By S Bodner
Located in the Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia, the Republic of the Philippines is comprised of thousands of islands. The islands are segmented into three major groupings – Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas. The country’s coastline is expansive, stretching over 36,000 kilometers. The country’s population is around 100 million, ranking it 12th in the world based on 2010 census data.
The three largest cities in the Philippines include Quezon City, Manila and Caloocan. While there are many small and medium sized shipping ports in the Philippines, the Port of Manila is the country’s largest shipping port. Filipino and English are listed as the country’s official languages, yet there are dozens of regional languages spoken throughout the nation.
If you are moving to the Philippines for the first time or returning after having been away for a while, you may need cargo shipping services to transport your household goods and other personal items. It is helpful to note that here is some important paperwork you should plan to get in order before cargo shipping to the Philippines. These documents include:
- Passport with last departure and arrival date
- Residence Visa
- Residence Permit
- Work Permit
- Inventory – If items are used, please clearly specify “used”
Depending on your immigration status, there may be other documents required. Your cargo shipment should not arrive in the Philippines before your visa is approved. In addition, you should plan to be present at the time of customs clearance. All cargo shipping to the Philippines is subject to complete inspection by customs officials upon arrival.
If you are going to bring more than one of a particular type of appliance (for example, two refrigerators), please note that duplicate appliances are taxable.
Your cargo shipment must arrive in the Philippines within 60 days before or after your own arrival in the country.
If you are cargo shipping household goods and other personal items duty free to the Philippines, it is important to note that these personal effects should be in your possession for at least six months prior to cargo shipping to Philippines.
If you are visiting the Philippines for a temporary amount of time, you are allowed to bring household goods, personal effects, and vehicles, as long as you file a re-export bond good for six months or pay the required customs duties and related taxes.
If you are seeking immigrant or permanent resident status in the Philippines, all household goods and personal effects are allowed duty free entry on one shipment by air or by sea shipping.
If you are a non-resident or retiree moving to Philippines for a period of time, you can ship your used household goods and personal effects not to exceed $7,800 USD duty free.
Cargo Shipping to Philippines – Restricted Items and Duty Fees
When cargo shipping to the Philippines, certain items are subject to restrictions and/or duty fees. It is helpful to know about these restrictions and fees in advance so that you can plan accordingly. There are fees and/or import related restrictions on the following:
- Animals, fish, and plants
- Films, video tapes, and compact disks
- Medicines
- Telecommunication equipment
- Color photocopiers or reproduction machines
- Motor vehicle parts
Cargo Shipping to Philippines – Prohibited Items
Some items are prohibited from cargo shipping to the Philippines. If you are cargo shipping to the Philippines, prohibited items include the following:
- Firearms and ammunition
- Realistic toy guns
- Narcotics, opium, and opium smoking paraphernalia
- Certain medications
- Pornography
- Counterfeit, altered, or imitated currency
- Gambling machines of any type
Car Shipping to Philippines
If you are interested in shipping a car to the Philippines, there are some important rules you should know in advance since there are a lot of restrictions on importing privately owned vehicles also known as POVs to the Philippines.
The process involved in car shipping to the Philippines is lengthy and requires a considerable amount of paperwork along with a special Import Authority permit available through the Philippine Bureau of Import Service. The permit is only available in the Philippines and cannot be issued by an embassy or consulate office outside of the country.
If you are interested in importing a car to the Philippines, it is important to note that only residents of the Philippines returning to the country or foreign embassy diplomats are allowed to import vehicles to the Philippines duty free.
Other requirements prior to receiving a vehicle Import Permit include policies that:
- The vehicle owner must have lived away from the Philippines for at least one year.
- The car is registered in the vehicle owner’s name for at least six months prior to shipping or one year for cars older than 3 years.
If you are shipping a car to the Philippines, your vehicle must arrive within 60 days of your arrival in the country. Cars five years or older are not allowed to be shipped to the Philippines and only one car, per family, is allowed.
You’ll need to get your paperwork in order for car shipping to the Philippines. This paperwork includes the following documents:
- Original registration
- Original passport
- Bill of Sale
- Import Permit
- Commercial invoice or Deed of Sale
- Engine number
There may be additional paperwork required for car shipping to the Philippines. Your cargo shipper will be able to provide you with paperwork-related assistance.
Bringing a Pet to the Philippines
If you are moving to the Philippines and you want to bring an animal with you, certain pets are allowed including dogs, cats and birds. Quarantine is not required when bringing your pet to the Philippines, but special taxes and duties apply to animals like game fowl or race horses.
Before bringing a pet to the Philippines, make sure you have the following:
- Import Permit
- Identification information for your animal
- A certificate detailing your pet’s pedigree
- Proof of updated vaccination
- Health certificate
There is a lot to think about as you prepare to for international cargo shipping to the Philippines. A professional cargo shipping company can guide you every step of the way. Knowing some of the key rules and regulations about shipping to the Philippines is the first step in getting ready for your overseas move.
Based about 30 miles north of Miami, Florida, Cargo Experts was formed by a team of moving professionals and cargo shippers who are committed to delivering outstanding customer service as they take care of all the details involved in your overseas cargo shipping. Ms. Bodner works with Cargo Experts and has many years of experience in international cargo shipping. Visit
[http://www.cargo-experts.net/about.aspx]
for more information about international cargo shipping services, including a free online quote for your international cargo shipping. For more information, call toll free at 1-866-994-7822.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/S_Bodner/950004
