Country Guide: Hong Kong
Updated: November 25, 2015
Household Goods and Personal Effects
Documents Required
- Copy of Passport (identification pages only)
- Original Bill of Lading (OBL) / Air Waybill (AWB)
- Detailed inventory
- Shipper’s full contact details in Hong Kong (address, telephone, fax number, email address, etc.)
Specific Information
- All household goods and personal effects can be imported free of duty.
Motor Vehicles
Documents Required
- Original vehicle documentation
- Original Purchase Invoice
- Insurance Certificate
- Certificate of Registration (must show boat dimensions)
- Import Declaration
Specific Information
- Certificate of Registration must be submitted to Marine Department for application of import permit within 24 hours from arrival of effects.
- Left-hand drive cars cannot be imported.
- All vehicles are subject to strict regulatory inspections and high first registration taxes.
- Taxes are set to discourage the personal import of vehicles; it is highly recommended that an estimate of costs before shipping a vehicle.
- First registration fee is based on value, as follows:
- Private Cars:
- From value HK$ 0 to 150,000: 40%
- On the next HK$150,000 : 75%
- On the next HK$200,000 : 100%
- On the remainder : 115%
- Motorbikes:
- 35% of value
- Private Cars:
- All vehicles must comply with the Exhaust and Noise Emissions Standard.
- Approval / exemption from the Environmental Protection Department before shipping vehicles into Hong Kong are advised.
- Vehicles must satisfy local standards.
- It is difficult to obtain insurance for vehicles older than 10 years.
Pets
Documents Required
- Import Permit
- Health Certificate from origin country
Specific Information
- Quarantine is not required for dogs imported directly from the United Kingdom.
Restricted/Dutiable Items
- Plants and plant products (special license is required)
- Weapons and ammunition (special license issued by the Hong Kong Police Department is required)
- Alcohol (detailed list showing quantity and CIF value is required). See additional information. o Duty is payable on the CIF value depending on the liquor and the alcoholic strength: − Liquors with an alcoholic rate of more than 30% – 100 % duty − Liquors and wine with an alcoholic rate below 30% are Zero rated for duty − Wine is duty free.
- Tobacco (passengers age 18 and older may bring the following limited quantities free of duties):
- Cigarettes (19), cigar (1 or 25 grams, other manufactured tobacco (25 grams)
Prohibited Items
- Illegal drugs
- Firearms, explosives and ammunition (permission required)
- Knives and deadly weapons
- Controlled chemicals
- Pets and animals (permission required)
- Meat and poultry
- Rough diamonds
- Counterfeit goods
- Pornographic material
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.
Helpful Website(s):
http://www.customs.gov.hk/en/home/index.html
http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/acs_hkvisa.html
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2747.htm