Moving from France to Germany
One of the easiest moves in Europe on paper, a short drive with no customs and no visa, until the German registration system meets you. Master the Anmeldung and the move is smooth. Here is the honest brief for this corridor.
On the logistics, this is about as gentle as an international move gets. France and Germany are both in the European Union and its single customs union, so there is no customs clearance, no import duty, and no inventory for the border. Your goods travel by road, often in a day or two, and as French citizens you have full free movement, so there is no visa to arrange before you go.
The thing that surprises people is the German administrative culture. Within about two weeks of arriving you must complete the Anmeldung, the compulsory registration of your address at the local Burgeramt, the citizens office. That single step unlocks your tax identification number, the Steuer ID, a bank account, a mobile contract, and much else. Renting can also mean dealing with a SCHUFA credit record and a Wohnungsgeberbestatigung, the confirmation your landlord signs. None of it is hard once you know the order, but it does not run itself.
What it costs to move from France to Germany.
What it really costs to move a household from France to Germany in 2026, shown as indicative ranges by home size and method. This is a road move inside the EU, so there is no customs clearance line to budget for.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in euros, before full packing, premium insurance, and any storage. A part load shares a lorry with other shipments, while a dedicated van or truck carries only your goods on a fixed date. These are not binding figures.
Four levers move the number. Volume is the biggest, since a part load is priced by the space you take, so a declutter before the survey pays off most. Distance matters within Germany, as a run to the Rhineland or the south west is shorter than one to Berlin or Munich. Part load versus dedicated trades cost against control, with a shared lorry cheaper but tied to a consolidation schedule and a dedicated vehicle pricier but on your date. And access at both ends, from a Paris building with no lift to a German Altbau with stairs and a parking permit needed for the truck, can add labour.
A realistic schedule, working back from the sailing.
Work back from the load date. The move itself is quick, so the planning effort goes into the German registration steps that begin the moment you arrive.
Plan housing and registration
As a French citizen you have free movement, so no visa is needed, but line up your German address and understand the Anmeldung. You will register at the Burgeramt within roughly two weeks of arrival, so book an appointment early if your city is busy.
Get binding quotes
Have movers run a video or in home survey for an accurate volume, then compare part load and dedicated van quotes on a like for like basis. With no customs in play, the comparison is simply scope, date, and insurance.
Prepare the paperwork
Gather your passport or identity card, your rental contract, and the Wohnungsgeberbestatigung your landlord signs to confirm you live there, since you need it for the Anmeldung. There is no customs file, because this is an intra EU move.
Pack and load
The crew packs and loads the lorry, which drives to Germany. There is no border clearance, so the goods travel straight through to your new address.
Register and set up
Complete your Anmeldung at the Burgeramt, which triggers your Steuer ID by post. Then open a bank account, sort health insurance, and set up utilities and a mobile contract, all of which lean on that registration.
Clearing your goods into Germany.
There is genuinely good news here. France and Germany are both members of the European Union and its single customs union, so a move between them is not an import. Your household goods are in free circulation, there is no customs clearance, no import duty, and no value added tax on the move, and no transfer of residence application to file. The lorry crosses the border without a customs stop.
That does not mean zero rules. A few categories still carry restrictions wherever you live. Firearms need the correct German permits and notification. Certain plants, large quantities of alcohol or tobacco treated as commercial, and protected species items can all draw attention. If you are bringing a vehicle, there is no customs duty, but you will need to register it in Germany, obtain German plates, arrange insurance, and pass the technical inspection within the required period after taking up residence.
The practical effect is that your effort moves from customs to bureaucracy after arrival. Keep your inventory for insurance purposes, keep proof of when you moved for the vehicle and registration steps, and focus your energy on the Anmeldung and the documents that follow, which is where the real German paperwork lives.
How the French actually move to Germany.
French citizens have full free movement in Germany, so there is no visa to arrange. The work is the registration that turns up the moment you land. These are the steps that matter.
As an EU citizen you can live and work in Germany without a visa or permit, moving first and registering afterwards rather than applying in advance.
- Basis
- EU free movement
- Visa
- None required
- Rights
- Live and work
- Then
- Register locally
The Anmeldung is the compulsory registration of your address at the local Burgeramt, the citizens office, due within about two weeks of arrival and required before almost everything else.
- Where
- Burgeramt
- When
- About two weeks
- Need
- Landlord confirmation
- Unlocks
- Tax ID, banking
After your Anmeldung the tax identification number, the Steuer ID, arrives by post. Your employer needs it, and it follows you for life in Germany.
- What
- Tax number
- Comes from
- The Anmeldung
- Needed by
- Your employer
- For
- Life
Health insurance is compulsory in Germany, statutory or private depending on your work, and you arrange it early since it links to employment and registration.
- Status
- Mandatory
- Type
- Statutory or private
- Links to
- Employment
- When
- Early
How to choose a mover for this route, with no names attached.
This site never names, ranks, or recommends a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist that separates a safe international mover from a risky one. Apply it to every quote you receive.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from France to Germany?
As indicative ranges for 2026, a 2 to 3 bedroom move runs roughly 2,500 to 4,000 euros as a part load and up to 5,500 euros for a dedicated van or truck, before packing, insurance, and any storage. Distance into Germany and access at both ends are the main drivers. There is no customs cost, since this is an intra EU move. Get a binding quote from a survey.
How long does moving from France to Germany take?
For most homes it is two to five days door to door. The goods travel by road with no customs stop, so the timing depends on distance and whether you book a part load tied to a consolidation schedule or a dedicated van on your chosen date. A dedicated vehicle gives the tightest window.
Do I have to clear customs moving from France to Germany?
No. France and Germany are both in the European Union and its single customs union, so your household goods are in free circulation. There is no customs clearance, no import duty, and no transfer of residence paperwork. A few items such as firearms still carry restrictions wherever you move, so check those.
What is the Anmeldung and do I need it?
Yes, you almost certainly need it. The Anmeldung is the compulsory registration of your address at the local Burgeramt, due within about two weeks of arrival. It triggers your Steuer ID tax number and is required to open a bank account, sign a mobile contract, and access many services, so book the appointment early.
Do French citizens need a visa to live in Germany?
No. As EU citizens the French have full free movement and can live and work in Germany without a visa or permit. You move first and register afterwards through the Anmeldung. This is not immigration advice, so confirm the current rules with the official German sources if your situation is unusual.
Can I bring my car from France to Germany?
Yes, with no customs duty since both are in the EU, but you must register the car in Germany, get German plates, arrange German insurance, and pass the technical inspection within the required period after you take up residence. Keep proof of your moving date, since the registration steps work from it.