Customs & paperwork.

What changed in 2021

The UK left the EU customs union on 1 January 2021. From that date, household goods crossing the border between the UK and an EU member state require an export declaration on the UK side and an import declaration on the destination side. Before 2021, household removals between the UK and EU member states ran without these declarations — the customs union meant goods moved freely between member states. Post-2021, the procedure for an EU-bound move is closer to the procedure for a non-European overseas move, although the operational shape (road and ferry rather than sea freight) is unchanged.

Transfer-of-residence relief

Transfer-of-residence relief is the rule that lets a genuine relocation move household goods without paying import VAT or duty. Most household-removal customers qualify. The relief is anchored to your destination residency document — the customs paperwork references your residency registration, and the relief application closes once that registration is in hand. Standard pre-conditions: the contents must have been owned and used at the UK origin for at least six months before the move; the relocation must be genuine (not a temporary stay); the inventory must be accurate. Specific exclusions vary by destination — vehicles, certain controlled items, and some high-value individual items have their own rules.

Residency documents by destination

For European destinations, the residency document is the local registration that establishes your address with the relevant municipal or regional authority. France uses the déclaration de domicile filed at the destination mairie. Germany uses the Anmeldung filed at the Bürgeramt. Spain uses the empadronamiento at the destination ayuntamiento. Italy uses the residenza at the comune. Portugal uses the certificado de registo de cidadão for EU citizens or the visto de residência for non-EU. Belgium uses the inscription au registre national at the destination commune. Netherlands uses the BSN issued at the destination gemeente. Austria uses the Meldezettel at the Magistratisches Bezirksamt or local Gemeinde. Luxembourg uses the déclaration d'arrivée at the commune. Switzerland uses the residency permit (B for short-term, C for long-resident, L for short-stay assignment) issued by the destination canton.

For non-European destinations, the residency document varies by country and visa class. Australia uses the visa grant notice and proof of domestic address. USA uses the relevant visa or green card and the I-94 entry record. Canada uses the work permit or PR card and proof of address. The destination country's customs framework determines the specific documentation; the partner agent in the destination country walks you through what's needed.

What your remover handles

We file the customs paperwork end-to-end on your behalf. UK export declaration before the lorry leaves your UK address. Destination import declaration at the entry port (or destination port for sea freight). Transfer-of-residence relief application against your residency document. The detailed inventory required for customs (each item, its category, its rough valuation). The documentation timeline coordinates with your residency registration on arrival; we don't file your residency, but our customs paperwork closes once your residency document is in hand.

What you handle

You handle your residency registration on arrival. You handle your tax residency (separate from customs — your tax adviser, not your remover). You handle property contracts, utilities, healthcare registration, banking. You handle vehicle imports if any (vehicles are excluded from standard transfer-of-residence relief and have their own framework; a vehicle-import specialist handles those). You handle declaring high-value individual items (art, watches, jewellery, instruments) on the inventory accurately — under-declaring is a customs offence.

Items prohibited or restricted by destination

Each destination country prohibits or restricts specific item categories. Common across most destinations: controlled substances, certain firearms and bladed items, specific botanical or animal materials (CITES-listed species, untreated timber, food products in some countries). The booking contract includes the destination-specific prohibited list; we'll flag any concern at survey rather than at the customs office. If you're unsure whether a specific item is restricted, mention it at survey — easier to plan around than to discover at the border.

This page is a primer, not a complete customs reference. Customs frameworks change; your remover will walk you through the specific documentation for your route at booking. For specific destinations, see the route briefs on the European removals page and the Overseas removals page.