New regulations for the importation of household goods and work equipment of returning migrants and foreigners

Resolution SENAE-SENAE-2023-0043-RE issued on July 19, 2023, and published in Official Gazette Supplement 362 of July 27, 2023, the National Customs Service of Ecuador established new regulations for the importation of goods under the exception regime for household goods and work equipment.

The most important reforms include:

1. Alcoholic beverages are admissible if it does not exceed 50 liters in total and 2 liters for each commercial brand.
2. Collectible goods that are not restricted according to the following list are admissible: https://www.aduana.gob.ec/gaceta-resolucion/SENAE-SENAE-2021-0131-RE/
3. If the imported goods are not properly identified or do not match with the data registered in the list of goods subject to the exception regime, the returning migrant or foreigner will be subject to the payment of a fine. However, this will not prevent the importation process from continuing under the exception regime.
4. The returning migrant or foreigner may reimport the household goods and work equipment that was definitively exported under the reimportation regime in the same condition. This regime is exempt from the payment of foreign trade taxes. The re-importation must be carried out within a period of 2 years from the date of shipment of the goods.
5. The percentage of goods subject to prior inspection is reduced from 30% to 15%. The customs operating technician is able to review only 15% of the total amount of goods imported by the returning migrant.
6.  For the import of used or new vehicles of the returning migrant, the following supporting documents may be attached to the customs declaration: i) the exports customs declaration made in the country of departure where the value of the vehicle is stated; or, ii) the certificate issued by the dealer or commercial house detailing the value of the vehicle.
7. When the declared price for vehicles and motorcycles of the returning migrant is lower than the minimum values established by the Customs Authority, the Authority shall initiate a reasonable doubt procedure for the returned migrant to justify the price.
8. Only foreign migrants may maintain the benefit of the exception regime when the interruption of their residence does not exceed 180 days as long as it is due to labor reasons.

The new regulations are effective from the date of publication in the Official Gazette, that is, from July 27, 2023. However, the new regulations will not be applicable to imports shipped prior to their publication in the Official Gazette, unless it benefits the migrant.

In the following link you can review the complete text of the Resolution:

https://www.aduana.gob.ec/gaceta-resolucion/SENAE-SENAE-2023-0043-RE/