Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
goods are gathering dust at a port at home or in China. Companies such as Links Moving
Beijing, Santa Fe, Allied Pickfords, and Asian Tigers provide reputable services and have
Beijing offices, and so are up-to-date with China's laws and exactly what you need to do to
clear customs quickly.
Customs screenings at Beijing Capital International Airport are seemingly almost nonexist-
ent. When you pick up your suitcase from the baggage carousel, you typically walk straight
from the terminal with absolutely no further interruption. While, strictly speaking, it's not
allowed, many expats even sneak through a favorite cheese or a nice piece of cured meat in
their luggage. Importing a shipment of personal effects, however, is another beast entirely.
If your possessions are coming in as freight, then there is a considerable amount of paper-
work to be completed so that they'll clear customs and not attract a duty. One requirement
you will need to fulfill is that your residency and work permits have no less than one year of
validity on them. This can take a bit of coordinating, so make sure your relocation or mov-
ing company communicates with your new HR manager in Beijing to ensure dates match
up.
Even if you tick all the boxes, your imports may still be liable for duty. To avoid this,
remove everything from its packaging, don't stock up too much on any particular item, and
report that it's used and for personal use only. Duty rates will vary and change, but typical
values range from 10 percent for furniture up to 50 percent for any kind of alcohol. Wine is
a favorite target of the government, so it's advised to leave any cases of your favorite reds
or whites at home.
Other items that are put under scrutiny include religious literature, anti-Communist lit-
erature, and banned publications. Pornography is also a big no-no, as are gambling items,
such as poker chips. If customs officials suspect contraband content, they can confiscate the
item for checking, and may or may not ever return it. Additionally, while piracy and coun-
terfeiting is a blatant source of business within China's borders, taking it in or out of the
country can result in confiscation and/or fines.
If you have professional equipment that you need to import, China encourages the use
of an ATA Carnet, for temporary admission of the items. To arrange this, contact the ATA
Carnet Headquarters in New York (
www.uscib.org
).
Finally, another goods category to bear in mind is antiques. If you plan to pick up a few
historic Chinese items to take home as souvenirs, you may not get them past the gates. Ch-
ina is very protective of its historical artifacts. Items produced before 1795 are prohibited
