Case Study 50 – Jaguar F-Pace from Canada

This import process took some time but was completed successfully.

The client first contacted us in the summer. After reviewing the case, we were able to quickly confirm that the 2020 Jaguar F-Pace was eligible for a tax-free import.

At the time of contact, the client had left Canada a little over six months earlier. This meant we still had approximately five months remaining to initiate the import with customs, to be within the allowed timeframe. This worked out well, as the client had already received AIMA approval.. Based on our experience, it is best to ship a vehicle only once AIMA approval has been granted.

At that stage, the car had not yet been shipped, so we knew the overall process would take some time. While waiting for shipment, we proactively began the IMT individual approval process and gathered all necessary documentation for the vehicle.

Arrival and Inspection

The vehicle arrived in Portugal in mid-October. The client then worked with a mechanic to carry out several modifications required to legalize the car for use in Europe. By the time the car arrived, all inspection documentation was already prepared.

The required modifications, followed by the vehicle inspection, took approximately three to four weeks. During this period, we also worked with the client to collect the remaining outstanding documents needed for the process.

Approval and Registration

Once all documentation had been submitted, it took approximately seven weeks for customs to approve the import. This timeframe was in line with expectations, especially given that the holiday period fell within this window.

In early January, the vehicle was approved, and the client was able to obtain the license plates. After that, only a few final steps remained, namely sending the original documents required for the IMT and DUA registrations.

Key Takeaways

• When importing a vehicle from Canada or the United States, it is strongly recommended to ship the car only after you have your AIMA appointment or, ideally, full AIMA approval.
• Vehicles imported from North America often require technical modifications. These changes can be made either before shipment or after arrival in Portugal. If possible, completing them before shipment is recommended to avoid delays.
• When importing a car from outside the EU, it is crucial to carefully assess tax-free import eligibility from the outset to avoid costly surprises.