Moving from France to Kenya
A practical guide to shipping a household from France to Kenya, the realistic timeline to the port of Mombasa, then the inland depot at Embakasi in Nairobi, what the Kenya Revenue Authority needs to release your goods, and the residence steps for this corridor.
France to Kenya is an Indian Ocean sea move, and your status is what releases your goods.
Moving a household from France to Kenya is an Indian Ocean sea move. To begin, containers leave a port in France such as Le Havre or Marseille, sail from Le Havre or Marseille through the Suez Canal and down to the port of Mombasa, then move inland by the standard gauge railway or road to Nairobi, then your goods clear customs and travel by road to Nairobi, Mombasa or Kisumu or wherever you are settling. With the freight as the long stretch, the schedule needs some patience.
The point people on this corridor underestimate is that you register for a KRA PIN and prove a genuine change of residence. It shapes the timing more than the sailing does, so it pays to line up your status alongside the move rather than after the container arrives. Treat the France packing date, the documents and your status in Kenya as three deadlines to manage together from the start.
What shipping a household from France to Kenya costs in 2026.
Indicative ranges in euros for 2026, covering the freight and move services. Kenya duties and any taxes are assessed separately at clearance.
Indicative ranges for 2026, in euros. Real quotes depend on your volume, the France loading port, season, the Kenya clearance, and the inland delivery distance. Kenya duties and taxes are extra.
- +You pay only for the space your goods occupy
- +Best value for a one bedroom
- −Consolidation adds weeks before the sailing
- −A transhipment makes timing harder to fix
- +Fits a typical two bedroom home
- +Your goods travel alone and are handled less
- +On your own schedule rather than a load plan
- −You pay for the box even if part empty
- +Space for a three or four bedroom home
- +Best cost per cubic metre for large volumes
- −Overkill for a small flat
- −Needs truck access at the Kenya address
Get moving quotes for France to Kenya.
Tell us your size and timing. We pass your request to vetted international movers who run the France to Kenya lane, and you compare them on your own terms.
A realistic schedule for this route.
A conservative schedule for a France to Kenya move. The fixed points are your sailing date, your documents and your status, so start all three early.
Book the move and take a survey
Get a binding in home or video survey of your volume from movers who run the France to Kenya lane, and choose shared space or a sole use container while you progress your status.
Prepare the documents
Register for a KRA PIN, build a detailed inventory and gather proof you have owned and used the goods, and confirm your work permit or dependant pass, so the Kenya Revenue Authority can clear the shipment.
Pack and load in France
The crew packs and loads your container at your France address, matches the contents to your inventory, then moves it to Le Havre or another port in France for the sailing.
Ocean and inland transit
The box sails through the Suez Canal toward Mombasa, then moves inland by the standard gauge railway or road to the Embakasi depot. This is the longest and least visible stretch.
Customs clearance
Your agent presents the inventory and your documents to the Kenya Revenue Authority. Duties and any taxes are assessed. Allow time for inspection.
Delivery and settling in
The goods travel by road to Nairobi, Mombasa or Kisumu or your town, and the crew delivers and unpacks. You then finish settling in to daily life.
Bringing used household goods into Kenya from France.
Kenya offers real relief on a genuine relocation. The Kenya Revenue Authority, through its Customs and Border Control arm, can admit used personal and household effects free of import duty on first arrival, where you are changing residence and have owned and used the goods, commonly for at least twelve months. To clear the shipment you need a KRA PIN, the personal identification number the authority issues, and your work permit or dependant pass showing you are settling rather than visiting.
The gateway is the port of Mombasa, after which many shipments move inland on the standard gauge railway or by road to the Inland Container Depot at Embakasi in Nairobi, where clearance is often completed before final delivery. The required papers are your passport, the work permit or dependant pass, the KRA PIN, a detailed inventory and the bill of lading. One motor vehicle may qualify under its own conditions, while new goods, items beyond a normal household and goods you have not owned long enough can attract full duty and value added tax.
The routes in for this corridor.
France citizens are not Kenya nationals, and settling for the long term means arranging the right status. The route depends on why you are moving.
The usual route is a Class D work permit tied to employment with a Kenyan employer. It is the status that shows a genuine change of residence and supports household clearance with your KRA PIN.
A permit holder can bring a spouse and children on a dependant pass. The family settles on that basis and can clear their share of the household effects.
Those investing in or running a Kenyan business can pursue a Class G investor permit. It suits entrepreneurs and can lead to longer settled status over time.
People with an assured private income can apply for a Class K retirement permit. Income thresholds apply and change, so confirm the current figures before you rely on it.
How to pick a mover for this route, without the guesswork.
We do not rank or recommend individual companies. We teach you the criteria that separate a safe international move from an expensive mistake, then put your request in front of vetted movers who run this lane.
Check the trade affiliation. Membership of FIDI or IAM is the clearest signal a mover is financially screened and bound to industry standards for international household goods. In France, look for movers affiliated with FIDI or IAM and ask directly about their service toward the port of Mombasa, then the inland depot at Embakasi in Nairobi, their experience with the Kenya Revenue Authority clearance, and their delivery to Nairobi, Mombasa or Kisumu.
Insist on a binding pre move survey. A real video or in home survey of your volume is the only honest basis for a price. A quote given without one is a guess that tends to grow on moving day.
Compare like for like. Read what each quote includes: packing, materials, customs clearance, destination delivery, stair or long carry charges, and insurance. The cheapest headline number is rarely the cheapest move.
Understand the insurance terms. Ask whether cover is full replacement value or depreciated, what the excess is, and how claims are handled. Read the valuation clause before you sign.
Read recent reviews for this corridor. A mover can be excellent locally and weak on international shipments. Look for verified reviews that mention the actual route and customs experience.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from France to Kenya?
As an indicative range for 2026, a one bedroom move runs about €2,600 to 4,600 in shared container space, and a full three bedroom home in sole use lands around €8,200 to 10,800 door to door, before Kenya duties and taxes. Real quotes depend on your volume, the season and the route.
How long does shipping take from France to Kenya?
Plan on roughly 4 to 7 weeks door to door for a sole use container and 6 to 9 weeks for a shared load. Goods reach the port of Mombasa, then the inland depot at Embakasi in Nairobi before final road delivery.
Do I pay duty or tax on my furniture moving to Kenya?
Used household effects can be admitted free of import duty on first arrival where you are genuinely changing residence and have owned and used them, commonly for at least twelve months, and you need a KRA PIN. Charges are assessed by the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Can I bring my car from France to Kenya?
One motor vehicle may qualify under its own conditions. Kenya drives on the left, so confirm the current import rules and age limits with the Kenya Revenue Authority first.
Do I need a visa to move to Kenya from France?
For a short visit most travellers use an electronic travel authorisation. To settle and clear a household shipment you need a work permit or dependant pass and a KRA PIN. Confirm the current rules first.