IMPORTANT - READ THIS TOO

Now let's save you another heap of money. Let's look at how you can move all your furniture and other stuff to France, and importantly, without having to pay VAT and import duty.

After all, why should you? It might be different if it was all brand new things which could conceivably be resold by you for a profit once they're here in France. But that's not the case. You just want to bring your own stuff across.

So, basically, you need to show them that you are a:) Someone who lives in France (or is coming to live in France for the foreseeable future) and b:) That all the stuff you want to bring across really is your own worldly goods - your stuff!

Although the list of documents you might need to provide, which I went through in the video, could sound a bit daunting, it really is not nearly as difficult as it may have sounded.

The main thing you need to do is make absolutely sure that the international removal company you choose to do your move is properly capable of sorting out the required documentation. The company we chose was not cheap but they did sort out all the paperwork for us. Perhaps you get what you pay for.

Anyway, once again, if you did not know all this stuff already, we have just saved you a packet in VAT and import duty. You're welcome!

Now, here's the transcript of the video you just saw (I hope you watched it)...

📍 This is a pretty important subject which you should take note of because if you get it wrong it could cost you dearly. Some removal companies specialize in international removals but be aware that they'll most probably not be doing a trip to France just for you. International removers, say from the UK for example, will send over an enormous truck or several vehicles that can probably accommodate far more than just your items.

It may have to stop several times along the way to offload other people's worldly goods, and it could take a week, weeks, or maybe longer before it reaches you. So don't expect your furniture and other stuff to arrive anytime soon. The truck from the UK which we were waiting for in Béziers, had a couple of stops before us and then carried on to Spain with someone else's furniture afterwards.

That's why I recommend renting an apartment near your new house when you arrive. Apologies if you keep hearing this, but it's important. It's what we did. We rented an apartment for about 8 days when we first arrived in France to take possession of our new house, because although our furniture and other stuff arrived a few days after we got the keys, the house was really not liveable in before that, so we were glad to have a lifeboat just up the road.

Having said that, even a year later we were still finding new removal boxes that were still unopened, but you get the gist. So be clever and do the same thing. thing or you may be living in an empty house with no furniture for a couple of weeks or longer.

Here are some questions you ought to think about before you choose an international removal firm...

* What specific services do they provide for international moves to France? Ensure they can handle packing, transportation, customs clearance and unpacking if needed.

* How many years experience do you have in international moves, especially to France? Experience is crucial for a smooth relocation.

* What type of insurance coverage can they offer your belongings during transit? Make sure your items are adequately protected.

* Can they provide a detailed cost estimate for the move, including all potential fees and charges, so you can get a clear understanding of the expenses involved?

* What's the estimated timeline for your move to France, including packing, shipping and delivery?

* And what types of packing materials do they use?

* And how do they ensure the safety of fragile items?

* If needed, can they offer storage facilities in France for your belongings before delivery?

* How will you be able to track the progress of your shipment and what communication, can you expect from them during the move?

* Are there any potential hidden costs that you should be aware of?

* Do they offer any additional services like pet relocation or vehicle shipping?

* And who will be handling your move? In some cases this could actually be a different company.

* What kind of equipment and vehicles and vehicles do they use?

* What's their procedure for handling complaints or claims in case of damages or issues during the move?

* What are the payment terms and when will payment be due?

* Are they properly licensed and accredited for international moving services?

* Can they provide emergency contact in case you need assistance during your move?

* And here's a biggie. Are they familiar with French customs regulations? You need to make sure they have expertise in navigating the legal aspects of international moves.

* Can they assist with preparing all necessary customs documentation?

They need to get your worldly goods through customs without it costing you an arm and a leg, a shed load of import duty or VAT.

It's perfectly. possible to get your furniture and personal belongings into France without having to pay any tax or customs duty at all. You just need to adhere to the following steps.

You'll need to provide proof of your primary residence in France, perhaps with a residency certificate or a lease agreement.

And if you've not yet completed the purchase, you should provide the following documentation.

* Your sous compromis, that's your preliminary sales agreement. It's a signed document that shows your commitment to buy a property and a strong indicator of your intention to make France your primary residence.

* Proof of an upcoming notaire appointment, if you've got one. Documentation of any scheduled meetings with a notaire can further demonstrate your intention to establish residency.

* Temporary accommodation details. If you've arranged temporary accommodation and have a short term lease, a rental lease until the purchase is complete, then that can serve as interim proof of residence.

* An attestation from the notaire. You can request a certificate from the notaire confirming that the property purchase is in progress and is intended as your primary residence. And that's called an attestation.

There shouldn't be significant issues due to the purchase not being complete, providing you have those documents. They demonstrate your clear intention to reside in France and fulfil the requirements for establishing primary residence. You also need to consider the following.

* Duration of ownership: The items you're bringing into France must have been owned and used by you for at least six months before the move. Any new items will be subject to VAT and or customs duties.

When we moved, we tried to provide some receipts for big and expensive items. Like TVs and cameras.

* Timing: The timing of your import too is important. Your belongings must be imported within 12 months of the date you establish a primary residence in France.

* Customs declaration: Then there's your customs declaration. You've got to complete all the necessary paperwork to declare that France is your new primary residence and provide proof of that status, as I already mentioned.

And that's about it. That's all you have to do. If you get all that right then you can get into France and get all your stuff into France without having to pay any VAT or import duty.

Easy! :)

PS: Once again, don't be disheartened by the list of items you may need to comply with and the list of documents you may need to provide. If you choose your international moving company wisely, they should be able to see to all the form filling for you and don't forget your folder of important documents which you'll need when you apply for just about everything in France. That should help too.

Moving your stuff to France without paying duty or VAT