United Kingdom
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
Germany
Singapore
France
United States
Customs guide — Italian Customs When Moving
Italian Customs When Moving from Dubai: The Plain-English Guide
Everything you need to know about Italy customs when shipping your home from Dubai — including destination customs transfer-of-residence relief, who qualifies and how the timing works. We manage all of it for you.
Thank you!
We'll WhatsApp you within one business day. Prefer to talk now? Call +971 58 879 4825.
What is transfer-of-residence?
ToR is the destination customs relief that lets you bring your used household goods into Italy without paying 20% import VAT or duty — worth thousands on a typical shipment. It has to be applied for correctly and approved before your goods arrive. We handle the whole application as standard on every Italy move.
You qualify if
- You're transferring your normal residence to Italy
- You've lived outside Italy for 12+ continuous months
- Your goods were owned & used for 6+ months
- Your relief application is approved before the goods arrive
Timing matters most
Your relief application must be approved before the vessel docks — destination customs takes Transit time confirmed with your quote. Arrive without a reference number and full VAT and duty are assessed. We track the vessel and time the submission so approval is ready at port.
ToR does not cover
- Motor vehicles — separate import process
- New or unused goods bought for the move
- Alcohol & tobacco products
- Commercial goods or business assets
Unsure whether you qualify? Talk to a customs specialist before you ship — call +971 58 879 4825 or message us on WhatsApp.
The relief, in plain English
Move your home from the UAE to Italy and your used household goods enter free of customs duty and VAT under the EU transfer-of-residence framework. In Italy the claim hangs on two anchors: your codice fiscale (tax code) and your residence registration (iscrizione anagrafica) with your comune — or, if you ship before registering, a consular declaration of repatriation/transfer. The relief is claimed with evidence; it never happens by default.
How it works with Fusion
- Survey flags relief risks (new purchases, alcohol, commercial quantities).
- Packing day produces the valued bilingual inventory.
- Our Italian partner lodges the relief file before the vessel docks.
- Delivery with ZTL permits where needed — duty-free goods, transparent extras.
FAQ
Do I need the codice fiscale before shipping?
You need it before clearance, not before shipping — but getting it early keeps your options open. We sequence vessel arrival against your paperwork.
Can I clear customs before registering residence in my comune?
Often yes, using a consular declaration of transfer — our Italian partner advises the right route for your case.
How long does Italian clearance take?
A few working days at Genoa, La Spezia or Naples with a complete file. Missing documents, not inspections, are what cause storage charges.
Can you deliver into a ZTL (restricted historic centre)?
Yes — permits, shuttle vans and external lifts are routine for Milan, Rome and Florence, and they’re priced at survey.
Moving from Dubai to Italy
Fusion Relocations has managed international household moves out of the UAE since 2010. A move to Italy is handled end to end by one coordinator: export packing at your home in Dubai, freight, customs formalities at both ends, and delivery and unpacking at your new address.
What the service covers
- Pre-move survey — produces the itemised inventory your Italian import declaration is checked against, so accuracy here saves days later.
- Export packing — carton-numbered packing matched line by line to the customs manifest travelling with your shipment.
- Freight — routed through Genoa, La Spezia or Naples according to your delivery address; the routing decides where clearance happens.
- Customs — the Italian transfer-of-residence file is prepared with your UAE export declaration, keeping qualifying used household goods free of duty.
- Delivery — follows Italian customs release: booked to your door with unpacking and debris removal included on request.
- Extras — pet relocation, vehicle shipping and storage at either end.
How the move runs
- Survey and quote. We look at what is moving and confirm a written, all-in price.
- Booking. We agree packing dates and the sailing or flight.
- Packing. Our crew packs and inventories everything at your home.
- Departure. Export is cleared at Jebel Ali — air shipments at Dubai International — with documents mirroring the Italian import file.
- Arrival. Import clearance in Italy, then delivery to your door.
Clearance practice differs between Genoa, La Spezia and Naples, and duty thresholds move with EU rules — ask for a written quote and we confirm the figures that apply to your entry port.
Where to go next
Let's plan your move
Tell us a little about your relocation and a specialist will come back within one business day — by WhatsApp, phone or email, whichever suits you.
Thank you — request received
A move specialist will WhatsApp you within one business day. Prefer to talk now? Call +971 58 879 4825.
Ready to move? Let's plan it together.
A free survey, a clear written quote within one business day, and one team from your door in Dubai to your door anywhere in the world.