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Moving to the United States: customs & USDA checklist

One form carries your container through US customs. Answer five questions to see whether your household goods qualify for duty-free entry as household effects used abroad (CBP Form 3299, 19 CFR 148.52), which documents your customs broker will need, and which items the CBP agriculture specialists enforcing USDA, FDA and Fish & Wildlife rules will flag before you pack them.

CBP Form 3299 — Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles (rev. 05/24) · U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) + USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) rules, enforced at the port by CBP Agriculture Specialists · last reviewed 15 October 2026 against the official sources below

1. Do my goods clear duty-free? (Duty-free entry of household effects used abroad (19 CFR 148.52, HTSUS 9804.00.05) and tools of trade (19 CFR 148.53))

Which of these describes you?
Are the goods your own personal and household property, not for sale or business use?
Have you owned AND used the goods for 12 months or more?
Does your shipment fit the time limits (your arrival and the shipment close together)?
Does the shipment include any of these?

Documents to clear your shipment

  • CBP Form 3299 — Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles (rev. 05/24): your identity, US and foreign addresses, arrival date, status (returning resident, immigrant or non-resident) and the claim that the goods were used abroad for a year and are not for sale; signed by you, filed by your customs broker
  • Supplemental declaration for unaccompanied personal and household effects — the broker's working sheet confirming arrival date, immigration status, the one-year use and that no prohibited or restricted articles are included; treat it, the 3299 and the inventory as one matched set
  • Customs power of attorney authorising the licensed customs broker (licensed by CBP under 19 U.S.C. 1641 and 19 CFR Part 111) to make entry in your name — the law prohibits CBP officers from acting as your agent
  • Passport for every family member, plus the US visa, immigrant visa or green card (permanent resident card) used to enter; returning citizens: passport and proof of the period lived abroad
  • Detailed, valued packing inventory in English, numbered box by box with contents, make, model and serial numbers where applicable — the backbone of the declaration and the first thing an examining officer reads
  • Ocean bill of lading or air waybill for the shipment, supplied by your mover; for ocean freight the Importer Security Filing (ISF '10+2', 19 CFR Part 149) — seller, buyer, consignee, ship-to party, country of origin, HTSUS number and more — must be transmitted to CBP no later than 24 hours before the container is loaded at the foreign port, normally by your broker or forwarder as agent
  • Evidence of use abroad if the port director asks for it — receipts, insurance schedules or dated photographs for valuable pieces (19 CFR 148.52(b))
  • Vehicles: title/registration and bill of sale in your name, EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7; firearms: ATF import paperwork; cultural objects and antiquities: export permit of the country of origin and receipts

What is taxed and what is not

  • Qualifying household effects — furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens and similar household furnishings actually used abroad for one year, not for sale or for another person — and your professional tools of trade, books and instruments: no duty, no tax (HTSUS 9804.00.05 and 9804.00.15, declared on Form 3299).
  • Goods that fail the test (new or unused, for sale, or personal effects such as clothing, jewellery and cameras that are less than a year old): duty at the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States rate for the item and its country of origin, assessed on value; duty is usually waived on personal effects more than one year old. Returning residents may apply the US$800 personal exemption and the 3 % flat rate on the next US$1,000 only to articles that accompany them.
  • Alcohol and tobacco shipped in the container: customs duty plus Internal Revenue Tax, subject to the laws of the state of entry; CBP can require a permit and a formal entry if it judges the quantity commercial. Vehicles: 2.5 % on cars, 2.4 % or free on motorcycles, 25 % on trucks, on the price paid — plus the DOT bond of 1.5 times dutiable value if the vehicle does not conform.
  • CBP entry fees on any dutiable part of the shipment: Merchandise Processing Fee of 0.3464 % of value on a formal entry (minimum US$34.58, maximum US$670.86) or US$2.77–12.45 on an informal entry, and for sea freight the Harbor Maintenance Fee of 0.125 % of value; fees are adjusted periodically by Federal Register notice. Examinations ordered by CBP (X-ray or physical) are billed by the port and warehouse at your cost.

2. Can I ship it? — USDA item checker

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) sets the rules for meat, fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals and animal products, and CBP agriculture specialists enforce them when your shipment is examined at the port. Prohibited agricultural items can carry plant pests and foreign animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth, so every meat, fruit, vegetable, plant, seed, soil or animal product must be declared — in the container as much as in your luggage. The Fish and Wildlife Service controls wildlife products (ivory, skins, feathers, CITES species), the FDA controls food and medicines, and no soil of any kind enters the United States without a permit issued in advance.

Don't ship — Prohibited or assessed separately — leave it outDeclare + clean — Declare, clean/dry it, expect inspection or treatmentDeclare — Declare and list it clearlyNo concern — No specific concern
No match — if it is made of wood, plant or animal material, is food, or has been outdoors, declare it and check with the authority before packing.
Don't ship
Fresh fruit and vegetablesAdmissibility depends on the country of origin and many items need an advance permit; everything must be declared and inspected. Never pack any in a container that sails for weeks.
Food
Don't ship
Fresh, dried or cured meat — ham, salami, sausage, biltong, jerky, gameMany fresh, dried and even canned meats are prohibited from foreign countries because of foot-and-mouth disease and BSE. Leave all of it behind.
Food
Don't ship
Products containing meat — soups, stock cubes, bouillon, sauces, meat-filled pastriesIf meat from a restricted country is an ingredient (for example beef broth), the product is usually prohibited; soup and soup products must be declared.
Food
Declare
Cheese, butter and other dairyCBP says you may bring bakery items and certain cheeses; all animal products must be declared and are checked against the disease status of the country of origin. Keep it to commercially packaged products and small quantities.
Food
Declare
Dry pantry — spices, tea, coffee, pasta, dried herbs, nuts, grains, pulses, tinned fruit and vegetablesCondiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea are generally admissible, but every plant product must be declared and may be inspected; seeds capable of growing need a permit and phytosanitary certificate. List quantities on the inventory.
Food
Don't ship
RiceCBP advises against bringing rice into the United States because it often harbours insects — buy it locally.
Food
Declare
Honey, jam, confectionery, baked goods without meat, infant formulaHoney, bakery items and prepared foods without meat are generally admissible when declared; some foods are also subject to FDA requirements. Keep it to personal-use quantities in sealed commercial packaging.
Food
Declare
Alcohol — wine, spirits, beerNever a household effect: duty plus Internal Revenue Tax, and the law of the state of entry decides how much you may bring and whether you need a licence. Unusual quantities can be treated as a commercial import requiring a permit and formal entry. Declare every bottle.
Food
Don't ship
AbsintheAdmissible only if thujone-free (under 10 ppm) and labelled to FDA and TTB rules; anything else is seized.
Food
Declare
Tobacco, cigars, vaping productsThe returning resident's exemption covers at most 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars (21+). Quantities not covered by an exemption face detention, seizure, penalties and destruction.
Food
Declare
Dogs and catsEvery dog needs a free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, an ISO microchip, must be at least 6 months old and look healthy on arrival; dogs that have been in a CDC high-risk rabies country in the past six months face limited arrival airports, endorsed rabies papers and possibly a titre test or quarantine. Cats have no CDC rabies requirement federally, but your state or airline may ask for one. Never ship a live animal with the container.
Pets & animals
Declare
Birds, reptiles, fish, rabbits and other petsAPHIS Veterinary Services permits, CDC rules and possible quarantine apply by species and origin; some states add their own restrictions. Never ship a live animal in a household consignment.
Pets & animals
Declare
Pet food and treatsAn animal product: declare it and expect the agriculture specialist to check origin and ingredients; meat-based products from restricted countries are refused. Buy fresh in the US.
Pets & animals
Declare + clean
Saddles, bridles, horse rugs, pet beds, cages and feeding bowlsItems that have touched livestock or soil may be examined and disinfected; wash and dry everything before packing and list it on the inventory.
Pets & animals
Declare + clean
Hunting trophies, hides, skins, antlers, feathers, taxidermySeverely restricted: APHIS Veterinary Services arranges entry of trophies, carcasses and hides, and wild or endangered species also need Fish and Wildlife Service clearance and CITES documents.
Pets & animals
Don't ship
Ivory, tortoiseshell, coral, crocodile, python and other wildlife productsWild birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and any part or product of them — skins, tusks, bone, feathers, eggs — are regulated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service; endangered species and their products generally may not be imported, and you need an FWS permit for virtually all ivory (warthog excepted). Leave inherited ivory and exotic-skin goods out of the move unless your broker has confirmed FWS clearance.
Pets & animals
Don't ship
Untanned animal-hide drums (e.g. Haitian goat-hide drums)The CDC restricts animal-hide drums from Haiti that have not been processed to make them non-infectious after a case of cutaneous anthrax; untanned hide drums are inspected and may be refused.
Pets & animals
Don't ship
Products containing dog or cat furIllegal to import under the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 — seizure and civil penalties of up to US$10,000 per knowing violation.
Pets & animals
Declare
Commercially made wooden furniture — tables, chairs, beds, dressers, bookcasesFinished, bark-free furniture is not a USDA concern in itself but the shipment must be free of live insects, frass and soil. List it with the other household effects.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Wooden items with bark — rustic or live-edge furniture, log slices, bark decorationsUntreated wood and plant parts are plant products that must be declared and inspected for pests; bark-bearing pieces are the ones most often refused or ordered treated. Leave them behind.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Wooden carvings, masks, statues, handicraftsDeclare and expect inspection for live pests and bore holes; items that also contain wildlife parts (ivory inlay, feathers, skins) fall under Fish and Wildlife rules.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Bamboo, rattan and wicker furniture, baskets and blindsPlant products: declare them and make sure they are dry, clean and free of insects; the agriculture specialist decides on inspection.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Don't ship
Firewood, logs, untreated timberUntreated wood is a plant-pest pathway and needs USDA permits or treatment; buy locally.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Wooden crates, pallets and dunnageUnder 7 CFR 319.40-3 wood packaging must be heat-treated or fumigated and carry the IPPC (ISPM 15) mark with country code, producer number and HT/MB treatment code; the inspector can order unmarked wood packaging re-exported immediately. Loose, dry wood packing (shavings) is admitted subject to inspection. Use a mover who builds compliant crates.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare
Musical instruments — piano, guitar, violin, drumsList them with make, model and serial number. Instruments with ivory, tortoiseshell or protected-wood parts need Fish and Wildlife / CITES documentation; rawhide drum heads are animal products.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Don't ship
Live plants, cuttings, houseplants, seeds, bulbsPlants and ANY plant parts intended for growing need a foreign phytosanitary certificate in advance and often a USDA permit; most households should not ship them.
Garden & plants
Don't ship
Soil, potting mix, compost, sand, stones or pots with soilNo soil or earth of any kind enters the United States without an advance permit from USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine. Empty and scrub every pot; pure decorative beach sand is usually allowed.
Garden & plants
Declare + clean
Garden tools, lawnmower, wheelbarrow, outdoor furniture, planters, BBQMust be free of soil, plant residue and debris — soil-borne organisms threaten plants and animals, and soiled items are cleaned at your cost or refused. Drain fuel from machines.
Garden & plants
Declare
Dried flowers, wreaths, pinecones, potpourri, straw ornaments, plant-material Christmas decorationsPlant products that must be declared; expect inspection and possible refusal if seeds, soil or insects are found.
Decor & ornaments
Declare
Antiques, cultural objects, archaeological piecesYou must hold export permits and receipts: stolen cultural property and specific categories (pre-Columbian, Khmer, Byzantine Cypriot and others) cannot enter without the export permit of the country of origin.
Decor & ornaments
Declare
Jewellery, watches, art and other high-value itemsCBP treats jewellery as personal effects, not household effects, so list each piece with value and a photo or appraisal; genuinely used personal belongings rarely attract duty but new pieces will.
Decor & ornaments
No concern
Ceramic tableware and glazed potteryNot restricted, but the FDA warns that foreign-made glazes can leach lead — have pieces bought abroad tested or use them decoratively.
Kitchen
No concern
Pots, pans, small appliances, cutleryUsual household furnishings — clean them of food residue and list them. Remember US mains are 120 V / 60 Hz.
Kitchen
Declare + clean
Hiking boots, football boots, wellies, riding and farm clothingIf you have been on a farm or near livestock the agriculture specialist may examine and disinfect footwear and clothing for soil that could carry foot-and-mouth disease. Scrub soles clean before packing.
Outdoor, sport & camping
Declare + clean
Tents, camping gear, bicycles, kayaks, fishing and diving equipmentRemove all mud, plant debris and aquatic growth; equipment that has been outdoors is checked for soil and pests like any other item.
Outdoor, sport & camping
Declare
Personal car built to US standards (manufacturer's certification label)All vehicles are dutiable — 2.5 % on cars, 2.4 % or free on motorcycles — with a separate entry: EPA Form 3520-1, DOT Form HS-7, bill of lading, bill of sale and registration. A vehicle previously owned and registered in the US returns duty-free on proof of that registration. The undercarriage must be steam-cleaned of foreign soil.
Vehicles & machines
Don't ship
European-specification car less than 25 years oldVehicles under 25 years old must meet all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and EPA emission standards; a European-market car must be imported as non-conforming through a DOT-registered importer and EPA independent commercial importer with a DOT bond of 1.5 times its dutiable value — often impractical and costly. Non-residents may bring one in for personal use for up to one year, after which a non-conforming car must be exported and may never be sold in the US.
Vehicles & machines
Declare
Classic car 25 years old or moreExempt from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards on age (DOT Form HS-7 still filed) but still dutiable at 2.5 %, still subject to the EPA declaration on Form 3520-1 and still must arrive with a soil-free undercarriage.
Vehicles & machines
Don't ship
Leased or company carIt is illegal to sell a vehicle in the US that was not formally entered on CBP Form 7501, and a leased vehicle is not yours to import as personal property — leave it with the lessor.
Vehicles & machines
Declare + clean
Lawnmowers, chainsaws, generators and other enginesClean of soil and grass; engines are also subject to EPA emission rules on import. Drain fuel and oil before loading.
Vehicles & machines
No concern
Used or second-hand mattresses and upholstered furnitureUsual household furnishings — no specific federal restriction, but they must be clean, dry and free of pests; the agriculture specialist can order fumigation if insects are found.
Household
Declare
Prescription medicines and health productsAll human and animal drugs are regulated by the FDA, and controlled substances also by the DEA; travel only with your own prescribed medication and carry it with you — do not ship bulk supplies in the container.
Household
Declare
Firearms, parts and ammunitionRestricted: CBP lists firearms among items that need a federal licence or permit before entry, and non-resident importation falls under the Department of Justice / ATF regulations at 27 CFR Part 478 with the appropriate ATF form. Never pack firearms, parts or ammunition in the household shipment without the cleared paperwork.
Household
Don't ship
Drug paraphernalia, cannabis and cannabis productsIllegal to import regardless of state law — marijuana remains prohibited at the US border; seizure and prosecution.
Household
Don't ship
Counterfeit or pirated goods, defence articles, dual-use technologyCounterfeit items are seized; items with military application fall under ITAR and need licences — do not pack them.
Household
No concern
Metal and plastic furniture, sofas, appliances, electronics, books, clothing, linenUsual household effects — list them with make, model and serial numbers. Clothing and electronics count as personal effects, so used items are fine but boxed new ones are dutiable.
Household
Don't ship
Boxes marked 'PBO', 'misc' or 'personal items' without a contents listAn inventory line that does not say what is inside is what triggers an examination; every box needs a number and a description of its contents.
Packing
Declare + clean
Straw, hay or plant material as packing; re-used fruit, vegetable or meat cartonsPlant material and food-stained packaging are agricultural items that must be declared and may be refused — use new cartons and paper so the shipment is not held for cleaning.
Packing

How to pack so you clear inspection first time

  1. Clean everything that touched soil, plants, food or animals until nothing but transport dust remains — boots, bikes, garden tools, outdoor furniture, the car underside — then let it dry. No soil of any kind enters the US without a permit.
  2. Leave all meat, fresh produce, plants, seeds, soil and untreated wood behind; declare every remaining food item and keep it to small, commercially packaged quantities.
  3. Number every box and write what is in it on the inventory — contents, make, model, serial number and value — in English. Never label a box 'PBO', 'misc' or 'personal items'.
  4. Keep alcohol, tobacco, firearms and vehicles out of the household consignment; each has its own entry, taxes and state or ATF rules.
  5. Sign CBP Form 3299 and the broker's power of attorney before the ship sails, and keep passport, visa or green card copies with the shipping file — the broker files the entry on arrival.
  6. When in doubt, declare. Declaring an agricultural item costs nothing; failing to declare one carries a civil penalty of up to US$1,000 for a first non-commercial offence, and undeclared goods can be seized.

Penalties and costs

  • Failure to declare agricultural items (meat, fruit, plants, seeds, soil, animal products): the items are confiscated and destroyed, and CBP cites civil penalties of US$300 for a first offence and US$500 for a second on its prohibited-items page, and 'up to US$1,000 per first-time offence' for non-commercial quantities on its agriculture page — far higher if the quantity is judged commercial. The same fines apply to prohibited agricultural products sent by mail or freight.
  • Undeclared articles are treated as smuggled: they are seized and the personal penalty under 19 U.S.C. 1497 is demanded (19 CFR 148.18). The entire contents of a shipment or vehicle must be declared; failure can mean a fine or seizure of the car and its contents, and vehicles that do not conform to US standards must be brought into compliance, exported or destroyed, with a DOT bond of 1.5 times dutiable value in the meantime.
  • A material false statement or omission on an entry — including Form 3299 — is a violation of 19 U.S.C. 1592 even if no duty is lost. Maximum civil penalties (19 CFR 162.73): fraud — the domestic value of the goods; gross negligence — the lesser of domestic value or four times the duties, taxes and fees lost (40 % of dutiable value if none lost); negligence — the lesser of domestic value or twice the loss (20 % if none lost). Clerical errors are not violations unless part of a pattern.
  • Items regulated by other agencies are seized when undeclared or non-compliant: products containing dog or cat fur carry civil penalties of up to US$10,000 per knowing violation (US$5,000 gross negligence, US$3,000 negligence); absinthe, counterfeit goods, drug paraphernalia, unpermitted ivory and wildlife products, and tobacco beyond an exemption are seized; unmarked wood packaging can be ordered re-exported immediately at your cost.

Fees and penalty amounts are revised regularly — confirm current figures on the official pages below before you ship.

FAQ

How long do I need to have used my furniture to bring it in duty-free?

Household furnishings must have been actually used abroad for at least one year. The year need not be continuous or immediately before import, and the goods qualify if a member of your household owned and used them while you were a resident member of that family — so you do not have to prove you personally owned every piece for a year (19 CFR 148.52).

I am moving on an H-1B or L-1 visa — can I use the duty-free provision?

Yes. The household-effects exemption applies to residents and non-residents alike, provided the goods were used abroad for a year and are not for sale or for another person. Your professional tools of trade also enter duty-free under 19 CFR 148.53. Keep your passport and visa with the Form 3299.

Can my container arrive before or after me?

Either way. Your customs broker files the entry with your signed Form 3299 when the vessel arrives. If the declaration cannot be produced at the time of entry, CBP may release the goods against a bond on CBP Form 301 and allow six months to file it. Household effects arriving more than 10 years after your last arrival from the country of use are normally not admitted duty-free.

Can I ship my wine collection with the household?

You can, but it is never duty-free in a container: alcohol pays customs duty plus Internal Revenue Tax, and the law of the state where the shipment enters governs how much you may bring in and whether you need a licence. CBP may treat an unusual quantity as commercial, requiring a permit and a formal entry. Contact that state's alcoholic beverage control board before shipping.

Can I bring my European car to the United States?

Rarely without major work. All vehicles are dutiable (2.5 % on cars) and vehicles under 25 years old must meet all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and EPA emission standards; a car sold for the European market almost never does and must be imported as non-conforming through a DOT-registered importer and EPA independent commercial importer, with a DOT bond of 1.5 times its dutiable value — often impractical and costly. The entry needs EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7, and the undercarriage must be free of foreign soil. Non-residents may import a car duty-free for personal use for up to one year if it arrives with them; a non-conforming car must then be exported and may not be sold.

Will Flyto handle the Form 3299 and USDA paperwork?

Yes. Our door-to-door service to the United States includes export packing with a numbered, valued inventory ready for Form 3299, pre-screening of your list against the CBP, USDA and Fish & Wildlife rules before loading, the Importer Security Filing for ocean shipments, and coordination with our licensed US customs broker who files the entry at the port of discharge.

Read next

Official sources

This checker summarises public rules as at the review date for planning purposes. Customs and biosecurity decisions are made by the officers on arrival; your Flyto coordinator confirms the current conditions for your visa and shipment.

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