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Sweden
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Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
Swedish Customs forms (hard copy with original signature — obtain current versions from the local destination agent):
- TV 740.44 or TV 740.46 (May 2022 issue, Swedish version) — for general removal
- TV 740.45 (October 2020 issue) for immigrants, or TV 740.47 (August 2018 issue) for returnees — English versions
- Proof of move to Sweden (e.g., proof of residence, residence permit, or work permit where applicable)
- Application or decision from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) concerning registration in the Swedish Population Register, or copy of "personbevis" if already registered
- Copy of passport (photo and identification pages)
- Certificate from employer confirming work abroad and in Sweden
- Ocean Bill of Lading or Sea Waybill (sea shipments) or Airway Bill (air shipments) — provided by the moving company
- Household goods inventory in Swedish or English — provided by the moving company
- Exemption permit from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Form TV 740.22 — Application for Duty Free Import), stamped by the Swedish MOFA
- Stamped packing lists and alcohol list (if any)
Specific Information
ISPM 15: All wood used for crates, lift vans, and bulkheads must be heat-treated or fumigated per ISPM 15 and carry the certified stamp. This does not apply to manufactured furniture.
Diplomatic shipments: The embassy or consulate must complete, stamp, and sign an Application for Duty Free Import (TV 740.22) and submit it to the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for approval, along with packing lists and an alcohol list if applicable. Once approved, the stamped original must be provided to the destination agent. Alcohol may be included in approved diplomatic shipments without customs duty, alcohol tax, or VAT.
A customs exemption on goods (excluding spirits, liqueurs, wines, export beers, and tobacco) is granted to a person who either immigrates to Sweden for the first time without having previously been domiciled there, or returns to Sweden after having lived abroad for at least one year. All of the following conditions must also be met: the goods are owned by the person presenting them for clearance; they are not in excess of household needs; they constitute household necessities or have been used abroad by the owner or a household member; they will be used in Sweden by the owner or a household member; the goods arrive within one year of the owner formally moving to Sweden; and the owner intends to stay in Sweden for more than one year.
For returning persons: the client must already be in Sweden and have registered domicile in Sweden in order to obtain duty exemption. For immigrants: goods must arrive within 12 months of the owner's arrival.
The detailed inventory must be descriptive and state the contents of each item and carton. Vague descriptions such as "miscellaneous," "garage items," or "PBO" (packed by owner) are not accepted.
The owner must be registered in Sweden with Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) before or at the time of customs clearance, but does not need to be physically present during clearance.
Goods imported duty-free must not be brought in for commercial use or for the use of other persons.
Physical inspection of the shipment is generally not required, but Customs may request one.
New furniture is permitted if accompanied by a commercial invoice with price, date, and place of purchase, plus a packing list; it is subject to customs duty and VAT.
Works of art and antiques imported as part of household goods receive duty-free entry. Antiques and works of art imported for resale are subject to duties. Precious metal objects receive duty-free entry on the same basis as furniture and other household items.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Narcotics and illegal drugs
- Counterfeit goods
- Goods subject to EU trade sanctions (including goods related to Russia and Belarus — verify current EU sanctions list)
- Wildlife and wildlife products covered by CITES `CITES`
- Certain invasive species
- Goods that contravene EU regulations on restricted substances
Restricted / Dutiable Items
Alcohol and tobacco: Excluded from the household goods duty exemption. Must be declared and are subject to duty and alcohol tax. Clearance for alcohol takes approximately 3 weeks. Customs may destroy undeclared alcohol at the owner's expense. Importation can be expensive; contact the destination agent for current rates.
Intra-EU imports: For goods moving from another EU member state, no customs duties apply, though Swedish excise taxes still apply to alcohol and tobacco above personal use quantities.
Medicine: Allowed with a doctor's prescription for personal use only; a 5-day supply is the general allowance. Larger quantities require documentation.
Plants, fruit, and vegetables: Require a plant passport or phytosanitary certificate issued by the national Plant Protection Service. Contact the destination agent.
Products and goods made from animals: Special permission required.
Firearms: Subject to permit requirements and Swedish firearms legislation.
New items: Subject to customs duty and VAT if not part of a qualifying household goods exemption.
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Bill of sale/sales invoice (must include price, date, and place of purchase)
- Certificate of registration
- Insurance documents (proof that insurance has been paid for at least the last 12 months)
- Proof of use and ownership: at least 6 months for immigrants; at least 12 months for returning residents
- Proof of move to Sweden (residence permit, work permit, or equivalent)
- Decision from Skatteverket concerning registration in the Swedish Population Register
- Copy of passport
Specific Information
To qualify for customs duty and VAT exemption: an immigrant must have owned and used the vehicle for more than 6 months before shipping; a returning resident must have owned and used the vehicle for more than 12 months. The owner must have lived outside Sweden (outside the EU) for at least 12 months.
Only one vehicle per person may be imported duty-free. Vehicles not included in a qualifying household goods shipment are subject to customs fees, duties, and VAT.
The vehicle may not be sold, lent, pledged, rented out, or given away within 12 months of import. If the owner wishes to transfer the vehicle during this period, Swedish Customs must be notified first, and customs duty, VAT, and other applicable taxes will then become due.
If the vehicle has been owned for only 6 months and meets Swedish technical standards, duty-free entry may be granted for immigrant cases. Customs clearance for vehicles takes approximately 1–2 working days.
Pets
- ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip **From EU Member States or Part 1 Listed Countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand)**
- Current rabies vaccination (administered at the same time as or after microchipping; 21-day wait after primary vaccination before travel) **From EU Member States or Part 1 Listed Countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand)**
- EU Pet Passport (for resident EU pets), EU Health Certificate (for non-EU-resident pets), or government-issued Pet Passport from a Part 1 listed country **From EU Member States or Part 1 Listed Countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand)**
- Official veterinary health certificate **From EU Member States or Part 1 Listed Countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand)**
- ISO-compliant microchip **From the United Kingdom**
- Current rabies vaccination **From the United Kingdom**
- Animal Health Certificate (AHC), valid for 6 months — do not use an EU Pet Passport for UK-origin pets **From the United Kingdom**
- ISO-compliant microchip **From Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Countries**
- Current rabies vaccination **From Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Countries**
- Rabies titer test (RNAT), taken no earlier than 30 days after vaccination and at least 3 months before travel **From Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Countries**
- EU Health Certificate **From Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Countries**
Sweden is an EU member state and follows EU pet import regulations for dogs, cats, and ferrets. The EU modified its non-commercial pet transport regulations in April 2026, with a transition period until March 2027. Sweden applies EU-wide standards with some additional national requirements administered by the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket).
No quarantine is imposed if all EU requirements are met. Pets not meeting requirements will be quarantined, returned, or euthanized at the owner's expense.
Microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination — if vaccinated before microchipping, the vaccination does not count for EU purposes.
Sweden has historically applied stricter national rules around certain dog breeds and animal health requirements. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) to confirm current rules, particularly for dogs, before import.
The April 2026 EU regulatory update introduced changes to non-commercial pet transport; a transition period applies until March 2027. Confirm current requirements with the destination agent.
Pets must enter Sweden with their owner. Non-commercial transport applies to a maximum of 5 pets per passport.
The 2018 information was outdated.
Consignment Instructions
Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences between air and sea shipments.
Swedish Customs forms must be presented in original hard copy with original signature. The destination agent provides the forms; confirm the current version numbers before departure. The Customs declaration must match the inventory exactly — vague descriptions are not accepted.
The owner must be registered in Sweden with Skatteverket at the time of customs clearance. Returning residents must already be in Sweden and registered before the duty exemption can be applied. For immigrants, goods must arrive within 12 months of the owner's arrival.
All wood packaging must comply with ISPM 15 (not applicable to manufactured furniture).
Alcohol and tobacco are excluded from the duty exemption and require separate handling. Clearance for alcohol typically takes around 3 weeks.
Cultural & Other Information
Sweden — officially the Kingdom of Sweden — is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, bordering Norway to the west and north, Finland to the east, and the Baltic Sea and Kattegat to the south and west. It has a population of approximately 10.6 million. The capital is Stockholm.
Swedish is the official language. Sweden is a member of the European Union and follows EU customs regulations for goods entering from outside the EU. The currency is the Swedish Krona (SEK) — Sweden has not adopted the Euro. Sweden is known for its high standard of living, strong social welfare system, and extensive environmental regulations.
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