Greenland

Specific Information

Exemption for used personal effects: Personal belongings that are more than six months old are generally exempt from customs duties and taxes, provided the owner can demonstrate prior use. Documentation such as purchase receipts, photos, or similar evidence of ownership and use may be requested. However, port and airport handling fees still apply.

New goods: New and unused items within a household shipment may be subject to import duty. Items purchased new in Denmark shortly before moving may qualify for a Danish VAT refund (on purchases over DKK 300) since Greenland does not charge VAT, provided the items are unused, in original packaging, and the invoice shows a Greenlandic address or a tax-free form was issued.

Shipping logistics: All sea freight to Greenland must go through Royal Arctic Line (RAL), departing from the Port of Greenland in Aalborg, Denmark. RAL also assists with customs clearance. Air freight is handled by Air Greenland, though capacity is limited and costly.

Employer-assisted moves: In most cases, the employer in Greenland arranges and pays for relocation logistics. If your employer is managing the move, coordinate with them and the freight carrier on customs documentation requirements.

Alcohol, tobacco, and perishables in shipments: Household goods shipments may NOT contain wine, spirits, cigarettes, or easily perishable food items. These must be brought separately within personal duty-free allowances or purchased locally.

Dangerous goods: Shipments may not contain certain chemicals, solvents, paints, gas cartridges, or other dangerous goods without proper declaration and safety data sheets.

ISPM 15: Wood packaging materials must comply with ISPM 15 standards for international shipments entering Greenland.

Duties & Taxes

Customs duty on all imports: Unlike EU member states, Greenland charges customs duty on all imported goods, including household effects arriving from Denmark and the Faroe Islands. There is no blanket duty-free exemption for household goods in the way EU countries typically provide one.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

Importing a Used Personal Vehicle

Required Documents

• Vehicle registration/title documents
• Proof of ownership
• Import declaration to Greenlandic customs/tax authority (Skattestyrelsen)
• Insurance documentation

Specific Information

Import duties on vehicles: There are import duties on motor vehicles imported into Greenland. The specific rates vary depending on the vehicle type and characteristics. Contact the Greenlandic tax authority (Skattestyrelsen/AKA) for current rates.

No general duty exemption for equipment: There are no general import duties on operating equipment in Greenland. However, if equipment is present for more than eight months, it must be declared to the Greenlandic tax authorities for statistical purposes. Motor vehicles are treated differently from operating equipment and are subject to excise duties.

Practical considerations: Greenland has very limited road infrastructure. Roads exist only within and between a few towns; there are no roads connecting major settlements. Most inter-settlement transport is by air, sea, dog sled, or snowmobile. The practical need for a conventional motor vehicle is limited to within-town driving in the larger settlements (Nuuk, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, etc.). Shipping a vehicle to Greenland is expensive and may not be practical for many relocations.

Registration: Vehicles must be registered with local authorities. Contact the municipality to which you are relocating for current requirements.

Pets

• Import permit from the Greenland Representation in Copenhagen (Groenlands Repraesentation)
• Written permission from the municipality to which you are moving (required before applying for the import permit)
• Veterinary health certificates (from a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin)
• Proof of rabies vaccination
• ISO-compliant microchip
• Rabies antibody titer test (recommended)
• Internal parasite treatment certificate (dogs and cats must be treated for internal parasites before entry)
• For cats: exemption from the Executive Order of 14 December 1943 (applied for through the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration), plus municipal permission

Import permit required for ALL animals: An import permit from the Greenland Representation in Copenhagen is required for every animal brought into Greenland. The application must be submitted well in advance of departure and must include all relevant certificates. The issued permit must accompany the animal during travel. Without proper documentation, the animal may be denied entry at departure.

Municipal approval required first: Before applying for an import permit, you must obtain written permission from the specific municipality you are moving to. Each municipality has its own regulations on dogs and cats. If you later move between municipalities within Greenland, you must obtain new permission from the destination municipality.

Dog sled district restrictions (critical): Dogs are NOT permitted north of the Arctic Circle (north of the village of Kangaamiut) or in East Greenland. This restriction exists to protect the purity of Greenlandic sled dog populations used commercially. Exemptions may be granted by the Veterinary and Food Authority of the Government of Greenland for sled dogs, police dogs, or service dogs only. Dogs may only be imported to southern West Greenland (from Nanortalik up to and including Kangaamiut).

Permitted municipalities for dogs: Pet dogs are generally allowed in the following municipalities: Ivigtut, Maniitsoq, Nanortalik, Narsaq, Nuuk, Paamiut, and Qaqortoq. Confirm with the specific municipality before applying.

Sheep farm restrictions: At sheep farms, only Border Collie, Kelpie, or crosses of these breeds are permitted.

Fighting/muscle dogs prohibited: It is forbidden to import fighting dogs or muscle dogs to Greenland.

Cats: Cat owners must apply for an exemption to the historic Executive Order of 14 December 1943 through the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, and separately for municipal permission. The municipality will decide on sterilization requirements during the application process.

EU Pet Passport: If your pet has an EU Pet Passport before moving to Greenland, retain it, as it simplifies bringing the pet back to Denmark or other EU countries (e.g., for holidays). Greenland is listed alongside EU/EEA countries for simplified pet passport re-entry to the EU.

No quarantine (if compliant): There is no quarantine imposed if all import regulations are met. Non-compliant animals may be quarantined (if facilities are available), returned to the country of origin, or in extreme cases euthanized, at the importer's expense.

Air transport: Contact Air Greenland well in advance to associate your pet with your booking. You must provide animal type, transport container dimensions, and total weight. The import permit must be presented at check-in. Cabin animals (dogs and cats only) must be in a soft bag under 8 kg combined weight. Cargo animals must be in IATA-approved containers not exceeding 102x69x76 cm.

Common mistakes that cause delays or denial:

• Failing to obtain municipal permission before applying for the import permit
• Attempting to bring a dog to an area within the dog sled district
• Missing or incomplete veterinary certificates
• Forgetting import permit documents at check-in (animal will be denied boarding)
• Not treating for internal parasites before departure

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