Removals to France

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 French move worth paying attention to — either ours, or yours done properly.

Customs relief for moving your home to France

For French customs the UK is a third country, so a household load is an import and normally carries duty and tax. French customs offers a relief for people transferring their main home to France. The conditions below are from its own guidance.

• You have been living in a country outside the EU for at least 12 months before transferring your main residence to France.
• Your personal property has been in private use for at least 6 months before the transfer, and has already borne customs or tax charges in the country it came from.
• You must bring the property into France within 12 months of the date you transfer your residence. It can arrive in more than one shipment, but the first customs inventory must list everything you are claiming relief for.
• You may not sell, lease, lend or pledge goods admitted duty-free for 12 months from the date they enter France.

What French customs asks you to provide

• A detailed inventory of the goods, in two copies, dated and signed.
• Form CERFA 10070.
• Proof of your previous main home outside the EU.
• Proof that you are settling in France, such as a residence card or a transfer order.

What the relief does not cover

French customs excludes alcoholic drinks, tobacco products, commercial vehicles, mixed-use vehicles, transportable dwellings and professional equipment (other than portable tools for a mechanical or liberal profession). Leave these out of the inventory, or ask us how they would be treated, rather than declaring them under the relief.

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.

France: common questions

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.

• French customs: transferring your main residence to France (duty relief)
• LeShuttle Freight: journey step by step
• GOV.UK: declare personal goods you bring into or take out of the UK

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.