Moving to France
Europe is a comfortable region to live and work in. France is a country with rich cultural traditions and unique architecture, with wide prospects in the educational and business spheres.
Whether you have already received your immigration documents or simply making your first research about moving to France, understanding how to move your household goods overseas is another major aspect of the relocation. Hercules Moving Company has gathered some insights into overseas relocation and useful customs requirements for you to consider before moving to France.
Moving to France by Sea Freight
One of the most convenient ways to move to France is by sea freight. It is also the most affordable way to move household goods overseas. Considering the size of your cargo, Hercules Moving Company offers the following shipping options when moving to France.
Moving to France by Air Freight
If you are shipping to France only necessary items or only what you will need immediately upon arrival, the fastest way to ship household goods to France is by air. In a matter of days, your goods will be delivered to France from your country.
Moving to France with all of your valuables? The Full Container Load is what you need. The FCL is an individual container filled exclusively with your belongings. Single-use containers are ideal for those transporting luxurious, expensive, and fragile items. Your valuables will remain intact until your shipment reaches its destination.
HMC offers 3 container sizes when moving to France:
In case there are not enough valuables to fill one container, Hercules Moving Company can ship your possessions in a shared container. The shared container method involves shipping several shipments from different shippers combined to fill one container.
Groupage Shipping
In a groupage shipment, your international moving company will keep your belongings in storage until there are enough cargos to fill up one full container and ship them together. Collected shipments allow senders to ship at a lower price as all shipping costs and fees will be split between customers.
LCL shipping
The Less than Container Load shipping method is used by international mover companies for transporting shipments in custom-made wooden crates. After packing, the movers will hand over your possessions to the freight forwarder for transportation to France.
It is known that the fastest way to move from one place to another is by plane. Therefore, shipping your household goods by air freight is a convenient way to move to France if you need your items quickly and with minimum wait time. Your cargo will arrive in France in a matter of days. Choose one of the following shipment sizes when moving to France:
Door to Port vs. Door to Door Moving
When moving to France, there are 2 methods provided by the HMC to choose from.
Door-to-Port transportation methods allow the sender to have full control over the shipment after it is delivered to France. If some of the valuables that you are moving to France are under the dutiable or restricted category, they must be unpacked and inspected during your presence in the port.
If you are moving to France without items that are subject to restrictions and your shipment does not require any permits shown in person at customs clearance, use the Door-to-Door service. The international moving company will transport your items to your new home in France, and you won't have to arrange any additional transportation services.
Moving household goods to France
Customs Regulations
Various goods can be brought into France duty-free, but only if proven to be:
- Imported items have been in the owner’s possession for over 6 months abroad.
- Items are delivered within one year from the day of the owner’s arrival.
- Export of goods for primary residence from non-EU countries: the importer has had a permanent residence outside the EU for at least one year.
- If a SECOND delivery is contemplated, this must be indicated at the time of first importation.
- When importing inheritance, a declaration from a notary with an inventory of goods, date of death, kinship, and residence in France. Additionally, The goods must be shipped within one year of the date of death.
- When importing marriage items or presents, a marriage certificate must be presented.
Restricted and Dutiable Items
- Funds of 10,000 euros or more must be declared
- Guns, ammunition, and weapons
- Antiques and works of arts
- New furniture
- Tobacco products
- Alcohol
- Wedding Trousseaux
- Inheritance
- Plants (Phytosanitary certificate required)
Prohibited Items
- Disturbing and pornographic materials
- Toxic materials and chemicals
- Narcotics
- Drugs and medications
- Firearms and ammunition
- Poisonous and explosive materials of all kinds
- Plants with soil
- Species under the CITES category
- Wild animals and birds
- Meat and dairy products, except for baby and dietary foods
Shipping a Car to France
Any vehicle imported to France from a non-EU country is subject to custom duty and VAT unless proven to be solely for personal use. The vehicle must comply with an EU vehicle standard and undergo a series of tests by the UTAC. To qualify for a duty-free entry, the owner must have lived abroad for 12 months and have had the vehicle in use for no less than 6 months.
Moving Pets to France
To move pets to France you must follow the next regulations:
- Pet must be older than 3 months
- Endangered species and exotic animals prohibited
- Pets should be accompanied by their owner with a vaccination card and certificate of good health
- Pet imported to France must be microchipped/tattooed
- Pet must be rabies vaccinated at least 21 days before the move, no older than 1 year ago
- One can import up to 5 pets (if more, commercial requirements apply)
- Subject to quarantine
Electronics in France
Before packing any electronic devices determine whether they will work in France. In France, as in most European countries, type C and F plugs with 230V are used. If you are moving to France from Canada, do not bring your electronic devices, they will not work.
Customs Forms
Here we have collected all the necessary forms and documents you will need in order to import your personal effects into France. In addition please check if you need any additional documents/forms on the official Border France Website
How We Work
We could have wrote 100 beautiful words here - but instead take a look on how we move below
Hercules goes the extra mile to ensure that all of your most valuable art is protected. Expert wrapping and packaging methods start the highest quality moving & packing materials. Our mover training program ensures that every team has an expert who can safely pack any item so it arrives in the same condition it left.
Hercules can build custom measured crates and containers to meet your specific long distance shipping needs. If you are moving, and have a taxidermy collection, the experts at HMC can help. Our crateless system is effective for securing any type or size of trophy.
To avoid damage to fragile items during a long-distance move to your new residence, office or storage unit Hercules will use all the right materials and implement the proper packing techniques for maximum protection.
With the right training and proper equipment, your furniture will be handled safely in any situation.
Not all furniture is the same size. Hercules uses various materials to prepare furniture for moving: moving blankets, cardboard, bubble wrap, or alligator wrap. HMC movers and packers will pack your furniture the right way.
