INTERNATIONAL REMOVALS · LONDON TO FRANCE
We pack, dismantle, load, transport and unpack everything at your new home in France. Exclusive vehicle, no shared loads. Fixed price includes packing materials, ferry, fuel, insurance, road tolls and customs. Delivery in 2 to 4 days.
Most international removals companies rent you a van and leave you to figure out the rest. You pack, you load, you deal with customs, and if something goes wrong at the border, that is your problem.
Octagon is different. We arrive at your London home, pack every room, wrap every item, dismantle all furniture, load everything into our exclusive vehicle, handle the UK export declaration, cross the Channel, clear your goods through the French Douanes via our licensed customs agent, deliver to your new home, reassemble everything, and unpack every box.
One fixed price. One person you can call at any point. No surprises on moving day or at the border.
CUSTOMS & DOCUMENTS
France is an EU member state. Since Brexit, moving household goods from the UK to France crosses an international customs border in both directions. Your belongings must be declared on departure from the UK and on arrival in France.
Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief allows you to import your used household goods into France without paying import duty or VAT, provided you qualify: you must be genuinely relocating your main residence to France, you must have been resident outside France for at least 12 consecutive months before the move, and the goods must have been owned and used by you for at least 6 months. The relief is not automatic: it must be applied for and supported with documentation before your goods arrive.
Clearance time: 1 to 3 working days with correct documentation in place
If documentation is incomplete or the 12-month residency requirement cannot be demonstrated, French customs (the Douanes) may assess your household goods for import duty and VAT at 20%. This can amount to a significant sum on a full household. Getting the paperwork right before departure is far simpler than resolving it after your goods have arrived.
In addition, if you are not eligible for Transfer of Residence relief, French customs will also apply 20% VAT to the cost of your transportation, meaning the fee you pay us for the move itself becomes subject to VAT on the French side. This is a separate charge on top of any duty assessed on your goods.
We work with licensed customs agents registered with the French Douanes (Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects). We cross via the Dover-Calais ferry or the Eurotunnel (Folkestone-Coquelles), with the import declaration typically processed at Calais before we continue to your destination anywhere from Normandy to the Riviera. Your goods do not cross the border without a qualified agent managing the declaration on your behalf.
Standard EU import restrictions apply. Certain food products (particularly meat and dairy), plants and soil, firearms, and counterfeit goods are restricted or prohibited. Alcohol and tobacco above personal allowances are subject to duty even under Transfer of Residence relief. We flag any restricted items identified during your pre-move survey.
Your Route
London → Dover → Calais → Paris
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Yes. France is our most popular international destination. We move clients from London to Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, Toulouse, Normandy, the Dordogne, and every other region of France on a weekly basis.
Cost depends on volume, destination, and services required. A small move (1–2 bed flat) typically costs £2,800–£4,200. A full house move costs £4,500–£7,500+. We provide a fixed-price quote after a survey with no hidden fees.
Road freight from London to northern France takes 2–3 working days. Paris and central France take 3–4 days. Southern France and the Riviera take 4–5 days. We provide a specific timeline at survey stage.
Yes. Our service covers packing at your London home, loading, customs clearance on both sides, transport, delivery to your French address, unloading, and reassembly of furniture. Everything is managed by one team.
We recommend booking 4–8 weeks ahead, especially during peak periods (May–September). We can sometimes accommodate moves at shorter notice. The earlier you book, the more date flexibility we can offer.
Yes. A pre-move survey is essential. We assess the volume of your belongings, discuss packing requirements, explain customs documentation, and provide a fixed-price quote. Surveys can be done in person or by video call.
Yes. We deliver to every part of France including rural areas, villages, and farmhouses. Our drivers are experienced with narrow roads, long driveways, and properties without easy vehicle access.
Yes. Moves to Corsica require a ferry crossing from mainland France. We coordinate the full route including road freight to the port and onward shipping. Additional transit time applies.
No. We move everything from a few boxes to entire 6-bedroom houses. For smaller volumes, we offer groupage where your items share space with other shipments heading to France, reducing cost.
Yes. We run dedicated vehicles to France every week. This frequency means we can offer flexible dates and competitive pricing. Groupage shipments depart on a fixed weekly schedule.
Call us on 0208 521 8000 for a free quote within 1 hour.