Moving from France to United Kingdom
A short crossing of the Channel that, since Brexit, now comes with a customs border. Here is the honest brief on costs in euros, the Transfer of Residence relief you apply for before you move, the visa routes into the UK, and a timeline you can plan around.
A quick Channel hop with a post Brexit customs step you must do in advance.
Physically this is a short move. A van or lorry loads in Paris, Lyon, Lille, or anywhere in France and crosses the Channel by ferry from Calais to Dover or on the shuttle through the Channel Tunnel between Coquelles and Folkestone, then drives on to your UK address. Door to door is usually two to six days depending on distance and whether you take a dedicated vehicle or share a load.
What changed with Brexit is the paperwork. France is in the EU and the United Kingdom is not, so your household goods now cross a customs border. The key step is Transfer of Residence relief: you apply to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs using the ToR1 process before your goods arrive, and if approved you import your used belongings free of duty and import VAT. You receive a unique reference that your mover quotes at the border, so start this early because approval is not instant.
Prices below are in euros and indicative for 2026. The United Kingdom uses the pound sterling, so budget for currency on the far side, from a tenancy deposit to the everyday cost of setting up once you land.
What it costs in 2026, by home size and method.
Over this short distance the bill is driven by your volume and whether you take a dedicated vehicle or share a part load. The figures below are indicative ranges for 2026 in euros.
Indicative 2026 ranges in euros, door to door by road and ferry. Distance within the UK, the Channel crossing chosen, access, and stairs move the figure. Customs handling is usually a fixed fee.
- +Your goods alone, loaded and delivered on your dates
- +Fastest option across the Channel
- −Costs more than sharing a load
- +Best value for a typical home
- +Many movers run the France to UK lane weekly
- −Delivery window flexes around the other goods
- +Cheapest for a studio if you do the work
- +Control of timing and the crossing
- −You handle the ToR paperwork and the customs border yourself
Get moving quotes for France to United Kingdom.
Tell us your home size and timing and we will put your France to United Kingdom move in front of vetted movers who cross the Channel every week.
A realistic schedule for this route.
A move from France to the United Kingdom is short, but the Transfer of Residence approval takes lead time and should be started well before you load. Here is a realistic schedule.
Apply for ToR
Submit the ToR1 application to HMRC for Transfer of Residence relief. Approval is not instant, so do this early. You will receive a unique reference to quote at the border.
Book and survey
Arrange a survey to measure your volume. Choose a dedicated van or a shared load and confirm the Channel crossing, by ferry or the tunnel shuttle.
Pack and inventory
Professional packing with a detailed inventory in English. The inventory supports your ToR relief, so it must match what is in the load.
Cross the Channel
The vehicle crosses from Calais to Dover or through the Channel Tunnel between Coquelles and Folkestone. With the ToR reference in hand, customs clearance is straightforward.
Deliver and settle
Goods are delivered to your UK address. To work you will usually need a National Insurance number, and you register with a local GP surgery to access NHS healthcare.
Transfer of Residence relief and the Channel border.
Since Brexit the United Kingdom is outside the EU customs union, so moving from France now means a customs import. The route that keeps your bill down is Transfer of Residence relief. You apply to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs through the ToR1 process before your goods arrive, declaring that you are moving your normal home to the UK. If approved you import used household goods free of customs duty and import VAT, and you receive a unique reference number that your mover presents when the shipment crosses.
To qualify you generally need to have lived outside the UK for at least twelve consecutive months, to have used and owned the goods for at least six months, and to bring them within a year of arriving. New purchases, goods for sale, and items like tobacco and alcohol in quantity are treated differently and can attract duty or VAT. Keep your passport, your proof of moving such as a UK tenancy or job contract, and your inventory ready.
Pets travel under the UK animal import rules, which set out microchip, rabies vaccination, and documentation requirements you should arrange in advance. A vehicle can be brought, but you must then meet UK registration and approval requirements, so cost it before deciding whether to ship the car or sell it in France.
The routes in for this corridor.
Since Brexit, French and other EU citizens no longer have automatic rights to live in the United Kingdom and usually need a visa. The right route depends on your work and family situation. These are summaries, not immigration advice.
The main work route, sponsored by a UK employer holding a sponsor licence, for a job that meets the salary and skill thresholds. Applied for before you move.
For partners, spouses, and children joining a British citizen or settled person, subject to relationship and income requirements set by the Home Office.
Routes such as Global Talent suit recognised leaders or promising talent in fields like research, arts, and tech, with endorsement rather than employer sponsorship.
Irish citizens retain the right to live and work in the UK under the Common Travel Area, separate from the post Brexit visa system, which can matter for dual nationals.
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. For a post Brexit Channel move, FIDI affiliation through the FIDI Global Alliance or IAM membership is a strong signal of a company audited on the standards that matter at a customs border. The crossing is short, but the clearance is now real.
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. Read reviews that mention the ToR process and clean UK customs clearance, not just a smooth pack in France. The hard part of this corridor since Brexit is the paperwork, so that is where a good mover earns its fee.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from France to the United Kingdom?
For a two to three bedroom home expect roughly €2,500 to €5,000 on a shared load in 2026, or €4,000 to €7,500 for a dedicated van. Distance within the UK and the crossing chosen move the figure. Get a surveyed quote.
How long does it take to move from France to the UK?
Usually two to six days door to door by road and Channel crossing, depending on distance and whether you take a dedicated vehicle or share a load. The ferry or tunnel crossing itself is quick.
Do I pay duty moving household goods from France to the UK?
Not if you obtain Transfer of Residence relief. You apply to HMRC using the ToR1 process before your goods arrive, and if approved you import used belongings free of duty and import VAT. New goods are treated differently.
What is ToR1?
ToR1 is the UK Transfer of Residence application to HMRC. It gives you a unique reference that lets your used household goods enter free of customs duty and import VAT when you move your home to the UK. Apply early, as approval takes time.
Do EU citizens need a visa to move to the UK after Brexit?
Generally yes. French and other EU citizens usually need a visa such as the Skilled Worker or Family visa to live in the UK. Irish citizens are an exception under the Common Travel Area.
Can I bring my car from France to the UK?
You can, but you must meet UK registration and approval rules once it arrives. Cost the import and registration against simply selling in France and buying locally before you decide.
Last reviewed: 22 April 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.