This was a tax-free import, and the entire process went smoothly. When we started, the client had only recently arrived in Portugal, and their relocation process had not yet been fully completed.
To ensure everything went according to plan, I explained the initial steps as follows:
- Vehicle inspection and temporary insurance
- Deregistration from the Netherlands
- Registration in Portugal
- Update the Portuguese address on the NIF document and gather the remaining documentation
- Submit the customs application, after which the remainder of the process would follow
We recommended the inspection earlier than normal because the vehicle could no longer remain insured in the Netherlands. This is also why we opted for temporary import insurance.
Initial Documentation and Inspection
The client spent the next one to two months gathering the required documentation. As the Certificate of Conformity (COC) was already available, the vehicle inspection could be completed early in the process.
The inspection centre closest to the client was not always the most reasonable option, so we recommended another centre that was slightly further away. This recommendation worked out well, and the inspection was completed without any issues.
Documentation for the Tax-Free Import
The client received a document confirming their deregistration from the Netherlands. However, as is often the case, the document did not include the date they had originally registered at their last Dutch address.
For customs purposes, the document should always contain both:
- The arrival date at the last address; and
- The departure date from that address.
We are still not entirely sure why customs insists on this requirement, but there are several similarly illogical requirements when dealing with customs authorities. All we can do is comply with the rules as they are.
NIF Document
The client’s NIF document also needed to be updated with their Portuguese address.
The local Finance Office was only able to process these changes on specific dates, which meant we had to wait a little longer before this requirement could be completed.
Trusting the Process
The clients reviewed some of our forms and pointed out several items they believed were mistakes. While we always appreciate it when genuine mistakes are identified (for example, spelling errors), the issues they raised were not actually mistakes.
Over the years, we have had several people tell us how certain forms should be completed, only to discover that their understanding was incorrect.
There were also a number of questions that largely overlapped with information we had already provided. This is why we kindly ask all clients to trust the process and carefully read the information we send. Doing so helps avoid many unnecessary questions, reduces frustration, and significantly cuts down on email correspondence.
In the end, the vehicle import went very well, and the Audi Q8 was imported without any problems.
Key Takeaways
- Deregistration documents should always include both the arrival and departure dates for your last address in your previous country.
- The NIF document should be updated to your Portuguese address as soon as possible.
- Trust the process. We know how the forms need to be completed. Following the guidance we provide will make the process much smoother than trying to correct things that are not actually incorrect.
