Shipping to France: The Transfert de Résidence Exemption You Must Claim

Deciding what to ship and how is one of the most stressful parts of a transatlantic move, and it is also one of the most underplanned. Most Americans spend months on visa applications and apartment searches, then realize six weeks before departure that they have not thought through the shipping side at all. International freight takes four to eight weeks by sea, customs clearance adds time, and the French customs rules for imported household goods have specific conditions that not everyone knows about.

This guide covers what you need to know before you book a move: the difference between sea freight and air freight, how to evaluate international moving companies on the US-France route, what the French customs exemption covers, what you must declare, and what commonly gets flagged or taxed. If you are still in the early planning phase, the first-month checklist for Americans in France maps how shipping fits into the broader arrival sequence.

Sea Freight vs Air Freight: Choosing the Right Method

For most Americans moving to France, sea freight is the practical choice for household goods. Air freight is faster but significantly more expensive, and it is generally reserved for essential items that cannot wait four to eight weeks.

Sea freight gives you two main options. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your belongings share a container with other shipments. You pay for the volume your goods occupy, and it is the right choice for shipments under roughly 1,000 cubic feet. A studio or one-bedroom apartment's worth of goods, carefully packed, typically falls in the 200 to 600 cubic foot range. FCL (Full Container Load) means you rent an entire container. A 20-foot container holds roughly 1,000 to 1,100 cubic feet of goods. A 40-foot container holds roughly 2,200 to 2,400 cubic feet. FCL is more cost-effective than LCL once your volume justifies it.

Estimated costs for sea freight from the US East Coast to France vary widely based on volume, origin city, service level, and market conditions. As rough guidance only: LCL shipments in the 200 to 400 cubic foot range have historically ranged from approximately $2,000 to $6,000 all-in for origin and destination services. FCL 20-foot containers have ranged from approximately $5,000 to $15,000 depending on route, season, and service level. These are illustrative ranges only. Get current quotes from at least three carriers before making any decisions.

Transit time from a US port to France is typically four to six weeks for East Coast origins. West Coast shipments add one to two weeks. Customs clearance at destination adds time beyond the transit estimate.

Air freight is priced by weight and typically costs $10 to $30 or more per kilogram depending on the route and service class. It makes sense for a single box of irreplaceable documents or medications, but it is not practical for furniture or volume goods. Most Americans use air freight only for an "essentials box" that they absolutely need before their sea shipment arrives.

What a Full-Service International Move Includes

International moving companies offer a range from full-service to self-pack options. Understanding what is included prevents surprises on the invoice.

A full-service move typically includes: packing at origin (the movers pack everything), loading and transportation to port, ocean freight, customs clearance at destination, delivery to your French address, and unpacking. Some companies include crating for fragile items and insurance in their base quote. Others price these separately.

A partial-service or self-pack move means you pack your own boxes, and the mover handles the freight, customs, and delivery. You save on labor but take on the packing risk. If something breaks in transit and it was not packed by the moving company, claims may be limited.

Customs brokerage is an important service component. French customs (la douane) requires documentation that most Americans are not familiar with. A good international mover includes either an in-house customs broker or a partner customs agent who handles the transfert de résidence declaration on your behalf. Confirm this is included before signing.

One question crews never put on the quote is the tip, so it is worth knowing whether and how you tip movers in France before the truck arrives.

Insurance is a separate discussion. Most movers offer basic coverage based on weight, which pays very little on a per-item basis. Full replacement value coverage costs more but protects actual item value. For a transatlantic move of real possessions, upgraded insurance is generally worth the cost.

Moving Companies on the US-France Route

Several international moving companies serve the US-France corridor. This is not an endorsement of any specific company. Moving company quality varies significantly by local agents, route, and season. Always request at least three quotes, read recent reviews on third-party platforms, verify each company's licensing, and confirm exactly what is and is not included in each quote before comparing.

Companies commonly mentioned by Americans who have moved to France include: Crown Relocations (operates globally with established French operations), AGS Worldwide Movers (strong European and French network), Allied International (part of the SIRVA network, large volume on this route), UniGroup / United Van Lines international division, Santa Fe Relocation (specializes in corporate and international moves), Schumacher Cargo Logistics (well-known for vehicle and shared container shipping, popular with expats), and MovingPlace (tends to serve mid-budget self-pack customers on popular routes).

For verifying a company's legitimacy before booking, the US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintains a registration database at fmcsa.dot.gov that covers interstate and international carriers. Any company operating from the US should be registerable and searchable there.

Beware of brokers who are not themselves carriers. A broker markets the move but subcontracts to a carrier. This is legal and common, but if something goes wrong, accountability becomes complicated. Ask specifically whether the company you are booking with is the actual carrier or a broker.

A Cheaper Option for a Few Bags: Luggage Shipping

Not every move needs a freight container or a full-service mover. If you are bringing a handful of suitcases and boxes rather than a whole household, a door-to-door luggage courier is usually cheaper than both air freight and airline excess baggage fees, and it skips the airport entirely. You book online, a courier collects from your home, and your items are tracked to your French address.

Send My Bag is the most established option for this. It has run for around twenty years, completed more than a million moves, and ships to France from around 99 dollars per item at a flat rate for each route up to 30 kg, with a dedicated customs team to help with the declaration. Independent reviews run to more than 110,000 at a rating of about 4.7 out of 5. (Some links in this section are partner links that may earn EasyFranceNow a commission at no extra cost to you, which does not change our guidance.)

It is the right tool when:

• You are shipping a few bags or boxes rather than furniture.

• You want to avoid paying per extra and overweight bag at the airline desk.

• You are a student or light mover setting up a home with just the essentials.

For a full household with furniture, freight and a moving company (covered above) remain the better route. But for the bags that would otherwise cost a fortune in airline fees, get an instant quote from Send My Bag and compare it against your airline's published baggage charges before you fly.

What to Ship vs What to Sell or Leave Behind

Before spending on freight, think carefully about what is worth moving. French apartments are typically furnished when rented short-term, and even unfurnished apartments have standard appliances. Some things that Americans ship to France create problems at customs or turn out to be impractical.

Electronics on US voltage (120V/60Hz) do not work on French current (230V/50Hz) without step-down transformers, and even with transformers, appliances with heating elements (hairdryers, toasters, electric kettles) work inefficiently. French appliances are widely available, reasonably priced, and fit French apartments. Kitchen appliances and most plug-in electronics are worth selling before you leave unless they are specifically dual-voltage.

Large furniture and mattresses often do not fit into French apartments, which tend to have narrower stairwells and smaller rooms than American homes. This is a practical consideration before shipping a king-size bed frame.

Vehicles are a separate category with their own import rules, costs, and registration requirements in France. Most Americans sell their US car rather than ship it, due to the complexity of French technical inspection (contrôle technique) compliance and the cost of conversion. Shipping is one thread inside a much longer sequence, and a consulting call is where to work out the order the rest of it has to happen in.

Books, clothing, personal items, linens, art, and sentimental items are typically the best candidates for shipping. These do not wear out in transit and have no functional incompatibility with France.

Your car and your pets are the two big exceptions that do not travel like ordinary household goods, and each has its own rulebook. A vehicle has to clear French homologation and customs separately, which is involved enough that many Americans decide it is not worth it, as our guide to importing your car from the US to France explains. Pets need a USDA health certificate, a microchip, and airline-specific arrangements made well in advance, all covered in our [guide to moving to France with your dog or cat](./moving-to-france-with-pets-from-us).

French Customs and the Transfert de Résidence Exemption

France, as an EU member state, applies EU customs law to imports from outside the EU. The good news for Americans moving to France is that a genuine exemption exists for household goods when you are establishing your main residence in France after living outside the EU.

The legal basis is EU Council Regulation 1186/2009, which establishes relief from customs duties for personal property imported by private individuals when changing their normal place of residence from outside the EU to an EU member state. The French term for this procedure is "transfert de résidence" (transfer of residence), and the relief it provides is significant: qualifying household goods and personal effects can enter France free of import duties and VAT.

The full text of EU Regulation 1186/2009 is available on EUR-Lex. French Customs (douane.gouv.fr) publishes guidance on how the exemption is applied in France.

To benefit from the transfert de résidence exemption, you must meet specific conditions. You must be establishing your primary residence in France from outside the EU. Your goods must have been in your personal possession and used by you for at least six months before the date of the change of residence (items acquired in the six months immediately before moving generally do not qualify). Your goods must be intended for your personal use, not for commercial or professional sale. You must submit the required customs declaration.

Timing also matters. The exemption can generally be applied for in the 12-month period before to 12 months after establishing residence in France. Most movers recommend applying at the time of import. Goods shipped before you have your visa may face complications at customs.

Live animals follow a completely separate customs track from your household goods, so review our guide to moving to France with pets from the US for the health certificate and endorsement timing before you book anything.

What Qualifies for Duty-Free Import

Under the transfert de résidence exemption, the following categories of personal property generally qualify: clothing and personal items, furniture and household furnishings (beds, sofas, dining tables, shelving), kitchen items and cookware, books, artwork and decorative items, musical instruments for personal use, bicycles and non-motorized sporting equipment, personal computers and personal electronics owned for at least six months.

The key tests are "personal use" and "owned for at least six months." A laptop you have used for two years qualifies. A laptop still in the box that you bought the week before moving does not.

What Does NOT Qualify (and What Gets Scrutinized)

Alcohol and tobacco are explicitly excluded from the household goods exemption and are subject to standard excise duties.

Vehicles (cars, motorcycles, camper vans) are subject to entirely separate import rules, registration requirements, and potentially type-approval requirements for the French market. Do not ship a vehicle under the household goods exemption.

New items still in original packaging are very likely to be treated as commercial imports rather than personal effects, even if you own them. Customs officers are experienced at identifying recently purchased goods.

Professional equipment (tools, specialized equipment for a trade or profession) is handled separately from personal effects and may require different customs treatment.

Firearms and certain weapons are subject to strict French and EU import regulations. This requires specific authorization that is entirely separate from the household goods process.

High-value pieces draw the closest look at the border, so if you are moving paintings, antiques, or anything with ivory or protected wood, read our guide to shipping antiques and fine art to France before you pack.

The Customs Declaration Process

Your international moving company should include customs brokerage as part of its service for a France destination move. In practice, the customs process for a transfert de résidence looks like this.

You prepare an inventory of all goods being shipped. This inventory is typically in both English and French (your customs broker handles the translation). The inventory should list every item by category, approximate age, and approximate value. Be thorough and honest: customs inspections do occur, and a shipment that does not match the declared inventory creates delays and potential penalties.

You provide documentation proving your change of residence: copies of your passport with your French visa, your French address confirmation, and your prior US address documentation.

A customs declaration form (the déclaration de transfert de résidence) is submitted to French customs, typically by your customs broker, before or at the time the shipment arrives at a French port or border crossing.

Customs may or may not inspect the physical shipment. If inspection occurs, it typically takes one to three additional business days. Your customs broker manages communication with French customs officials.

Once cleared, your goods are released for delivery to your French address.

The transfert de résidence paperwork is far easier when it is part of a planned timeline rather than a last-minute scramble, since you need proof you are genuinely relocating your residence. Folding your shipment into the broader countdown, alongside your visa, banking, and address steps, keeps the customs file consistent with everything else. Our 90-day pre-departure checklist for Americans moving to France lays out when to lock in your shipping decision relative to everything else you are handling before you leave.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Booking a mover without confirming customs brokerage is included. Ask specifically: "Is customs clearance at the French destination included in this quote, and do you have an in-house broker or a named partner for French customs?" A mover that hands you a phone number for "a local agent" without an established relationship is a risk.

Shipping new items hoping they will pass as household goods. French customs knows what recently purchased items look like. When caught, you will pay import duties, VAT, and potentially a penalty. Sell new items in the US and buy replacements in France if needed.

Not keeping proof that items were owned before the six-month cutoff. For high-value items, keep purchase receipts dated more than six months before your move. If your laptop was purchased two years ago, that receipt proves it qualifies.

Packing items that are not permitted for international shipping: hazardous materials, certain food items, plants, and firearms require specific handling or import authorization. Your mover should provide a prohibited items list, but it is your responsibility to ensure compliance.

Shipping before your visa is confirmed. If goods arrive before you have legal residence status in France established, the customs exemption timeline may be harder to apply. Coordinate your shipping schedule with your visa approval.

Practical Checklist

Six to eight weeks before moving:

• Get quotes from at least three international movers covering the US-France route

• Confirm customs brokerage is included in each quote

• Decide between full-service and self-pack based on budget and timeline

• Begin deciding what to ship vs sell vs donate

• Check electronics are dual-voltage before adding them to the shipment list

Four to six weeks before moving:

• Book your mover and confirm insurance coverage

• Begin creating your household goods inventory (one item per line: category, description, approximate age, approximate value)

• Gather purchase receipts for high-value items if available

• Confirm your French address for delivery (even a temporary address) with your mover

Two to four weeks before moving:

• Complete packing (or confirm dates for the mover's packing team)

• Finalize the customs declaration inventory with your customs broker

• Remove from the shipment any items that are new, prohibited, or excluded from the exemption

• Confirm the estimated delivery date in France and your overlap coverage (temporary housing should cover the gap until goods arrive)

After arrival in France:

• Coordinate delivery to your French address once customs clearance is confirmed

• Keep all customs declaration paperwork as it may be requested for future administrative procedures

When to Get Help

The moving and shipping process is one you coordinate directly with your chosen international mover and their customs broker. EasyFranceNow does not manage freight logistics, but the broader relocation setup that surrounds your arrival (housing, banking, utilities, admin setup) is exactly what EasyFranceNow is built for.

For the housing side specifically, our guide to renting in France as an American covers the rental process so you have a delivery address confirmed before your goods arrive.

FAQ

How long does it take to ship household goods from the US to France by sea?

Transit time from a US East Coast port to France is typically four to six weeks. West Coast to France adds one to two weeks. Add one to three weeks for packing and loading at origin, plus customs clearance time at destination. From the time you finish packing to the time your goods are delivered to your French apartment, total elapsed time is typically eight to fourteen weeks. Plan your temporary housing overlap accordingly. A two-month buffer between your arrival in France and your goods delivery date is a reasonable planning assumption.

Do I have to pay customs taxes when shipping my belongings to France?

If you qualify for the transfert de résidence exemption under EU Regulation 1186/2009, your qualifying household goods enter France free of import duties and VAT. The main conditions: you are establishing primary residence in France from outside the EU, the goods have been in your possession and used by you for at least six months before the move, and you submit the required customs declaration. New items, alcohol, tobacco, and vehicles are excluded from the exemption. Working with a moving company that includes customs brokerage in their service is the best way to ensure the declaration is filed correctly.

What is an inventory list and how detailed does it need to be?

Your household goods inventory is the document that goes to French customs as part of the transfert de résidence declaration. It should list every item in your shipment by category, a brief description, approximate age, and approximate replacement value. You do not need to list every spoon individually, but you should have categories like "clothing and personal effects (assorted, 10+ years owned)," "bed linens and towels," "kitchen items including pots, pans, and cutlery," "one laptop computer, purchased 2022," and so on. High-value items like electronics, artwork, jewelry, and musical instruments should be individually listed with purchase dates if possible. Your moving company's customs broker will typically provide a template and review the list before submission.

Is it worth shipping furniture from the US to France?

It depends on what you own and what you are moving to. Large American furniture (sectional sofas, king beds, oversized dining tables) often does not fit in French apartments and can be difficult to get up narrow French stairwells. Sentimental pieces, well-made items you love, and things that would be expensive to replace may be worth shipping. Standard furniture is widely available in France at all price points. Many Americans find it more practical to sell large furniture in the US and furnish their French apartment over time, shipping only what genuinely matters to them. The shipping cost per cubic foot should factor into the decision: if a piece of furniture costs $400 to ship and $300 to replace in France, selling before the move is often the right call.

Conclusion

Shipping your belongings from the US to France is not complicated if you plan it correctly. The sea freight timeline means you need to book four to six months before your intended arrival to ensure your goods arrive reasonably close to when you do. The transfert de résidence customs exemption removes the import duty burden for qualifying household goods, but it requires a proper declaration and an inventory your customs broker can work from. And the decision of what to actually ship rewards practical thinking over sentiment: French apartments are smaller, electrical systems are different, and most everyday goods are readily available in France.

Shipping is one thread inside a much larger sequence, and a consulting call is where to work out the order the rest of the first ninety days has to happen in.