Moving household goods to France from the UK in 2026? Since Brexit, a removal to France is an import from outside the EU, so your furniture and boxes go through French customs (la douane). The good news: if you are moving your main home, your used personal belongings can enter France free of duty and VAT under the transfer of residence relief (“franchise pour changement de résidence”). This customs guide explains the conditions, the paperwork and the common mistakes.
Who qualifies for duty-free import into France
According to French customs (douane.gouv.fr) and service-public.gouv.fr, you can usually bring your belongings in without duty or VAT if:
- you have lived outside the EU (for example in the UK) for at least one year;
- you are moving your main residence to France (not furnishing a second or holiday home);
- you have owned and used the goods for at least six months;
- you import them within 12 months of settling in France (in one or several loads);
- you do not sell, rent, lend or pledge them for 12 months after they enter France.
The documents French customs asks for
- A detailed, valued inventory, dated and signed, in two copies. If you move in several loads, the first inventory must list everything you want to bring tax-free. See what to list on a customs inventory.
- Cerfa form n°10070, “Déclaration d’entrée en France en franchise de biens personnels en provenance de pays tiers à l’Union Européenne” – needed in particular for vehicles and valuable belongings.
- Proof of your move: evidence of your UK residence and your new home in France, for example a tenancy or purchase agreement, utility bills or council tax notices, or a change-of-residence certificate from the French consulate.
- Vehicle documents (V5C) if you bring a car or motorbike.
Customs stamps a copy of your inventory and, for a car, issues the 846A certificate you need to register it in France.
What is not covered
- Alcohol and tobacco products.
- Utility and mixed-use vehicles, mobile homes and caravans used as homes.
- Professional equipment and stock (small portable tools of a profession, such as a musical instrument, are an exception).
- Goods for a second home in France.
- Restricted items – works of art and cultural goods, weapons, protected animals and plants, some medicines – which need prior authorisation.
The customs steps on a UK to France removal
- UK export declaration before the vehicle leaves Great Britain.
- Safety and security entry data (ENS) for the EU, submitted by the haulier before arrival.
- GMR (Goods Movement Reference) to pass through Dover or the Channel Tunnel.
- French import declaration using the transfer of residence relief, with your inventory and Cerfa 10070.
- T1 transit document if the goods are cleared inland rather than at the port.
Most delays at Calais and Dunkirk come from vague inventories (“boxes, misc.”), missing proof of residence, or goods that do not qualify mixed into the load. Read our European removals after Brexit checklist for the full list.
Practical tips for moving to France
- Start the inventory early: number every box and give each item a short description and value.
- Keep receipts for newer items to show you have owned them for six months.
- Do not pack food, alcohol or tobacco in the removal.
- Plan the vehicle size: compare part load or full van for your volume and dates.
- Moving back later? The UK side works the same way with ToR1 relief – see moving back to the UK.
Removals to France with MoveDay
MoveDay Removals moves homes from across the UK to France by road, with part load, full van and van with trailer options, and prepares the customs side for you: export and import declarations, ENS, GMR and T1 transit documents. We check your inventory and paperwork before collection. See our removals to France and customs for removals pages, or get a free quote.
Website: https://movedayremovals.com
Phone: 07378 626882
Email: office@movedayremovals.co.uk
This article is general guidance, correct as of October 2026. Customs rules can change, so always check French customs and GOV.UK before you move. Sources: douane.gouv.fr: transferring your primary residence to France, service-public.gouv.fr: s’installer en France après avoir vécu hors UE.