Moving to Europe: a practical guide before you book

Real answers to the questions that come up on every international move, from customs relief and timing to what actually happens when a lorry cannot fit down your new street.

When to start planning

Roughly in this order, working back from your leaving date.

  • 3 months or more before: confirm whether this is a Transfer of Residence, a business relocation, or furnishing a second home. Each is treated differently by customs. Start the valued inventory.
  • 6 to 8 weeks before: book your date, especially for July, August or the run-up to Christmas, the busiest weeks across Europe.
  • 2 to 4 weeks before: confirm access at both ends, floor, lift, stairwell width, parking, and whether a monte-meubles or external lift is needed.
  • Moving week: final paperwork check, inventory, EORI if it is a business move, proof of your new address, then packing and collection.
  • Delivery: release from storage if any, delivery into the room, and reassembly.

Transfer of Residence relief, in plain terms

Moving your main home to an EU country usually qualifies for Transfer of Residence relief, so no duty or VAT on your own furniture, provided you have owned and used the goods for at least six months and import them within twelve months of moving. A detailed valued inventory is required either way. Furnishing a holiday home is not a transfer of residence and is treated differently, so tell us which applies before we quote.

Business equipment does not qualify for the same relief. Relocating office furniture, IT or stock is a commercial import and needs a commercial invoice, an itemised inventory and an EORI number for both the sending and receiving business. See our office removals page for how that fits into a business relocation.

What actually slows a European delivery down

None of this is about distance. It is almost always about the last hundred metres.

  • Old-town access in cities like Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice and Marseille, where narrow lanes rule out a full-size lorry and a shuttle van or external furniture lift is needed instead
  • Low-emission zones, Crit-Air in France, Umweltzone in Germany, LEZ in Belgium, which need the right sticker or permit arranged ahead of the date
  • No-lift walk-ups in older European apartment buildings, where a monte-meubles takes the load in through a window instead of the stairwell
  • Rural gateways and unmade lanes, in places like the Dordogne and Tuscany, where we ask for photos or video of the approach before quoting
  • Fixed moving calendars, such as the Swiss quarter-day system, which books out crews, lifts and permits months ahead

Dedicated vehicle or part-load?

Under roughly fifteen cubic metres, a shared part-load is usually the cheaper option, since you pay for the space you occupy on a vehicle travelling the same route anyway. Above that, a dedicated vehicle is usually better value and lets you set the exact date. See the removals to Paris page for a published example of how volume, price and transit time relate on the shortest mainland route, then scale up for destinations further south.

Moving to Europe: common questions

Six to eight weeks is usually enough, but book earlier for July, August or the run-up to Christmas, the busiest weeks across Europe, and for Switzerland, where the quarter-day calendar books out crews months ahead.

Normally no, if it qualifies as a Transfer of Residence: you have owned and used the goods for at least six months and import them within twelve months of moving your main home. A detailed valued inventory is required either way, and a holiday home does not qualify.

Common in European city apartments, and solved with a monte-meubles, an external furniture lift that takes the load in through a window. We identify the need at survey and price it into the quote.

Usually, under roughly fifteen cubic metres, because you share the vehicle with other customers travelling the same route. Above that a dedicated vehicle tends to work out better value.

Yes. UK and continental completion dates rarely line up, so we hold goods in the UK or near your destination, insured, for as long as the gap lasts. See our storage page for how that works.

Yes. Business equipment is a commercial import rather than a Transfer of Residence, so the paperwork and timing are different. See our office removals page for detail.

Talk to a mover, not a call centre

Get a fixed price for your move

Tell us what you are moving and where it is going. We will come back with one itemised figure.

+44 20 3150 2668Fastest for dates and access questions→info@europeanremovalexperts.co.ukBest for inventories and floor plans→

Get a quick quote

Three minutes now, a firm price back by tomorrow.

We reply within one working day. Your details are used only to prepare your quote.

Where we move

Every destination has its own page with real route, customs and access detail.

Removals to France  ·  Removals to Spain  ·  Removals to Italy  ·  Removals to Portugal  ·  Removals to Germany  ·  Removals to the Netherlands  ·  Removals to Belgium  ·  Removals to Switzerland