Expat Community > Ecuador

brmobu
Joined 2014
Posts: 27

Camera Gear, First Time Residency VISA Entry

9 years ago

Greetings! My wife and I have obtained our residency VISAs while we are still in the USA. We made the decision to start again with furnishings and such and not use the services of a shipper and a container. We will be bringing about four suitcases each with mostly clothes and a few books and odds and ends.

However, our carry ons are especially made to hold camera gear and we are photographers. These carry ons will be loaded with all types of professional camera gear; essentially our camera kits. We used these professionally in the USA but will probably use all our gear recreationaly in EC since we have retired.

Here is my question. Since we will be entering for the first time with our residency VISAs that we obtained while stateside, this will be our first time coming to EC as residents. Should I expect anyone to ask me to pay any type of taxes on my things since I am entering for the first time as a resident and this camera gear is what we use for work and fun. I know if you bring a container, you prepare manifests to show what all you are bringing and that you can bring all your container stuff in without having to pay taxes if you already have obtained your residency VISA.

We don't want to have to pay taxes on things we are bringing from our home in the USA and it is camera gear. Many lenses, four camera bodies, flash, tripods, etc. Our carry-ons and part of our suitcases will be filled to the brim.

If you don't know what we should expect, can you direct us to a website where we might find any rulings specific to our first time entry as residents. We are bringing all our camera gear, if we have to pay something I guess we will but I don't know how to find out.

Please help us with any personal experience or particularly some website where we can find out how we should be prepared.

Many thanks!

B&E

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Camera Gear, First Time Residency VISA Entry

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