Moving from France to Singapore
A long intercontinental move from France to Southeast Asia, shipped by sea to one of the world's busiest ports. Here is the honest brief on the work pass you need first, the goods and services tax on what you import, and what you cannot bring.
Costs are indicative ranges for 2026.
The honest summary of this move.
Moving a household from France to Singapore is a long intercontinental sea move, shipped from a French port to the PSA terminals in Singapore, among the busiest in the world. For a 2 to 3 bedroom home, a shared container runs roughly 4,000 to 8,000 US dollars in 2026, arriving in about four to six weeks door to door.
Most household goods go by sea, sailing from a French port such as Le Havre, Fos sur Mer, or Marseille through the Suez route to Singapore. The long ocean transit is why this lane takes weeks, and why most households ship by sea and air freight only the few things they need on day one.
Singapore is famously a free port, but that does not mean your move is tax free. Goods and services tax applies on the value of imported goods, including used household effects, unless you qualify for relief as someone who has lived abroad and is bringing personal effects you have owned and used. Your mover and Singapore Customs handle the declaration.
On the residence side, you need a work pass before you move, such as an Employment Pass or an S Pass, issued through the Ministry of Manpower. The pass gives you a FIN, the identification number that runs daily life, and your family can follow on a Dependant Pass. Housing is expensive, and a car is rarely worth bringing because of the cost of the Certificate of Entitlement.
What this move really costs in 2026.
This is an intercontinental sea move, so cost is driven by volume and the shipping market. The table shows indicative ranges in US dollars for the common home sizes and container options on this lane.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in US dollars. A shared container is cheapest because you split a box with other shipments. A full container is faster and more secure for a larger home. Goods and services tax on the import value, port handling, and destination delivery add to the figure.
- + Best value for a normal 2 to 3 bed home
- + You pay only for the space you use
- ~ Slower, since it waits to consolidate and deconsolidate
- + Faster and more secure, sealed to you alone
- + Best for a 3 bed home and up
- ! You pay for the box even if part empty
- + Fastest for the things you need first
- ! Far more expensive per cubic metre
- ~ Best for a small urgent shipment, not a whole house
A realistic timeline for this move.
An intercontinental move rewards an early start, and your work pass underpins everything. Plan backwards from your start date in Singapore.
Confirm your work pass and survey movers
Secure your Employment Pass or S Pass through the Ministry of Manpower, since it gives you the right to live and work. Have movers run video or in home surveys for an accurate volume and a binding or not to exceed quote.
Book the sailing
Reserve container space from Le Havre, Fos sur Mer, or Marseille to Singapore, and confirm the destination delivery service to your neighbourhood.
Check goods and services tax and prohibited items
Confirm with your mover whether you qualify for import relief, and set aside prohibited items such as certain media, weapons, and controlled goods so nothing holds up clearance.
Pack and load
The crew packs to export standard and loads the container for sailing. Keep your passport, work pass, and inventory together for the Singapore Customs declaration.
Sea passage and declaration
The vessel sails to Singapore over several weeks. Your mover lodges the import declaration and any relief claim so the shipment can clear on arrival.
Clear customs and settle in
Singapore Customs assesses the shipment and any goods and services tax before release and delivery. Set up your FIN based accounts, housing, and utilities, and add your family on a Dependant Pass.
Bringing your household goods into Singapore.
Singapore is a free port, but goods and services tax applies to imports, including used household goods, unless you qualify for relief. There is no general duty on furniture, but the tax and prohibited item rules matter.
Goods and services tax is charged on the value of imported goods. People who have lived abroad and are bringing used personal effects and household items they have owned and used can often claim relief, handled through Singapore Customs with your mover. Without qualifying, the tax can apply, so confirm your position before you ship.
Singapore enforces strict controls. Prohibited and controlled items include certain weapons, some media, controlled drugs, and goods such as chewing gum for sale, while liquor and tobacco are dutiable and tightly limited. A clear, accurate inventory and declaration keep clearance smooth, and problem items can hold up a whole shipment.
Pets travel under separate import rules with licences and health requirements that you arrange independently of the household shipment. A car is rarely worth importing, because the Certificate of Entitlement needed to register a vehicle is very expensive, so most movers from France sell up and use Singapore's excellent public transport.
Verify before you move. Goods and services tax relief, the prohibited and controlled item lists, duty on liquor and tobacco, and vehicle rules change. Confirm the current position with Singapore Customs and your mover before you ship.The realistic routes for this corridor.
You need a work pass before you move to Singapore, so the pass you hold shapes the move. These are the realistic options for someone relocating from France.
The Employment Pass is for professionals, managers, and executives meeting a salary threshold, sponsored by a Singapore employer through the Ministry of Manpower. It is the most common route for movers from France.
The S Pass covers mid skilled staff meeting a lower salary threshold, also employer sponsored and subject to quotas, used across many sectors.
Pass holders earning above a set salary can bring a spouse and children on a Dependant Pass, so families usually follow once the main earner is settled.
Singapore runs routes such as the EntrePass for entrepreneurs starting a business and other passes for specific skills, used by founders and specialists moving from France.
How to choose a mover for France to Singapore.
We never name, rank, or recommend a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist that matters on this exact lane. Apply it to any quote, then request comparable quotes through the form below.
FIDI or IAM affiliation
Membership of the FIDI Global Alliance or the International Association of Movers signals audited financial stability and a complaints process you can lean on if something goes wrong.
Real corridor experience
Ask how many households the company has shipped on your exact route in the past year. A mover that runs the lane regularly knows the ports, the customs broker, and the paperwork by heart.
A binding pre move survey
Insist on a video or in home survey and a binding or not to exceed quote. A price built from a real volume estimate is the only quote you can compare like for like.
Clear insurance terms
Read how transit cover is calculated, what the deductible is, and whether valuation is by replacement value. Vague cover is the most common regret on an international move.
Verifiable reviews
Look for recent, specific reviews that name the destination, not just star ratings. Patterns in how a company handles claims tell you more than any single glowing note.
Written scope and timeline
Everything that matters belongs in writing: packing, customs clearance, delivery, unpacking, and debris removal, with who pays destination charges spelled out.
Get moving quotes for France to Singapore.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from France to Singapore?
For a 2 to 3 bedroom home, a shared container typically costs from about 4,000 to 8,000 US dollars in 2026, with a full container more. The long sea passage to Singapore, goods and services tax on the import value, port handling, and delivery feed the price. Base your budget on a binding pre move survey.
How long does it take to ship to Singapore?
Plan on roughly four to six weeks door to door for sea freight, including the ocean passage and customs clearance. Air freight is faster at around one to two weeks but costs much more per cubic metre.
Do I pay tax on my furniture moving to Singapore?
Possibly. Singapore is a free port with no general duty on furniture, but goods and services tax applies to imports unless you qualify for relief as someone bringing used personal effects after living abroad. Confirm your position with Singapore Customs and your mover.
What can I not ship to Singapore?
Singapore prohibits or controls items including certain weapons, some media, controlled drugs, and chewing gum for sale, while liquor and tobacco are dutiable and limited. Leave prohibited items out and declare everything accurately to keep clearance smooth.
Do I need a visa to move to Singapore?
Yes. You need a work pass such as an Employment Pass or an S Pass, sponsored by a Singapore employer through the Ministry of Manpower, before you move. The pass gives you a FIN and lets your family follow on a Dependant Pass.
Can I bring my car from France?
It is rarely worth it. Registering a car in Singapore requires a Certificate of Entitlement, which is very expensive, on top of import costs. Most movers from France sell their car and rely on Singapore's public transport instead.