Diplomatic posting: setting up household at the destination
Diplomatic and consular personnel transferring to a new posting use a separate customs regime under the 1961 Vienna Convention. Covers Diplomatic Pouches, household-effects shipment, motor-vehicle import, and reciprocity exceptions.
Checklist
- 01
Confirm your accreditation status with the receiving state's Protocol Department before shipping anything. Diplomatic, Consular, and Administrative-and-Technical staff each get different customs privileges; reciprocity may further constrain or expand them.
- 02
Apply for the receiving state's Diplomatic List inscription via your sending Embassy at least 30 days before the household-effects shipment arrives. Without inscription, no privileged-treatment customs entry is possible.
- 03
Use the receiving state's Customs Diplomatic Privilege Form (USPS DS-1504 / FCS-A1 / EU PVD-1) for each shipment of household effects, a personal-import motor vehicle, alcohol shipments, and tobacco. Each form lists the article, value, and the privilege code.
- 04
Diplomatic Pouch shipments (under Article 27 of the Vienna Convention) move untouched by host-state customs and are reserved for official documents and articles for official use. Personal-effects do NOT travel by Pouch — that's an abuse and reciprocity penalty.
- 05
Motor-vehicle imports under diplomatic privilege are duty-free at most postings; resale within 1-3 years of import is restricted and may attract back-duty if sold to a non-privileged buyer.
- 06
Alcohol and tobacco follow a quota system at most posting countries (e.g. UAE diplomatic alcohol scheme, Saudi Arabia restrictions, Singapore monthly quota). Apply for the privilege code in advance via your Embassy.