office).
• The owner must have lived outside the EU for more than 12 months prior to entry into Slovakia.
• The shipment must be imported within 6 months of the owner's arrival date in Slovakia.

For intra-EU moves (from one EU member state to another), there are no customs duties or VAT. Goods move freely within the EU single market. Normal Slovak VAT (23%) may apply to new goods purchased in lower-VAT EU countries only in certain commercial contexts; for personal household effects this is generally not an issue.

The letter of employment must explicitly state that the employer accepts responsibility for any applicable duties or taxes. This is a Slovak-specific requirement not commonly found in other EU countries.

The lease agreement must be a notarized original; a standard copy or scan is not sufficient. This document confirms the owner's intended place of residence in Slovakia.

All solid wood packing materials must comply with ISPM 15 phytosanitary treatment standards.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

The following items are prohibited from import into Slovakia:

• Illegal drugs and narcotics
• Commercial vehicles (within household goods shipments -- cannot be imported duty-free under ToR)
• Endangered species and their products as listed under the Washington Convention (CITES) -- including ivory, tortoise shells, coral, and reptile skins [CITES]
• Counterfeit goods and intellectual property infringement
• Weapons and firearms without authorization [PERMIT REQUIRED]
• Pornographic material involving minors
• Goods subject to EU sanctions (currently includes many categories of goods of Russian and Belarusian origin)

Intra-EU travel (no customs limits -- goods must be for personal use):

There are no legal quantity limits for goods moved within the EU, provided they are for personal use or as gifts and duty and tax have been paid in the EU country of purchase. Customs authorities may investigate shipments exceeding the following indicative quantities: cigarettes (800), cigarillos (400, up to 3g each), cigars (200), smoking tobacco (1 kg), spirits over 22% (10 L), fortified/sparkling wine (20 L), beer (110 L), still wine (90 L, of which no more than 60 L sparkling).

Arrivals from outside the EU (duty-free allowances for accompanied baggage, persons 17 and over):

By air or sea: cigarettes (200), cigarillos (100), cigars (50), or smoking tobacco (250 g); spirits over 22% (1 L) or fortified/sparkling wine (2 L); still wine (4 L); beer (16 L). By road or rail: cigarettes (200), cigarillos (100), cigars (50), or smoking tobacco (250 g); spirits (1 L) or wine (2 L).

Currency: Amounts of EUR 10,000 or more (or equivalent in other currencies) entering or leaving the EU must be declared at customs.

Cultural artifacts and objects of historical value: Subject to licensing requirements and applicable customs duties. Check with the destination agent for items with potential cultural significance.

Plants and plant products: Subject to phytosanitary controls. A phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin may be required for imports from outside the EU.

Firearms and ammunition: Require prior authorization. [PERMIT REQUIRED]

Consignment Instructions

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

Slovakia is a landlocked Central European country. Most household goods shipments arrive by road (CMR) from other European countries, or by sea via Hamburg, Bremerhaven, or Rotterdam with onward trucking. Air freight is handled at Bratislava's Milan Rastislav Štefánik Airport (BTS) or Vienna International Airport (VIE), which is approximately 60 km from central Bratislava and frequently used for Slovakia.

The inventory must be in both Slovak and English, with serial numbers for all electronics. Non-Slovak inventories will be rejected or cause delays. Members should ensure inventories are prepared and translated in advance.

The power of attorney (customs declaration authorization) must be prepared by the destination agent and signed by the client before the shipment can be cleared. The destination agent should provide the correct form and instructions in advance of shipment.

For moves from outside the EU, the 6-month window from the owner's first arrival date in Slovakia is strictly enforced for the ToR duty-free exemption. If the shipment cannot arrive within this window, the client may be liable for customs duties and 23% VAT on the full CIF value.

The lease agreement must be a notarized original -- standard copies are not accepted. Clients should arrange notarization before departure if their lease is signed in Slovakia.