Moving from Germany to France
A short, neighbourly move between two of Europe's largest economies, made simple by free movement and a shared border. Here is the honest brief on cost, the road logistics, and the part that actually takes time, which is not customs but the French administration that turns you into a resident.
Costs are indicative ranges for 2026.
The honest summary of this move.
Moving from Germany to France is a short overland relocation between two members of the European Union, so there are no customs formalities and no shipping container, just a removal truck and the French paperwork waiting at the other end. For a 2 to 3 bedroom home, a dedicated van runs roughly 1,800 to 5,500 euros in 2026, with delivery in one to four days.
Because both countries are in the European Union and the Schengen area, your possessions travel in free circulation with no customs declaration and no duty. A removal company simply loads in Germany and drives to France, often within a day or two depending on whether you are heading to Paris, Lyon, the south, or the Atlantic coast. The logistics are the easy part of this corridor, which is unusual and worth appreciating.
The real work is French administration, and it rewards starting early. You will want a numero fiscal, your French tax number, obtained through the tax authority at impots.gouv.fr, and for healthcare you register with the social security system to obtain a numero de securite sociale and then a carte vitale from your local health insurance fund, the Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie. The carte vitale in particular can take weeks to months, so apply as soon as you have an address and the documents to prove it.
As a German citizen you have the right to live and work in France without a visa or residence permit, which removes the biggest hurdle other movers face. You are not required to register your presence in the way some non European arrivals are, but you will naturally enter the systems that matter through your job, your tax number, your health registration, and a French bank account, which many landlords and employers expect.
Two practical notes shape this lane. First, housing: French landlords ask for a substantial dossier, typically proof of income at around three times the rent, a guarantor in some cases, and identity and tax documents, so prepare that file before you arrive. Second, language: much of French officialdom runs in French and on appointment, so even good German and English speakers find that some French smooths the path through the prefecture, the tax office, and the health fund.
What this move really costs in 2026.
Cost is driven by your volume, the distance from your German city to your French destination, and whether you take a dedicated van or share a groupage load. The table shows indicative ranges in euros for the three common home sizes and service levels.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in euros. Distance is the main driver on a land move, summer and end of month dates carry a premium, and a shared groupage load is cheaper than a dedicated van if your dates are flexible. Your actual volume sets the final figure.
- + Best value for a normal 2 to 3 bed home
- + You share the truck and pay for your share
- ~ Delivery date depends on the shared route
- + Direct, with a fixed delivery day
- + Worth it for a 4 plus bed home
- ! You pay for the whole vehicle
- + Fastest door to door option
- ! A clear premium over groupage
- ~ Best for a tight timeline, not a tight budget
A realistic timeline for this move.
With no customs to manage, the timeline is shorter than an overseas move, but the French admin deserves a head start. Here is the sequence movers on this lane actually follow.
Sort housing and your dossier
Line up your French home and prepare the rental dossier landlords expect, including proof of income and identity documents, since the housing file is the first real gate in France.
Get three movers to survey
Have movers run video or in home surveys for an accurate volume and a binding or not to exceed quote. Decide between a dedicated van for a fixed delivery day and a cheaper shared groupage load.
Prepare your admin
Gather the documents you will need in France, including your passport or identity card, proof of address, and employment or income evidence, ready to apply for your tax number and health registration.
Pack and load
The crew packs and loads in Germany. Because the move is overland and within the European Union, there is no customs inventory or declaration, just the removal paperwork.
Arrive in France
Your goods are delivered, unpacked, and debris removed within one to four days of loading, depending on the distance to your French region.
Settle the French admin
Open a French bank account, apply for your numero fiscal through the tax authority, register with social security for your numero de securite sociale, and start the carte vitale process, which can take time.
Bringing your household goods into France.
This is a move within the European Union, so there are no customs formalities and no duty on your household goods, which sets it apart from any overseas relocation.
Goods moving from Germany to France travel in free circulation within the European Union single market, so there is no customs declaration, no import duty, and no import VAT on your personal belongings. Your removal company does not file a customs inventory, and your possessions are not inspected at the border in the way an overseas shipment would be. In practice the border is invisible for a household move.
There are still a few sensible habits. Keep a simple inventory for your own insurance and for the mover's liability, and make sure transit cover is in place for the road journey. If you are bringing a vehicle, you will re register it in France within the required period and exchange or update documents, which is an administrative step rather than a customs one.
A handful of categories carry their own national rules regardless of free movement, including firearms, certain plants, and protected species items, so check those if they apply to you. Pets travelling between Germany and France need an EU pet passport, a microchip, and a valid rabies vaccination, which is straightforward for animals already living in the European Union.
Verify before you move. Vehicle re registration deadlines, pet rules, and the few category specific national rules can change. Confirm the current position with the French authorities and your mover before you move, since rules are updated from time to time.The realistic routes for this corridor.
As a German citizen you have full free movement rights, so no visa or residence permit is needed to live and work in France. The work is administrative rather than immigration based, and these are the steps that matter most.
German citizens can live, work, and study in France without a visa or residence permit under European Union free movement rules. You simply move and register into the systems that matter.
Obtained through the French tax authority, it is needed to file tax, set up some services, and deal with the administration. Apply once you have a French address.
Register with the French social security system for a numero de securite sociale, then apply for your carte vitale through your local health fund. It can take weeks to months, so start early.
Free movement also helps non European family members of European Union citizens, though they may need to apply for a residence card. Check the specific route if this applies to you.
How to choose a mover for Germany to France.
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 weekly 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 marine 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 Germany to France.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from Germany to France?
For a 2 to 3 bedroom home, a dedicated van typically costs from about 1,800 to 5,500 euros in 2026, with a shared groupage load cheaper if your dates are flexible. Distance is the main driver on a land move, and your volume sets the final figure. Base your budget on a binding survey.
How long does it take to move from Germany to France?
Delivery is usually one to four days from loading, depending on the distance from your German city to your French region. A dedicated van gives a fixed delivery day, while a shared groupage load can take a little longer to fit the route.
Do I pay customs or duty moving from Germany to France?
No. Both countries are in the European Union single market, so your household goods travel in free circulation with no customs declaration and no duty or import VAT. The move is treated as a domestic style relocation across an internal border.
What is the carte vitale and how do I get one?
The carte vitale is your French health insurance card. You first register with the social security system to get a numero de securite sociale, then apply for the card through your local health fund, the Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie. It can take weeks to months, so start as soon as you have an address.
Do I need a visa to move from Germany to France?
No. As a German citizen you have European Union free movement rights and can live and work in France without a visa or residence permit. Your tasks are administrative, such as a tax number, health registration, and a bank account. This is general information, not immigration advice.
Can I bring my car from Germany to France?
Yes. There is no customs barrier, but you will re register the vehicle in France within the required period and update the documents. It is an administrative step rather than a customs one, so factor in the paperwork and any technical checks.