Removals to Belgium

Packing matters more on a long run

Breakages on long journeys are rarely dropped items. They are things that were allowed to move for hundreds of miles. That makes packing the part of a Belgian move worth paying attention to — either ours, or yours done properly.

Customs relief for moving your home to Belgium

Belgium's federal finance ministry publishes a relief from customs duty and import VAT for people moving their normal home to Belgium from outside the EU. It is a relief for a genuine change of residence, so the conditions are about you and about how long you have used the goods.

• You have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months before the move.
• The goods have been yours and in private use for at least 6 months before you leave.
• The goods are cleared within 12 months of moving your residence.
• You may not sell, lend, hire out or pledge the goods for 12 months after they are cleared.

Timing the relief

Belgian customs can grant the relief before you are established in Belgium, but then you must undertake to make Belgium your normal residence within six months, and that undertaking requires a security deposit. The customs office of import decides on the relief, except for motor vehicles and certain other goods, which are decided by the regional customs director for your new home.

Crossing the Channel

One way to cross the Channel by road is Eurotunnel's LeShuttle Freight between Folkestone and Calais. Its planned journey time is 35 minutes, with up to one departure every 10 minutes at peak times, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The operator's figures for December to June 2022 show the 35 minutes achieved in 81% of cases and 38 minutes or less in 94%. Whichever crossing your move uses, allow for the wait either side of it as well as the crossing itself.

On the UK side

GOV.UK says goods for personal use taken out of the UK in luggage or in a vehicle do not normally need a formal declaration, and that you should also check the requirements of the country you are going to. A full household load is a bigger consignment than luggage, so tell us early that it is a removal and we will confirm with you which paperwork applies before the day.

Sources

Taken from the official pages below and last checked 19 September 2026. Customs rules and operator figures change, so confirm with the authority before you rely on them.

• FPS Finance Belgium: moving from a non-EU country to Belgium
• LeShuttle Freight: journey step by step

Getting a price

European moves are quoted individually rather than from the hourly rate card — the distance, the crossing and the load all move the number. Call us or send the details and we will price it properly.