What to check before you move your home to France.

Where are your belongings coming from?

The answer decides your customs position, and your nationality decides your residence position. Ordinary goods already in free circulation in the EU (goods that have cleared customs and had duty and tax paid) are treated differently from an import from Great Britain, the USA or South America. Northern Ireland and French overseas territories need separate checks. When you enquire, name both the collection place and the French destination.

Official guidance: French customs: transferring your main home · EU customs and VAT territory boundaries

Do you need a visa to live in France?

For metropolitan France, a stay of more than 90 days normally needs a long-stay visa, unless your nationality or status exempts you. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are among those covered by exemptions. Work, study, family and visitor routes each have their own conditions, so use the France-Visas site for your situation and follow any validation or residence steps after you arrive. Buying a home, or being allowed to visit, does not by itself give you the right to live or work there.

Official guidance: French long-stay visa guidance

Can you bring household goods into France without tax?

Customs relief means a waiver of import duty and tax on belongings you already own. French relief for a main-home transfer generally requires at least 12 months living outside the EU and qualifying belongings used privately for at least six months. You normally import within 12 months of the residence transfer, and you may not sell, lend or hire out relieved goods for 12 months after entry. New purchases, alcohol, tobacco and furnishings for a second home need separate attention. Check every condition with French customs before you assume the shipment will be tax-free.

Official guidance: French customs: transferring your main home

What goes in the French customs file?

French customs lists a detailed inventory with values and dates, signed and supplied in two copies. It also lists the personal-goods declaration and evidence of your former and new main home. If you import in stages, the first inventory must cover everything you want relief for. Agree early who checks and submits the file, number your boxes to match the inventory, and keep your travel documents with you rather than in the shipment.

Official guidance: French customs: transferring your main home

How do you register a child at a French school?

For a public primary school, start with the mairie (the town hall), then complete registration with the school itself. The official checklist includes identity, address and vaccination evidence. For a child entering secondary education from abroad, the education authority may arrange an assessment, including through CASNAV, before placing them. Ask about school reports, language support, available places and the start date, and keep the authority informed while your home address is being confirmed.

Official guidance: French primary-school registration · Secondary school after arriving from abroad

City apartment or village house?

For an apartment, tell us the floor, the lift dimensions and the space available to unload. At a village or countryside home, check the approach road, the gates, the turning space and the distance from the vehicle to the door. Ask the property contact about delivery-time restrictions. Measure doorways before you decide to ship large furniture, and send photographs if access is difficult.

How should you prepare the packing list?

List your furniture first, then estimate the number of boxes of smaller belongings. Mark fragile pieces, anything that needs dismantling and anything you would like us to assess for particular care. An inventory and photographs help us understand the load, and we will set out in the proposal what packing, handling and placement are included.

• Large items, their dimensions and approximate box quantities.
• Fragile belongings and the packing help you would like.
• Access details at collection and at the French delivery property.

Which dates should you keep apart?

Three dates matter: when the old property must be cleared, when you travel, and when someone can receive the belongings in France. If there is a gap before you have keys, tell us. Ask what the proposal includes for collection, transport, documents and delivery, and how changes will be handled. Keep essentials for your first days outside the shipment.

Moving out of France instead?

Tell us the receiving country and town, and where in France we would collect. A return to the UK or a move elsewhere has its own immigration and import requirements. Describe the real direction, belongings and dates in your enquiry, and we can assess the route and service from there.