Moving to France: import your household goods duty-free into France, with inventory list and plan

The conditions, form Cerfa 10070 and the inventory are described above. However, the French administration also lists cases in which the customs exemption does not apply or a permit is required in advance. It is exactly these points that decide what goes into the removal van and what you need to arrange separately.

Dutiable despite the move

According to service-public.fr, when moving from a non-EU country, items such as alcohol, tobacco, commercial vehicles and vehicles with mixed professional use, mobile homes and professional equipment remain subject to duties. A privately used vehicle, on the other hand, is among the permitted goods. If it was not yet registered in Switzerland, the BAZG (Federal Office for Customs and Border Security) additionally requires form 13.20A on departure.

For the self-employed, this means that tools, practice equipment or office supplies used for work belong on a separate list. According to service-public.fr, the travel allowances for alcohol and tobacco do not cover a removal – so even a small wine collection is a matter for the Douane (French customs).

The Douane also sets out its own rules for inherited goods and for moves on the occasion of a marriage. If you are bringing inherited furniture or wedding gifts to France together with your household goods, you should mark these items on the inventory list and check the relevant rules in advance.

Second home or holiday house: no exemption

One point that affects many Swiss households: according to service-public.fr, goods used to furnish a second home or holiday house in France do not benefit from the customs exemption. The exemption requires the transfer of your main residence.

If you keep your residence in Switzerland and are only furnishing a holiday house, you should therefore clarify the duties before transport. For a complete relocation, on the other hand, proof of settlement in France is the decisive document. Have your tenancy agreement, purchase contract or employment contract in France ready on moving day, not only when you unpack.

Animals, art, weapons, medicines: permit in advance

According to service-public.fr, some categories of goods require prior permits, including works of art, weapons, animals, plants and medicines. For dogs, cats and ferrets, the BLV (Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office) lists a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a pet passport; for exports to EU states, the same requirements apply as for imports, supplemented by national regulations.

House plants and the home medicine cabinet seem minor, but they fall under this list. It is best to clarify these categories before we start packing.

Checklist for crossing the border

• Record professional equipment and vehicles with mixed use separately from household goods.
• Note whether the move concerns your main residence or a second home.
• Obtain permits for works of art, weapons, plants and medicines before packing.
• Carry the pet passport and vaccination certificate in the car.
• In Switzerland, declare the export at a customs office for commercial goods during its opening hours (BAZG).

During the free survey – on site or via WhatsApp video – we record such items straight away. The information provided by the French customs administration is authoritative; check details with the Douane in advance. If you are moving on to another neighbouring country, the pages Removals to Belgium and Removals to Spain will help.

Frequently asked questions

Who takes care of my Swiss flat once I already live in France?
Our cleaning team can do this: we clean your previous flat after you move out and attend the handover to the property management. If they find any faults, we fix them immediately at no extra cost. This way you do not have to travel back from France specially for the handover appointment.

How does furniture arrive undamaged over the long distance to Toulouse, Marseille or Nice?
With careful padding and secure load restraint: our carpenters dismantle wardrobes and beds before departure, glass and edges receive extra protection, and every piece is fixed with straps in the cargo area. Your household goods are insured for the entire journey, and at the destination the same specialists reassemble everything.

Where are household goods cleared through customs when moving from Switzerland to France?
In two places: first our team declares the export at Swiss customs (BAZG), then the import follows at the French Douane. We handle both steps for you. You sign the inventory in advance, and we carry all documents in the vehicle so that the border crossing works without you having to be present at customs.

When is the best time for a removal van to drive to France in July and August?
Ideally Monday to Friday, because heavy lorries are banned from French roads during the day on several summer Saturdays. We therefore schedule the journey on a weekday. If you would still like to move out on a Saturday, we load the van in Switzerland without a Saturday surcharge and only start the journey once the ban has ended.

What happens if my new home in France is not ready to move into yet?
Then we store your furniture temporarily in our dry, climate-controlled and alarm-secured warehouse and deliver it later. Because the French customs exemption also allows import in several stages, part can be brought over immediately and the rest later. We prepare a suitable inventory list for each stage.

Which furniture is best disposed of before moving to France?
Anything you will no longer need in France: every item less reduces the inventory list, the load volume and the effort at customs. We collect discarded furniture while still in Switzerland and dispose of it properly for CHF 65.– per m³, so that only the household goods you really want to keep cross the border.

What should I look out for when moving into the low-emission zones of Paris or Lyon?
Above all, access with the removal van: Paris and Lyon are among the mandatory ZFE areas (low-emission zones). Before planning, we check the local requirements, use a suitable vehicle and organise the parking space in front of the new building according to the city's rules. Details for each city can be found on our city pages.