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if I have to bring cryptocurrency mining hardware (A disassembled PC and several GPUs) from Germany to Albania. What are the problems I could face on border control and customs in the countries I am crossing (I am travelling by car)?

The borders being crossed would be:

  • Germany / Austria.
  • Austria / Slovenia.
  • Slovenia / Croatia.
  • Croatia / Bosnia.
  • Bosnia / Montenegro.
  • Montenegro / Albania.

Would I have to declare the goods for some of the customs and pay taxes to legally transport them?

UPDATE Would it be different / possible / less expensive to do so by flying instead? I tend to think that given the border to cross would be only one.

UPDATE Would I have to pay taxes and declare goods even if the hardware is for me and the transportation is not being done to sell it or leave it in that country being crossed? (Except the final destination being Albania though the hardware is not meant to be sold there)

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    The hardware is supposed to stay in Albania, however I do not exclude the possibility of bringing it back at a later stage...from a quick google search I could see that the ATA carnet would be valid only if the goods are brought back within one year period...
    – Samuryte
    Commented Jul 11, 2018 at 10:48
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    Yes, it's only meant for short duration temporary imports, usually for stuff like exhibitions or for bringing equipment for a shooting, etc. You may be better off shipping the hardware via a courier service (e.g. UPS, DHL, Fedex, TNT...) so they handle all the hassle of the taxes and duties to be paid.
    – jcaron
    Commented Jul 11, 2018 at 10:54
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    This has been flagged as off-topic. Why? It might be too broad but it's certainly about travel.
    – David Richerby
    Commented Jul 11, 2018 at 12:37
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    How come this has "nothing to do with travelling"? I never mentioned I am bringing the miner there to exercise commercial activities. According to what I have specified, I might be carrying them with me to show them to a friend and them bring them back (As I also wrote in a comment, I might be taking them back at some point)....Also tinkering and playing with mining machines/hardware is also a very diffused activity which sometimes, especially on latter times, concerns more hobbyist than entrependeurs. What if I was indicating music instruments? Aren't they also used to make money by some?
    – Samuryte
    Commented Jul 12, 2018 at 22:00
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    @DanubianSailor What? The asker explicitly says that they’ll be travelling from Germany to Albania by car and wants to know about the relevant customs legislation. So what if that travel is for commercial purposes? This site is in no way restricted to leisure travel. [Reposted because my bad editing made the first version incomprehensible but that was too long ago to just edit.]
    – David Richerby
    Commented Jul 13, 2018 at 10:20

2 Answers 2

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+100

In most countries the import tax or custom duties are usually assessed on what you are importing and what it holds in value. Depending on how old your computer and graphics cards are and what they hold in current resale value will be biggest factor if you will end up paying import tax or custom duties.

The Albanian Customs website states:

Each individual, Albanian or foreigner, entering to or leaving from the territory of the Republic of Albania, is obliged to declare the cash, any currency, precious metals or gems, valuable items, antiquaries, exceeding the value of 1 000 000 ALL (one million) or this sum in other currencies as well as the purpose of carrying them for which is needed to be presented the justifying documents.

Or in short:

Each individual is obliged to declare the valuable items exceeding the value of 1 000 000 ALL.

With the current exchange rate 1€ = 121ALL, if the total of everything you are importing exceeds 8,250€ (or 1,000,000 ALL) you must declare it, and if possible show proof of purchase.

If you're travelling with your spouse, this declaration threshold will increase as you will be 2 individuals and thereby the treshold of 1,000,000ALL per person x 2 people (you and your spouse) will become 2,000,000ALL or 16,500€.

TL;DR: You don't need declare as long as the total of what you are importing does not exceed 1,000,000ALL or approximately 8,250€ according to the Albanian Customs website.

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  • Although, the wording says "valuable items", what is meant here is items that could be used to smuggle in or out currency, for instance gold jewellery, ie. items that don't depreciate in value. A car is often worth more than that for instance. It is unlikely they would ask you to declare your car for this purpose. The computer is already depreciated to some extent probably not even exceeding this amount.
    – life-on-mars
    Commented Sep 19, 2019 at 8:31
  • I'm not sure about Albania but I know that some countries don't calculate cash thresholds like that. Travelling with your spouse does not necessarily double the threshold.
    – life-on-mars
    Commented Sep 19, 2019 at 8:34
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In most countries, it is possibly to do a temporary import. The above-mentioned ATA carnet is used in all countries you want to enter, including Albania.

The German Customs Office explains re-export like this: Temporary admission

The concept of this is similar to driving a car into another country. While you use the car there, it's a temporary import.

Although the carnet document is valid one year only, in some countries, it can be "replaced" with a new carnet which extends the period of the temporary import. Again, this is the case with Albania. To be sure if such an extension is actually possible, you would have to contact the Albanian customs authorities, as the actual treaty document states this possibility with a "may".

For eventual re-import to Germany, you would need a Nämlichkeitsbescheinigung (official page in English doesn't seem to exist).

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