Diplomatic removal goods

Diplomats can bring in their removal goods into the country duty-free and tax-free, as long as there is a packing list of the goods and the person moving has diplomatic status confirmed by the ministry for foreign affairs. This only applies to foreign diplomats.

Finnish diplomats returning to Finland do not have diplomatic status in Finland. They have to fill in Customs form no 45e.

Diplomatic import goods

Goods to be imported are duty-free if they are to be used officially by foreign diplomatic missions or other representative or consular missions in Finland.

The goods are also duty-free if they will be used personally by diplomats, consuls or technical personnel and their family members. A so-called “French paper”, confirmed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has to be presented for the goods upon customs clearance. You can declare diplomatic goods for example at a customs office.

Clearing vehicles through customs

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs writes a statement, a so called French paper for customs and taxation purposes, regarding when the vehicle is imported and taken into use.

The vehicles are duty-free and free from value added tax for foreign diplomats, and their family members, operating in Finland.

Duty-free and free of value added tax are also vehicles, if they are to be used officially by foreign diplomatic missions or other representative or consular missions. Foreign citizens of representative offices, i.e. administrative and technical personnel can import a vehicle duty-free and free of value added tax to be used by their families.

The condition for exemption from customs duties and value added tax is that the vehicle is not sold, leased or surrendered to anyone, except to a representative or person entitled to the same exemption from customs duties and value added tax, before the end of the time limit of three years. After three years, the vehicle can be sold to anyone duty-free or free of value added tax.

If the person using the vehicle moves from Finland and sells the vehicle to a person who is not a representative or person entitled to the same exemption from customs duties and value added tax, before the end of the time limit of three years:

  • 1/36 part of the full customs value and value added tax must be paid for each full month or part of a month that is left of the required three-year (36 months) restriction period on sales and surrendering of the vehicle. 

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs writes a sales permit, with which the diplomat’s exit from the country is confirmed.

Diplomatic export goods

Regarding the transport of goods owned by diplomatic personnel, the implementation of customs formalities is based on the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

Electronic export declarations must be submitted when transporting diplomatic freight goods. This does not include goods that diplomatic personnel members carry with them.

Material consignments under diplomatic immunity can be classified under one commodity code 9905 00 00. The nominal value of the goods is declared. The status of the goods is indicated in the export declaration with the national procedure code 7VF (Goods intended for diplomatic or comparable use). Moreover, the items to be cleared are declared with the additional statement code FIXXX (additional information) “Diplomatic Mail” or for consignments to the USA (Los Angeles) and Nigeria (Abuja) “Diplomatic Pouch”.

Any questions?

Contact Customs Information Mon–Fri 8 am–4.15 pm

Please have a look at the frequently asked questions.

If you have a question about the arrival of parcels, its contents or the handling fee, please contact Posti.

Customs Information Service