ToR1 Application

What is ToR1?

ToR1 is a declaration document submitted to the UK Customs, and can be said to be a required document for immigrants moving house. When applying for ToR1, you need to fill in your personal information, Hong Kong and UK residential addresses, and a list and quantity of items. In the first year of immigration to the UK, you can ship personal items that exceed half a year tax-free. The application procedures can be completed by yourself on the HMRC website –
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/application-for-transfer-of-residence-relief-tor1

What conditions must applicants and shipments meet to be eligible for ToR1 and duty-free?

Lived in a country outside the UK for 12 consecutive months before immigrating to the UK
The item has been used by the user for more than 6 months
The item arrived in the UK within 12 months of your entry
The items will be used by the applicant for more than 12 months after entry and cannot be resold, loaned, rented or given to others
Applications for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, commercial vehicles, perfumes, prohibited items and restricted items are not accepted

What documents do I need to submit for online ToR1 application?

List of items and quantity (must fill in the specific item name, such as “Microwave”, “Rice Cooker” can not be written as “Kitchenwares”)
Passport (including photo and signature page)
Proof of UK address (such as electricity bill, rental agreement, etc.) If you still don’t have a real address, you can first provide a short-term rental address, such as a hotel or AirBnB address. If you plan to stay at a local friend’s house first, you can also ask your friend to provide a proof of address. Co-residence declaration and proof of address)
Proof of Hong Kong residence issued within 3 months before leaving for the UK

Example questions for the online application

You must answer “Yes” to the above questions, otherwise it will affect the ToR approval results.

Once your ToR1 application is successfully approved, you will receive an email confirmation and be issued a Unique Reference Number (URN). This number usually consists of 7 digits, and the last two digits represent the year of application, for example <12345-21> represents application in 2021. If the items listed in the item list will be shipped by air and sea in batches, you only need to apply for ToR1 once and use the same URN to handle customs clearance matters. If you plan to ship other items that are not on the list within 12 months of arrival, you will need to apply for ToR1 again.

Suggested Order for Overseas/Immigrant Moving

When is the best time to apply for ToR1? At which stage of overseas moving should I apply for ToR1? Before departure, after sailing, or after arriving in the UK?

If you are unable to provide the URN, customs may impose taxes on the goods when the items are cleared, and there is a chance that additional fees such as storage fees may be incurred due to delayed customs clearance.

As the approval process may take up to 6 weeks, please refer to the following procedure for safety reasons:

Request quotation and receive packaging materials
Pack and prepare a list of items to apply for ToR1
Contact the overseas/immigrant moving company to collect the packed items and cartons, and provide documents (Packing List, passport Visa copy, URN)

Stress free Relocation Service!

Door to Door moving solution, globally!

Why Choose Us

Door to Door Relocation Services in Hong Kong

Safe & Secure Packing

Protecting your valuables with high-quality materials

Efficient Transportation

Reliable & timely delivery to your destination

Expert Handling

Our skilled movers take care of everything with precision

Custom Solution

Tailored moving plans to fit your needs

ToR1 Application