What are the exact rules of temporarily importing personal items when entering the EU as a visitor?
The European Commision website mentions that:
If you enter the EU from a non-EU country, goods having no commercial character in your personal luggage can be imported free of customs duties, VAT and excise duties within the following limits:
...
Other goods (including perfume, coffee, tea, electronic devices etc.):
Up to a value of €430 for air and sea travellers
However many people these days carry electronics of considerable worth. A new laptop can easily cost over 1500 EUR and a new phone is often around 500 EUR. Add in watches, small pieces of jewelry, perfumes, etc, and you can easily end up with 3000 EUR worth of merchandise when flying into an EU airport. Even taking into account the possible devaluation of goods after being used for some time, I'm pretty sure a significant percentage of travelers are violating the 430 EUR limit.
So what are the exact rules for temporary import of personal belongings by tourists entering the EU?
I presume there is some sort of an exemption for non-residents, however I cannot find it on the official pages of the EU. If not, are people technically supposed to report to the Red customs channel and declare their laptops and phones?
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Under what regime are temporary import of goods declared?
The temporary importation regime (also known as the temporary admission regime) is a customs regime under which a good can be imported into the country of destination for a limited, specified or predetermined period without payment of any or all applicable duties and taxes.What is temporary import?
Temporary Import is a facility for the temporary importation of goods without payment of customs duty/tax with a security being given to the satisfaction of the Director General of Customs and with a view to subsequent re-exportation in consistent with the provision of Section 97 Customs Act 1967.How do you import into the EU?
Customs procedure for import to the EUCan I import as an individual?
Yes, you can import food for personal use but prior notice may be required.Customs Procedures A quick guide to using Temporary Admission
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