Home or Video Survey
A survey estimates the packed volume, reviews access at the UK property and identifies goods requiring specialist preparation.
Show everything that may be included, including loft, garage, shed and storage-unit contents.
UK to France International Removals
Moving to France from the UK
Planning a relocation from the United Kingdom to France involves more than loading furniture into a removals vehicle. Your belongings need to be assessed, professionally prepared for international transport, collected in the UK, moved across the Channel, presented to customs and delivered to your new address in France.
Easy Moving London provides coordinated UK-to-France relocation services for individuals, couples, families, returning residents and companies moving employees overseas. We can arrange anything from a few boxes and selected furniture to the contents of a fully furnished family home.
Our service can include a home or video survey, professional export packing, UK collection, shared road freight, dedicated removals vehicles, container shipping, air freight, customs-documentation support, storage and destination delivery.
Since the United Kingdom left the European Union's customs union and internal market, household moves from Great Britain to France require customs formalities. Customers transferring their main residence may qualify for relief from import duties and VAT when the residence, ownership, use, timing and documentation conditions are met.
- Professional export packing
- UK collection
- Shared and dedicated road transport
- Container and air-freight options
- French customs support
- Storage
- Door-to-door delivery
A Moving Company for Relocation to France
France is geographically close to the UK, but a post-Brexit household move still requires international planning. Goods may travel by road through a ferry port or the Channel Tunnel, with customs completed at the border or under an authorised transit arrangement before delivery.
Easy Moving London coordinates the move as one service. We assess the packed volume and compare shared road freight, a dedicated removals vehicle, container transport and air freight according to the route, timetable and budget.
A shared service is commonly used for boxes, selected furniture, second-home shipments and smaller moves. A dedicated vehicle may be more suitable for a full household or a relocation with fixed collection and delivery requirements.
Destination access also matters. Paris apartments, historic centres, narrow village roads, mountain properties and island destinations can all require different vehicles, parking arrangements or handling.
Who is this service suitable for?
- UK residents transferring their main residence to France
- Families moving to a French city or rural area
- French residents returning after living in the UK
- Couples moving a flat or small home
- Students shipping boxes or personal effects
- Retirees relocating permanently to France
- Businesses arranging employee relocations
- Customers furnishing a second home in France
- People requiring storage before or after customs clearance
On This Page
- UK-to-France relocation services
- The international moving process
- Groupage, dedicated vehicles and air freight
- Professional export packing
- French customs clearance
- Documents commonly required
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Cost of moving from the UK to France
- Transport and delivery times
- France delivery areas
- Storage during a France relocation
- Cars, pets and corporate moves
- Moving checklist
- Frequently asked questions
UK-to-France Relocation Services
The exact scope of the move will be confirmed in your written quotation. Depending on your requirements, Easy Moving London can coordinate the following services.
Professional Export Packing
Professional packing protects furniture and cartons through collection, depots, customs handling, cross-Channel transport and final delivery.
The service can include export cartons, furniture wrapping, picture protection, dismantling and custom cases.
UK Collection
Collection can be arranged from a house, apartment, storage unit or business premises.
Parking, stairs, lifts, narrow roads and carrying distances should be disclosed before the collection date.
Road Freight to France
Road freight is normally the most practical option for mainland France. Goods can travel as part of a shared load or in a dedicated removals vehicle.
The route may use a ferry or the Channel Tunnel depending on locations, customs arrangements and schedules.
Container and Sea Freight
Container transport may suit very large moves, moves involving longer storage, Corsica or specialist projects.
The quotation should clearly state the included terminal, customs, handling and final-delivery services.
Air Freight
Air freight may suit a compact urgent shipment such as clothing, work equipment and immediate-use belongings.
Charges can be based on actual or volumetric weight, making bulky goods relatively expensive.
Customs Documentation Support
The customs file may include a valued inventory, Cerfa form 10070, proof of the former UK residence and evidence of settlement in France.
French Customs makes all final decisions on relief, inspection, valuation, duty and VAT.
Destination Delivery
After customs release, delivery is arranged to the stated French address and may include unloading, basic reassembly and removal of used packing materials.
Parking, low-emission-zone rules, lifts, narrow access and local restrictions should be checked in advance.
Storage
Storage can be used before export or after customs clearance when completion, renovation, tenancy or travel dates do not align.
Confirm the storage location, recurring charge, handling fees, release notice and redelivery arrangements.
Business and Employee Relocation
Easy Moving London can coordinate employee moves around an authorised allowance, start date and internal approval process.
Requested changes and additional services should be agreed before costs are incurred.
How Moving from the UK to France Works
Each relocation is different, but most UK-to-France household moves follow the same main stages.
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Initial Move Assessment
Provide the UK postcode, French destination, shipment size, moving period, storage needs and specialist goods.
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Home or Video Survey
The survey establishes packed volume and access requirements.
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Transfer-of-Residence Review
Confirm whether France will become the main residence, the length of residence outside the EU and how long the goods have been owned and used.
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Written Quotation
Review the route, packing, customs support, delivery, exclusions and possible inspection or access charges.
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Service Selection
Choose shared road freight, a dedicated vehicle, container transport, air freight or a combination.
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Document Preparation
Prepare identity, residence and customs documents and review all excluded or controlled goods.
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Packing and Collection
The crew packs and numbers the agreed goods. Keep passports, medicines, valuables and immediate essentials with you.
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UK Export and Cross-Channel Transport
The goods complete the UK export process and travel by the selected ferry, tunnel, sea or air route.
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French Customs Clearance
The customs representative submits the import declaration and supporting evidence. Customs may request more information or examine the goods.
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Delivery to Your French Address
After release, the shipment is delivered according to the confirmed access arrangements.
Transporting Household Goods to France
Shared road freight, dedicated vehicles, container transport and air freight suit different move sizes, routes and schedules.
Shared Road Freight or Groupage
Several separately packed shipments travel on a compatible route, and each customer pays for the space used.
It suits boxes, selected furniture and flexible smaller moves, but normally has a broader delivery window.
Dedicated Removals Vehicle
A dedicated vehicle is allocated to one customer and suits full households or time-sensitive moves.
It provides greater control over routing and delivery but may cost more when the vehicle is not fully used.
Container or Sea-Freight Service
A container may suit a very large move, longer storage, Corsica or a specialist route.
It involves more terminal handling, so the full door-to-door scope should be checked carefully.
Air Freight to France
Air freight is the fastest option for compact urgent consignments.
Some customers send immediate-use goods by air and the main household by road.
Transport Option Comparison
| Transport service | Usually suitable for | Main benefit | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared road freight or groupage | Boxes, small flats and partial moves | Pay for the space used | Broader schedule |
| Dedicated removals vehicle | Full households and fixed-date moves | Sole use and more control | Higher cost if capacity is unused |
| Container or sea freight | Very large, stored or specialist shipments | High capacity | More terminal handling |
| Air freight | Urgent low-volume consignments | Fastest transport | Higher cost for bulky goods |
Professional Packing for a Move to France
Professional export packing protects belongings during repeated handling, customs procedures and cross-border transport. It also supports a clear numbered inventory.
Furniture can be wrapped, suitable cartons selected and fragile or unusual belongings given additional protection or custom cases.
Items that may need additional preparation
- Pictures, mirrors and framed artwork
- Glass tables and cabinets
- Antiques and sculptures
- Televisions and audio equipment
- Musical instruments
- Stone and heavy furniture
- Large appliances
- Bicycles and sports equipment
- High-value collections
- Goods requiring custom cases
Before shipping large furniture, compare its dimensions with the destination rooms, doors, corridors, stairs and lifts. Historic buildings and rural properties can have narrow access.
Owner-packed cartons may be accepted for some services, but insurance terms can differ. Ask which goods should be packed professionally.
French Customs Clearance for Household Goods
Great Britain is outside the European Union for customs purposes. A household shipment entering France therefore requires an import declaration even when the goods are used and privately owned.
French Customs can grant relief from customs duty and VAT when a person transfers their main or normal residence to France and meets the applicable conditions.
Main conditions: the customer has normally lived outside the EU for at least 12 months; the goods have been owned and used privately for at least six months; the same private use will continue in France; and the goods are imported within 12 months of the residence transfer.
The import can take place in one shipment or several shipments. Where several loads are planned, the first inventory should list all goods for which relief will be requested.
Goods admitted under relief cannot normally be sold, rented, lent, pledged or otherwise transferred during the first 12 months after import without notifying Customs and dealing with any duty or VAT due.
Alcohol, tobacco, commercial means of transport, certain mixed-use vehicles, mobile homes, most professional equipment and commercial stock are excluded from the ordinary relief.
Goods imported to furnish a second home are not covered by the main-residence relief and can be subject to customs duty, import VAT and other taxes.
French Customs may review documents and values or physically examine the shipment. No moving company can guarantee relief or exemption from inspection.
This is general guidance rather than legal or customs advice. French Customs makes the final decision.
Documents Commonly Needed When Moving to France
The exact checklist depends on the customer, goods, route and customs representative. Commonly requested documents include:
- Passport or national identity document
- Cerfa form 10070
- A detailed, valued, dated and signed inventory in two copies
- Proof of the former main residence in the UK
- Proof of establishing a main residence in France
- Employment, retirement, tenancy or purchase documents where relevant
- Transport document
- UK export and French import declaration information
- Customs power of attorney
- Invoices or valuations for new and high-value goods
- Licences or certificates for controlled goods
- Vehicle documents where applicable
Names should be consistent across the identity document, transport document, inventory and customs authorisation.
Use clear descriptions and realistic second-hand values. Avoid describing every carton simply as “miscellaneous”.
Restricted and Prohibited Goods in France
A household move is not exempt from French and EU controls. Some goods require a permit, inspection or certificate, while prohibited goods must not be included.
Examples of prohibited or tightly controlled goods
- Illegal drugs and prohibited controlled substances
- Counterfeit and pirated goods
- Meat, milk and certain products containing them
- Protected wildlife and endangered-species products
- Other goods prohibited under French or EU law
Goods requiring particular attention
- Food, medicines and medical products
- Plants, seeds, soil, fruit and plant products
- Live animals and animal products
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Antiques, artworks and cultural property
- Firearms and ammunition
- Chemicals, gases and hazardous materials
- Professional tools and commercial stock
- New goods or commercial quantities
The customs representative should check any unusual item before it is packed.
Items to keep with you
- Passports and residence documents
- Prescription medication
- Cash, jewellery and irreplaceable valuables
- Keys and important property paperwork
- Immediate-use phones and laptops
- Several days of clothing
- Children’s immediate-use items
- Important school and veterinary records
How Much Does It Cost to Move from the UK to France?
There is no single reliable price. The total depends on volume, transport method, packing, access, destination, storage and specialist requirements.
Volume is one of the largest pricing factors, so a survey is more reliable than estimating by bedroom count.
Groupage spreads vehicle space and route costs between customers. A dedicated vehicle assigns the complete journey to one move.
Ferry or Channel Tunnel bookings, tolls, fuel, driver time and route distance affect the transport cost.
Parking restrictions, stairs, narrow roads, historic centres and mountain access can affect labour and vehicle requirements.
Storage can include intake, recurring storage, release and redelivery charges.
A qualifying main-residence transfer may receive relief, while second-home shipments, excluded goods and ineligible vehicles can create duty and VAT.
Ask what insurance or shipment protection is included and how owner-packed or high-value goods are treated.
Questions to ask when comparing quotations
- Is the quotation door to door?
- Does it include professional packing?
- Does it include UK collection?
- Is the service shared or dedicated?
- Are ferry, tunnel and toll charges included?
- Does it include UK export and French customs handling?
- Does it include delivery to the exact postcode?
- Are unpacking and reassembly included?
- What parking, shuttle or access charges could apply?
- What storage costs could be added?
- Which duty, VAT or inspection charges are excluded?
- What insurance options are available?
How Long Does Moving from the UK to France Take?
A dedicated road service can sometimes complete collection and delivery within a few days, depending on the origin, destination, customs readiness and access.
Shared services normally use a broader planning window because the vehicle follows a route containing several compatible collections and deliveries. Approximately one to four weeks may be used as a general planning range.
Air freight can move quickly between airports, but collection, customs and final delivery still affect the complete timeframe. Container and specialist services can take longer.
Factors that can affect the schedule
- Groupage route planning
- Vehicle and crew availability
- UK collection access
- Ferry or Channel Tunnel availability
- Weather and Channel disruption
- Export-document completion
- French customs review
- Physical inspection
- Duty or VAT assessment
- Restricted-item permits
- Storage instructions
- Building bookings
- Long-distance or island transport
Keep sufficient clothing, medication, work equipment and immediate-use belongings with you.
Relocation Services Across France
Moving to Paris or Île-de-France
Delivery may involve controlled parking, high-rise access, restricted loading times, lifts and low-emission-zone rules.
Moving to Normandy or Brittany
These regions are well positioned for several Channel routes, but rural and coastal access should still be checked.
Moving to Nouvelle-Aquitaine or Occitanie
Bordeaux, Toulouse and surrounding areas involve a longer domestic road journey and can include narrow village access.
Moving to Provence or the Côte d'Azur
Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Marseille and surrounding areas may involve gated developments, hillside roads and seasonal traffic.
Moving to Lyon or the Alps
Mountain roads, winter conditions, vehicle limits and steep access can affect the delivery plan.
Moving to Corsica
Corsica requires an additional ferry or sea-freight stage and separate island delivery planning.
Cars, Pets and Employee Relocation to France
Taking a Vehicle from the UK to France
A private vehicle may qualify for transfer-of-residence relief when the customer has lived outside the EU for more than one year, the vehicle is on the inventory, it is not commercial, it has been owned and used for more than six months and the normal taxes were paid.
Customs can issue certificate 846 A after clearance. A person settling in France with a foreign-registered vehicle generally has one month to apply for French registration.
Moving Pets to France
Dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from Great Britain normally need an approved microchip, valid rabies vaccination and an animal health certificate issued before EU entry.
The animal health certificate is normally valid for entry for ten days from issue. Original documents should travel with the animal, and separate rules apply when pets travel commercially or outside the permitted owner-travel window.
Corporate and Employee Moves
Easy Moving London can coordinate an employee move around an allowance, start date and approval process.
The service can include survey, packing, storage, customs support, transport and delivery.
Small Moves and Boxes
Boxes, books, clothing and selected furniture can often travel through a shared road-freight service.
Provide dimensions, weights where known, photographs or an item list for an accurate estimate.
UK-to-France Relocation Checklist
Eight to Twelve Weeks Before Collection
- Request detailed quotations.
- Arrange a home or video survey.
- Decide what will be moved, sold, donated or stored.
- Confirm whether France will become the main residence.
- Identify specialist items.
- Check residence requirements separately.
- Review destination access.
Four to Eight Weeks Before Collection
- Choose the transport service.
- Complete insurance documentation.
- Prepare the complete valued inventory.
- Gather UK residence and French settlement evidence.
- Prepare Cerfa form 10070.
- Remove prohibited goods and identify excluded goods.
- Arrange storage.
- Begin pet or vehicle formalities.
One to Four Weeks Before Collection
- Confirm UK parking and access.
- Separate passports, medication, valuables and essentials.
- Back up important files.
- Photograph high-value items.
- Provide updated French contact details.
- Check document names.
- Do not add unlisted goods after customs preparation.
Before Delivery in France
- Confirm the full address and postcode.
- Check building rules.
- Reserve a lift if required.
- Arrange parking permission.
- Check road, bridge, height and weight limits.
- Ensure an authorised adult can receive the move.
- Inspect goods on delivery.
- Report visible loss or damage promptly.
Why Use Easy Moving London for a Relocation to France?
An international move should be planned as one complete service. The survey, packing, route, customs documents and final delivery all need to match.
Easy Moving London assesses the shipment, explains the differences between groupage, dedicated vehicles, container transport and air freight, and coordinates the move through customs clearance and delivery.
Compare like-for-like quotations. A low transport price may exclude packing, customs handling, storage, tolls, ferry charges, access work and final delivery.
Add Easy Moving London's verified years of experience, accreditations, review score, insurance arrangements, UK coverage and France partner information before publishing.
Moving to France from the UK: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to move from the UK to France?
The cost depends on volume, shared or dedicated transport, packing, access, storage and specialist items. A survey and written door-to-door quotation are the most reliable basis.
How long does a move from the UK to France take?
A dedicated move may be completed within a few days when customs and access are ready. Shared services commonly use a broader planning range of approximately one to four weeks.
What is the cheapest way to move belongings to France?
For a smaller flexible shipment, groupage is often economical because the customer pays for the space used.
Can I ship only boxes to France?
Yes. Boxes and small personal-effects consignments can often travel through a shared road-freight service.
Do I need a dedicated removals vehicle?
Not necessarily. Smaller moves can share vehicle space, while a dedicated vehicle suits larger or fixed-date moves.
What is groupage transport?
Groupage combines separately packed shipments from several customers on a compatible route.
Are used household goods duty free when moving to France?
They may qualify when you transfer your main residence, have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and have owned and used the goods for at least six months.
How long do I have to import my belongings?
Qualifying goods should normally be imported within 12 months of transferring your residence.
Can I sell my goods after importing them duty free?
Not normally during the first 12 months without notifying Customs and dealing with any duty or VAT due.
What documents are needed for French customs clearance?
Common documents include Cerfa form 10070, a detailed valued inventory in two copies, proof of former residence, proof of settlement in France, identity documents and customs authorisation.
Can I use transfer-of-residence relief for a second home?
No. Goods imported to furnish a second home can be subject to customs duty, import VAT and other taxes.
Can I ship alcohol or tobacco with my household goods?
They are excluded from ordinary transfer-of-residence relief and require separate customs and excise treatment.
Will French Customs inspect my shipment?
Customs can review the documents and select the vehicle or shipment for physical examination.
Can I ship new furniture or appliances?
Yes, but recent purchases may not meet the six-month ownership and use condition and can be taxable.
Can I move furniture to a holiday home in France?
Yes, but the shipment should be declared as a taxable second-home import rather than a qualifying main-residence transfer.
Can you collect from anywhere in the UK?
Add Easy Moving London's confirmed UK collection coverage before publishing. The full postcode and access details are needed for pricing.
Can you deliver anywhere in France?
Delivery can be discussed throughout mainland France. Corsica, mountain and restricted-access destinations may require additional arrangements.
Can my belongings be stored during the move?
Storage may be available before export or after customs clearance. Confirm all handling, recurring and redelivery charges.
Can I take my UK car when moving to France?
Yes, subject to customs and registration requirements. A qualifying private vehicle may receive transfer-of-residence relief.
How quickly must I register my car in France?
A person settling in France with a foreign-registered vehicle generally has one month to apply for French registration.
Can you help move pets to France?
Pet travel should follow current UK-to-EU rules. Dogs, cats and ferrets normally need a microchip, rabies vaccination and animal health certificate.
Do I need insurance for an international removal?
Suitable cover should be considered because the shipment passes through handling, customs and transport stages.
When should I book a move to France?
Starting around six to twelve weeks before collection gives more time for surveys, customs preparation and route planning.
Start Planning Your Move to France
Tell Easy Moving London what you need to move, where it is being collected and which part of France it needs to reach. We can assess the shipment, explain the available transport options and prepare a quotation for your UK-to-France relocation.