Moving to the United Kingdom, handled from door to door

Where we move clients to United Kingdom from

Dedicated corridor pages

• France → United Kingdom
• Spain → United Kingdom

Other origins we cover

• Belgium → United Kingdom
• Netherlands → United Kingdom
• Luxembourg → United Kingdom
• Germany → United Kingdom
• Austria → United Kingdom
• Switzerland → United Kingdom
• Ireland → United Kingdom
• Portugal → United Kingdom
• Italy → United Kingdom
• Greece → United Kingdom
• Slovenia → United Kingdom
• Croatia → United Kingdom

Customs & paperwork into United Kingdom

Moving from an EU country

Since 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom is outside the EU customs union. A move from any EU country to Great Britain therefore involves an export declaration on the EU side and an import declaration in the UK. We handle both for you.

The same Transfer of Residence relief applies whether you come from the EU or from further afield: if you meet the conditions below, your used household goods enter the UK free of import duty and VAT.

Transfer of Residence relief (ToR)

To bring your belongings into the UK free of duty and VAT, you need to qualify for Transfer of Residence relief and obtain approval from HMRC before your goods arrive. The application is made online with form ToR01; HMRC then issues a reference number that we use for customs clearance. To qualify:

• you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months;
• you have owned and used your belongings for at least 6 months before the move;
• you are moving your main home to the UK;
• your goods are imported within 12 months of your arrival in the UK.

Goods admitted under the relief must not be sold, lent, hired out or used as security during the first 12 months after import.

Goods shipped to a second home or holiday home do not qualify. Alcohol, tobacco and newly purchased items are excluded and must be declared.

Apply well before your move: shipping without an HMRC reference number can delay clearance or lead to duties being charged.

If you are returning after years abroad, read our full guide to moving back to the UK for the ToR01 timeline, the NOVA car notification and your first weeks back.

Documents usually required for customs clearance

• Valid passport
• Your ToR01 approval reference number from HMRC
• Proof of your residence abroad for the past 12 months (tenancy, utility bills, deregistration certificate)
• Proof of your new residence in the UK (tenancy agreement, property purchase, employment contract)
• A detailed, itemised inventory of your belongings
• Your delivery address in the UK

Returning UK nationals follow the same process. If you are unsure whether you qualify, tell us at quote stage and we will check before anything is shipped.

Special territories

Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man have their own tax and customs arrangements, and Northern Ireland follows specific rules for goods under the Windsor Framework. If your destination is outside Great Britain, mention it at quote stage so we can plan the right formalities.

Vehicles and restricted items

• Vehicles Cars and motorbikes can be included under Transfer of Residence relief if you have owned and used them for at least 6 months. Once in the UK, the vehicle must be notified to HMRC and then registered with the DVLA before it can be driven on UK plates.
• Alcohol and tobacco Excluded from the relief. They are subject to duty and VAT and must be declared.
• Food, plants and soil Meat, dairy products, plants and soil are restricted or prohibited. Garden furniture and tools must be clean.
• Pets Pets travel separately from household goods. Dogs, cats and ferrets need a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination, dogs also need a tapeworm treatment, and they must arrive via an approved route.

How a move to United Kingdom works

1. Free quote. Tell us your origin, destination in United Kingdom and approximate volume. You receive an online estimate and a detailed quote within 24 hours.
2. Survey and planning. Your coordinator rechecks the volume, locks the transport mode and lists the customs rules you fall under on your way to United Kingdom.
3. Packing and collection. A packing crew comes to your address, prepares every item and loads the truck or the container at your door.
4. Transport. On the road for a European route, in a sea container across an ocean, or by air for small urgent shipments to United Kingdom.
5. Customs clearance (where required). Customs paperwork for United Kingdom is prepared and filed on your behalf (ToR01 application and UK customs clearance).
6. Delivery and set-up. Delivery to your new home, unpacking and furniture reassembly if included in your quote.

One coordinator follows your move to United Kingdom from the first call to the final delivery.

Transport options and transit times

Expect the figures below as indicative door-to-door windows; season, addresses and customs clearance can all shift them.

Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and customs clearance.

With your ToR reference number and documents in order, UK customs clearance usually takes a few working days.

How the price of your move to United Kingdom is calculated

We price every move to United Kingdom with the same ingredients — nothing hidden, nothing improvised:

• Volume — in cubic metres: it drives most of the price. Use our room-by-room calculator for an accurate figure.
• Distance and route — the actual door-to-door distance to United Kingdom, not a bird-flight shortcut.
• Transport mode — shared load, dedicated truck, sea container (shared or exclusive) or air freight.
• Services — packing, taking furniture apart and reassembling it, crating fragile pieces, storage, island delivery.
• Access — walk-up floors, pedestrian streets, long carries from the truck, and hoists where access is tight.
• Customs — brokerage, declaration and port handling charges on routes to United Kingdom that cross a customs border.
• Insurance — calculated as a percentage of the declared value of your belongings.

Typical volumes, as a guide:

Our online estimator gives you a starting price for road moves within Europe in two minutes. For sea and air freight, and for any move with customs, you receive a detailed written quote — reply within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay import duty when moving to the UK from the EU?

Not if you qualify for Transfer of Residence relief and have HMRC approval before your goods arrive. Since Brexit, moves from the EU are imports like any other, so the relief must be claimed.

What is the ToR01 form?

It is the online application for Transfer of Residence relief. HMRC reviews it and issues a reference number, which is used to clear your belongings free of duty and VAT.

When should I apply for Transfer of Residence relief?

Before your belongings arrive in the UK, ideally several weeks before your move. Your goods must then be imported within 12 months of your arrival.

I am a British citizen returning home. Does the relief apply to me?

Yes, if you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months and owned your belongings for at least 6 months. Nationality does not matter; your residence does.

Can I ship furniture to a holiday home in the UK duty-free?

No. Transfer of Residence relief only applies to your main home. Goods for a second home are subject to duty and VAT.

How long does a move to the UK take?

From neighbouring countries, a dedicated truck usually delivers within a week, plus customs clearance. A shared load takes two to four weeks. From North America, allow six to twelve weeks by sea container.