1) Introduction

Thinking about a new life in France? You’re not alone. Brexit added forms and steps, but moving is still absolutely doable. This guide demystifies visas, the carte de séjour, customs, VAT/duty, and the must-have documents—plus where a professional mover helps. By planning a few months ahead and following the rules, your removals to France journey can be smooth and stress-free.

(See our service page: Removals to France — https://www.mycheapremovals.co.uk/removals-to-france/)

2) What Changed With Brexit

2.1 The end of free movement

Before 2021, Brits could live/work in France freely. Now the UK is a “third country.” If you’ll stay over 90 days in any 180-day period, you need a long-stay visa before travel. That visa is your bridge to residency.

2.2 A new customs reality

Household goods now enter the EU through French customs. You’ll need an inventory and supporting documents; timelines can be affected by checks. Good news: if your shipment is your used personal effects and you meet the conditions, entry is typically duty- and VAT-free. A competent mover files the right declarations so your van clears quickly.

3) Visa Requirements (What to Apply For & How)

3.1 Visitor vs. resident status (the 90-day rule)

Up to 90 days = no visa (tourism, short visits).
Longer stays or to live in France = long-stay visa (apply in the UK first). Don’t overstay—penalties are serious.

3.2 Main long-stay visas

• Visiteur (Visitor) – Best for retirees/non-workers. Requires proof of income/savings and private health insurance. No working.

• Salarié / Work visas – You have a French job offer (employer sponsorship).

• Profession libérale – Self-employed/freelance with viable plan and income.

• Talent Passport – Highly skilled, investors, entrepreneurs (often multi-year).

• Student / Family – Study in France or join qualifying family members.

3.3 How to apply (quick steps)

1. Complete the form on France-Visas and book a TLS/VFS appointment.

2. Prepare docs: passport, photos, proof of funds/insurance/accommodation, purpose docs (job offer, business plan, enrollment, etc.).

3. Attend appointment (biometrics, submit file).

4. Typical processing: 2–4 weeks. Check details on your visa vignette when issued.

4) The Carte de Séjour (Residence Permit)

4.1 What it is

Your visa gets you into France; the carte de séjour keeps you there legally beyond the visa’s validity (often after the first year).

4.2 When & how to apply

Validate your VLS-TS (if applicable) soon after arrival, then apply online (ANEF) and attend your préfecture appointment well before your visa expires (apply ~4 months before; latest 2 months prior). You’ll submit updated proofs (address, income/insurance by status, civil docs). You’ll receive a récépissé (temporary proof) while the card is being produced.

4.3 Types and progression

• Temporary (1-year) → Multi-year (up to 4 years) → 10-year carte de résident (usually after 5 years’ legal stay, language/integration rules apply). Categories mirror your status (visitor, salarié, family, etc.).

5) Customs: Getting Your Belongings Through

5.1 The framework (post-Brexit)

UK → France is now an import. Expect electronic declarations from both sides and possible spot checks. A seasoned mover handles filings and communicates with customs.

5.2 Duty-free for personal effects (the big win)

You generally avoid VAT/duty if:

• You’re moving your primary residence to France.

• Goods are used and owned for 6+ months.

• You import within 12 months of moving.

• You won’t sell them within 12 months after import.
  Alcohol/tobacco have strict personal limits. Vehicles can come as personal effects (separate registration steps in France).

5.3 Must-have documents

• Detailed inventory (EN + FR), dated/signed, with used values (we’ll provide you with a simple spreadsheet, with implemented formulas to help with calculations)

• Non-cession declaration (you won’t sell for 12 months).

• French customs form (Cerfa) for household effects.

• Proof of prior UK residence (e.g., 12 months’ bills) and new French address (lease, acte de vente, utility).

• Passport copies; any insurance docs.

Where we help: We supply templates, check your inventory, and handle electronic customs submissions end-to-end.

6) VAT & Duty: When You Pay (and When You Don’t)

• VAT (20%) applies to new goods (<6 months old) and second-home shipments.

• No VAT/duty for qualifying used personal effects when transferring your main residence (conditions above).

• Duty rates (if any) depend on item type and origin; for typical household effects under the residence transfer rules, duty is generally waived alongside VAT.

Money-saving tips: Avoid shipping brand-new purchases; bring established belongings; ship within one year of the move.

7) Essential Document Checklist (Quick)

6+ months out

• Choose a visa route; start the France-Visas application.

• Gather civil docs (birth/marriage), apostilles/translations if needed.

• Private health insurance (if required).

1–3 months out

• Book/prepare carte de séjour steps.

• Build your inventory; gather UK/French address proofs.

• Confirm mover; align on customs paperwork.

• School/medical records for families.

Moving day

• Keep passports/visa originals and customs pack with you (not in the van).

• Emergency contacts, meds, and temporary accommodation proof, if applicable.

8) Common Pitfalls & How We Help

Documentation errors

• Incomplete/unsigned inventories, wrong forms, missing proofs = delays.
  How we help: Templates, pre-checks, and we submit customs declarations properly.

Timing miscalculations

• Underestimating visa timelines, missing carte de séjour windows, and assuming zero border delay.
  How we help: Realistic schedules (typical delivery 2–4 days UK→FR), proactive comms if customs slow things down, storage options if dates shift.

9) 2025 Updates & What’s Next

• Digital processes: Visa and residence steps are increasingly online (France-Visas/ANEF).

• Border tech: ETIAS/EES rolling out for visitors (not long-stay visa holders), expect more kiosks/biometrics.

• Language/integration: Growing emphasis for multi-year/long-term cards—plan basic French.

• Customs: More electronic pre-clearance; steady improvements in throughput.

10) Conclusion & Next Steps

Brexit added paperwork, not roadblocks. With the right visa, a timely carte de séjour application, and clean customs documentation, moving from the UK to France remains straightforward—especially with a partner that handles the logistics and filings.

Ready to plan your move? Get a tailored quote and guidance for removals to France from the UK (including customs support and typical 2–4 day delivery windows).

Insurance note (per T&Cs): We include Goods in Transit cover during transport only (not during loading/unloading). Coverage requires a completed inventory submitted by the business day before collection. Please see our Terms & Conditions for full details.

Moving from the UK to France on a tight budget? You’re not alone. Many families, expats, and retirees dream of a new life in France but worry about the cost of moving to France from the UK. The good news is, cheap removals to France are entirely achievable with smart planning, and you don’t have to sacrifice service quality to save money. In this guide, we’ll show you how to keep your removal costs low while still enjoying a smooth, professional move. We’ll cover the key cost factors (distance, volume, timing, etc.), share 10 actionable budget relocation tips, compare part-load vs full-load pricing, warn about common mistakes, and explain how companies like MyCheapRemovals deliver low-cost removals UK to France without cutting corners. By the end, you’ll see that affordable moving to France is possible – and you’ll be ready to plan your move confidently.

MyCheapRemovals’ Value Proposition: Before we dive in, it’s worth noting why MyCheapRemovals is a great example of affordable yet reliable service. They operate with a unique model that keeps prices among the lowest in Europe. By focusing on customer pre-packed moves and efficient part-load logistics (combining loads from multiple customers), they offer the cheapest price among European removal companies. Their vans run to France daily, meaning high route frequency and experienced crews, and all quotes include all taxes, fuel, ferry costs and insurance upfront (no hidden fees) In short, you get a budget-friendly rate and a dependable team – the ideal combo for a stress-free yet low-cost move.

Moving from the UK to France is an exciting adventure – whether you’re a young family seeking new horizons, retirees chasing the good life in Provence, or expats relocating for work. It’s also a big undertaking that can feel daunting at times. This ultimate guide will walk you through everything you need to know for a smooth move to France. We’ll cover costs, choosing between part-load and full-load removals, timelines, packing tips, paperwork, customs after Brexit, and even tips for settling into your new French home. Throughout, we’ll highlight how our removals service can help, with low prices, fast delivery, excellent customer service, and full customs support every step of the way.

For many, moving to France represents a dream filled with visions of quaint cafes, picturesque countryside, and a rich cultural tapestry. However, the reality of relocating, especially when moving to France from the UK, involves navigating through a series of practical, bureaucratic, and cultural adjustments. This blog post compiles advice from those who’ve experienced this transition and offers insights for newcomers.

Are you thinking about moving to France? If so, you’ll need to consider the cost of transporting your belongings. In this guide, we’ll discuss the average costs of partial removals to France so that you can budget for your move.

Beautiful landscapes, fascinating culture, delicious food, and wine – France undoubtedly has a lot to offer. No wonder thousands of Brits consider moving to France – a fascinating country. However, immersing yourself in a foreign culture requires some preparation.

Whether you are planning on living in France or just visiting, you may need some ultimate information and tips on its culture and customs. In order to steady your nerves before the move, we prepared some basic information about French public holidays, car insurance and taxes, and the most popular supermarkets.

Public holidays in France

There are eleven official public holidays in a year observed in France. In the region of Alsace and Moselle, there are two additional holidays. If the fixed public holiday falls on Sunday, it is celebrated on the following Monday. The public holidays in France include:

If you are planning on moving to France, MyCheapRemovals has the expertise and the local knowledge to tailor our offer to your specific needs. Our professional Customer Service will assist you throughout the process, in order to make your European removal to France as pleasant and easygoing as possible.

Are you looking for a different lifestyle? Is changing your surrounding on your shortlist of prospects? There are lots of benefits to living in France – the largest country in Western Europe. Let’s start with the food – fresh bread, croissants, and cheese come to mind as well as a good bottle of red wine. Also, the working rules may be tempting, as living in France mean that you will work 35 hours a week. If you work for longer than that, you are entitled to overtime with 13 bank holidays and 5 weeks of annual leave.

Culture is another reason that makes it such an attractive choice. The country is teeming with history, museums, art galleries, monuments and sights that you will never be tired of. It’s the capital city, Paris is the largest in Europe and has so much to see that you will want to visit it over and over again.
With a good education system and excellent transport infrastructure, it is harder to find reasons not to move to France.

The country has always been a popular expat destination, and can not only boast a strong economy but a rich cultural and historical heritage.

Removal to France – all necessary information

If you are willing to move to this beautiful country, please check our TERM AND CONDITIONS, and read some TIPS BEFORE MOVING!

To learn more about the whole removal process, you may be interested in THIS POST. It will guide you step by step through our door-to-door service.

To get an idea of the costs of our European removal to France, please check the exemplary REMOVAL PRICES HERE. 

If you have any more questions, you can also consult with our helpful Customer Service – call us at 01942 938 222, 01942 409 822 or 01942 409 821