Thursday, October 27, 2016

Relocation from Israel


Starting a new setup elsewhere -  somewhere far from the area of your growing up is never easy. It requires a lot of lifestyle changes which in turn require bravery to help you out.

For instance, if you are a permanent resident of Israel since your childhood and if you intend to relocate to someplace else for job or study purposes then it requires that you collect all the information related to the shipping industry before migrating so that you can travel as carefree as you would like to be or you intended to be.

First things first! 
Israel is at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, bounded by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan and the West Bank to the east, and Egypt and the Gaza Strip to the southwest. 
It all depends on where you are moving to from Israel.
If it is within Europe then the whole process is way easier. 
The same goes for Middle East. However, the most popular of the relocation zones these days from Israel is the States. 
For this purpose, you will have to hire storage in the Shipping industry.
If you do not have that much to carry to wherever you are moving then storage is ill advised. 
The best channel for this purpose could be FedEx, UPS, USPS etc. The next important thing is the customs. 
When shipping from Israel clearance through Customs depends on whether you're shipping:
Documents with no commercial value ( only FedEx AWB is needed )
Dutiable goods (goods with a commercial value)
Avoid items which have been prohibited for export by the Israeli government. 
They include food, perishable live animals, human body parts, explosives, money and liquor.
Wherever you are moving to from Israel, there are a few tips before shipping anything.
Always check out and adhere to the shipment limitations outlines by the Customs department. 
Furthermore, once the customs are cleared, check out the department at FedEx so that no problem is encountered and you don’t have to wait a lot on arrival at your destination. 
Always pack your belongings firmly. Baggage is handled pretty roughly in the hands of others. 
Complete all necessary documents. Make sure that all the information is accurate. 
Keep the shipment information consistent across all documents.
If you have plenty of money, and can easily spare some, then movers are advised. 
There are numerous websites online where you can place your destination and the quantity of luggage in a measure of rooms. 
This way the moving company can bid its regular rate for you.
 If it is acceptable, then go on with it. If not then all you can do is wait.
If all goes well then you would be watching the sun rise in an all new place where you recently secured the job.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Things to keep in mind when you are moving into a different country

Things to keep in mind when you are moving into a different country

Thought of relocation always gives butterflies in stomach to an individual where he has to start from a scratch in building a home for himself far away from his homeland. 
However, detailed research and meticulous planning can actually make this transition a wonderful experience. 
Knowing about country’s economy, language, cost of living, job opportunities, culture, climate and the rules and regulations gives one a clearer perspective in terms of what one is heading for.

Before relocating, have your checklist ready with clear deadlines as you may have less time on your hands and too many things to sort. 
Having valid passports and applying for visa much before your scheduled travel is the first step to begin your voyage. 
Procuring health insurance for self and family is a must along with completed vaccination for all including pets? 
One needs to check if you would require international driving license and process for applying the same. 
You can also hire professional services that are well versed with local laws and help you in this transition.

Most critical task at hand is deciding what house-hold items you would like to take along with you as international shipping is expensive. 
So, while one definitely needs to prioritize, sort and discard your belongings, you can probably explore using storage services for items that you wish not to let go but kept safely till you return to your country. 
Next step is finding the right shipper that is extremely important. 
Someone who has an experience in dealing with local and custom authorities in Israel is of important consideration. 
As your potential shipper is your key to get your goods through with custom clearance once you reach your destination.

You could also look at possibility of using combination modes of travel depending upon the urgency, fragility and cost of transportation. 
At times, bulky items that you would not want to dispose but can reach the destination once you settle down can be shipped through either land or sea mode.

And finally before you move, do not forget to cancel your utilities (gas, electricity, phone, and internet) in advance and clear all outstanding bills. 
Information to tax authorities, banks, relatives and friends on your relocation is important. Leaving a forwarding address and contact details are advised so that you can be contacted in case of any requirement. 

Go ahead and explore new avenues and do not get discouraged by fear of the unknown!!

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Things to know when shipping small electronics to Israel

All International shipping to Israel must be cleared through Customs in the destination country prior to being delivered to the recipient. 
Import duty and taxes are due when importing goods into Israel whether by a private individual or a commercial entity. 
The valuation method is CIF (cost, insurance and freight), which means that the import duty and taxes payable are calculated on the complete shipping value, which includes the cost of the imported goods, the cost of freight, and the cost of insurance. 
In addition to duty, imports are also subject to sales tax, purchase tax, and import port fee.

Import taxes must be paid on all large personal property shipments, and packages will be held at customs. 
To release these packages from customs, you must bring a valid passport or visa and proof of residency (like apartment contract).

For relocation to Israel, you may bring large appliances to Israel, typically one of each type of appliance (e.g. one refrigerator, one washing machine, etc). 
You can also bring smaller appliances such as blenders, coffee makers and computers. 
The Israel tax authority has a complete list of taxes and restrictions on personal goods.

If you bring electronics to Israel, you might need to buy electrical plugs. 
Israel has a unique electrical plug, but plugs from continental Europe can be used in Israel with a little difficulty. 
Israel’s electricity runs between 220-240 volts. 
You may also need to purchase an adapter for high-energy electronics like hair-dryers.

Computers and laptops will work in Israel as they are 110/220 capable. 
You will need to either replace the cable or use an adapter to switch the plug. 
With desktop systems, be sure to switch the power supply to 220-240 before you bring it to Israel. 

GPS in Israel will cost at least twice the cost of one purchased. 
If you have a GPS unit, you may be able to purchase additional maps for it. 
If you have a smartphone, there are GPS applications that have Israel maps. 

Cell phones must be unlocked Quad Band-GSM so that they work in Israel. 
CDMA based phones (phones without a SIM card) will not work here. 

Televisions that are capable of working on 220V will work. 
The best option would be to purchase a multi-system unit so you can watch PAL (TV, Israel DVD, Israel VHS) and NTSC (VHD’s and DVD) on your television.

Sales tax
VAT is levied on imports at a standard rate of 17%, calculated on the sum of the CIF value, applicable duty, purchase tax and import port fee (if applicable).



Sunday, October 2, 2016

Planning to Ship a vehicle to Israel

Importing a vehicle is complex, however by doing the necessary research and learning the rules and limitations involved in the process, importing may be worthwhile. 

There are two ways to import your vehicle to Israel:
• Using a vehicle importer- Saves time and you do not need to be involved in the actual procedure.
• On your own- Less expensive, you have to only pay the shipment, insurance and taxes

Country of manufacture:
The country where the vehicle is manufactured is important to the process of importing your vehicle and is necessary taxation and standardization of the vehicle in Israel is based on the standards of the European commonwealth. 

Only vehicle that fit these standards are permitted for import. 
In order to prove the European standards one must provide a Certificate of Conformity (COC). 

Vehicle models
It is important that if your vehicle model is allowed to be imported to Israel. We strongly recommend you check the list, if your vehicle appears on the list. If your vehicle model is not the list but its manufacturer is represented in Israel by a certified importer, please contact the importer to check if your vehicle model can be imported and if they are able and willing to provide maintenance services.
Special requirements for vehicles imported from the US
The speedometer must be in kilometers and not in miles.
The vehicle signals must be adjusted to the European code.

Age of vehicle
One can bring in a vehicle of any age; however, the importer must provide a letter from a certified garage in Israel guaranteeing they will provide service. 

Title
You must have a clear title to the vehicle. If it is leased or if there is some controversy regarding ownership, the vehicle’s departure from the port of origin will be delayed until the title issue is resolved. Furthermore, the entire contents of your shipment may be held up until the matter is resolved or until the vehicle is removed from the container. 

Shipping a vehicle
Most vehicles are shipped in containers. 
They can be shipped in the same containers as household goods. 
A supporting wall is constructed around and sometimes on top of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle is secured strongly in place. 
It is not recommended to fill the vehicle with household goods, as this complicates the clearing process. 

Marine insurance
Most marine insurance policies require that a statement of condition be signed by both the packers and the customer. 
Some insurance companies will not allow you to insure used vehicles except in case of total loss.
Shipping a car from Europe will normally cost approximately $1800 while from the US will normally cost approximately $2200.