Moving from France to the UK
Removals from Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Provence or anywhere in France to London and the whole UK, with export and import customs handled.
Popular areas we cover
From France
- Paris and Île-de-France
- Lyon
- Bordeaux
- Toulouse
- Provence
- Brittany
- Normandy
To United Kingdom
- London
- the South East
- the South West
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Edinburgh
How the France → United Kingdom route works
Your belongings are packed and loaded at your home in France, then cross the Channel by the tunnel or ferry.
We file the French export declaration and clear your goods into the UK with your HMRC reference number.
Customs from France to the UK
To import your belongings free of duty and VAT, you apply online for Transfer of Residence relief (ToR01) and obtain HMRC approval before your goods arrive. You qualify if you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months, owned your belongings for at least 6 months, and import them within 12 months of your arrival.
French and other EU citizens moving to the UK need the right immigration status for their stay; check it before planning your move.
Checklist for clearance
- Valid passport
- Your HMRC ToR01 reference number
- Proof of your residence in France for the past 12 months
- Proof of your new UK address (tenancy, purchase, employment contract)
- Detailed inventory of your belongings
Transport options and transit times
Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and, where required, customs clearance.
| Mode | Typical door-to-door time |
|---|---|
| Dedicated truck | Up to 5 days, plus customs clearance |
| Shared load (groupage) | 1 to 3 weeks, plus customs clearance |
| Air freight (small volumes) | 1 to 2 weeks |
How a move to United Kingdom works
- Free quote. Share your origin, your delivery address in United Kingdom and roughly how much you are moving. A written quote lands in your inbox within 24 hours.
- Survey and planning. A coordinator confirms your volume and the transport mode, and reviews the customs rules that apply to your move to United Kingdom.
- Packing and collection. We bring the packing materials to your home, inventory each piece and load everything on moving day.
- Transport. Your belongings travel by the mode that fits your route to United Kingdom: dedicated truck or shared load within Europe, sea container or air freight otherwise.
- Customs clearance (where required). We prepare and file the documents for clearance in United Kingdom (ToR01 application and UK customs clearance).
- Delivery and set-up. Final-mile delivery to your door; unpacking and reassembly are added when your quote includes them.
One coordinator follows your move to United Kingdom from the first call to the final delivery.
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 — measured in cubic metres (m³) — the main cost driver. Our online volume calculator helps you estimate it room by room.
- Distance and route — measured on the actual road, from your door to your delivery address in United Kingdom.
- Transport mode — shared road load, a truck booked only for you, FCL or LCL by sea, or air for very small cargo.
- Services — packing, furniture dismantling and reassembly, fragile item crating, storage, delivery to an island.
- Access — floors without a lift, narrow streets, long carry distances or the need for an external lift.
- Customs — declaration fees and port or airport handling, when the route to United Kingdom crosses a customs border.
- Insurance — priced as a percentage of what you tell us your belongings are worth.
Typical volumes, as a guide:
| Home | Typical volume |
|---|---|
| Studio | 10 to 15 m³ |
| 1-bedroom flat | 15 to 25 m³ |
| 2-bedroom home | 25 to 40 m³ |
| 3-bedroom home | 40 to 60 m³ |
| 4-bedroom house or larger | 60 m³ and more |
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.
Other routes to United Kingdom
Read before you move
- Moving back to the UK: ToR01, your car and timingReturning to the UK after living abroad: Transfer of Residence relief (ToR01), importing your car with NOVA, and how long the move takes.
- How to choose the best international moving companyWhat separates the best international movers from the rest: quotes, customs, insurance, red flags and the questions to ask before you book.
- Cross-border moving in Europe: how a European move worksHow cross-border moves work in Europe: transport options, transit times, when customs applies and how to choose a European moving company.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I pay import duty when moving from France to the UK?
- Not if HMRC approves your Transfer of Residence relief (ToR01) before your goods arrive and you meet the conditions.
- Do I need customs paperwork on the French side?
- Yes, an export declaration. We file it before departure so your truck is not held at the border.
- Can you deliver to central London?
- Yes. We plan access, parking suspensions where needed and the right vehicle size for London streets.
- Can I bring my French car to the UK?
- Yes, under Transfer of Residence relief if you have owned it for at least 6 months. It must then be registered with the DVLA.
- How long does a removal from France to the UK take?
- Up to 5 days by dedicated truck, or 1 to 3 weeks by shared load, plus customs clearance.
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Ready to plan your move to United Kingdom?
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