What paperwork is needed for moving belongings from UK to France - The Good Life France (2024)

FAQs

What paperwork is needed for moving belongings from UK to France - The Good Life France? ›

Import Documents:

Trade to / from France within the European Union does not involve border formalities. However, you must complete an Intrastat Declaration.

You will need to provide proof of residency in France. You must have owned the items in question for more than six months (new items will be subject to VAT and/or customs duties) You will need to supply an itemised and valued inventory detailing all items.

Once you have bought your dream home in France If you would like to relocate to France or visit for longer than 90 days you will require a visa, which is easy to obtain once you are the owner of a French property. You may wish to apply for a Long stay visa valid for residence (VLS-TS).

Parcels marked as a 'gift' under the value of £39 (approximately €46) shouldn't have any extra fees to pay, but any item above this will be subject to UK VAT at 20%. Items valued over £135 (approximately €159) may also be subject to customs duties depending on their origin and value.

You must declare all items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the United States, including gifts for other people as well as items you bought for yourself. This includes duty-free items purchased in foreign countries, as well as any merchandise you intend to sell or use in your business.

Filling Out Customs Forms Online

You can print just a customs form or use Click-N-Ship^® service to pay for postage and print an international shipping label and a customs form.

How long can you live in France without residency? ›

If you spend more than 6 months a year in France, you are then considered as a French resident and must apply for a Long Stay visitor visa (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour VLS-TS « visiteur »).

You will need to apply for a long-stay Visa – typically this will be the Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour – Visiteur (VLS-Visiteur) which will allow you to reside in France for more than the 90-days Visa-free allowance, click here to find out more. Provide proof of accommodation in France.

A family of four estimated monthly costs are 3,606.4$ (3,381.8€) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 1,011.7$ (948.7€) without rent. Cost of living in France is, on average, 10.7% lower than in United States. Rent in France is, on average, 50.2% lower than in United States.

Customs protocols for moves from the UK to EU countries

For a move from the UK (UK refers to England, Scotland and Wales) to any EU country, you will need to provide information and documents to the Customs authority in the destination country to enable your household goods to be cleared through Customs.

You can have up to a year to bring your possessions over and you cannot sell those possessions during your first year in France. You will need to list all your items with their value on the French Government's form.

If you plan on bringing items to your second home, depending on the origin of the items and their total value, you may need to fill out a customs declaration, and you might also need to pay additional VAT and customs duties in order to “import” the items to France.

There are many visas that UK citizens can apply for to move to France. Generally, visas in France are divided into 2 broad categories: temporary (short-stay) and long-stay visas. The temporary visas usually last between a few days to 3 months, while the long-stay visas encompass any valid visa for more than 3 months.

If you are a UK National, it is still perfectly possible for you to live in France more than 90 days at a time. UK nationals (like Canadians, Americans & Australians) can also apply for permanent French Residency, which enables them to live in France for up to 5 years.

Proof that you have sufficient financial resources

Normally, individuals who do not hold a passport of an EU-member country, will need to show that they have an annual/monthly income of more than the French minimum wage, which 01 1 January 2024 was €1,766.92 per month (Gross), around €1,400 per month (net).