International removals from the UK
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International removals here means one thing: a door-to-door move from a UK address to a home in France, Italy, Spain or Portugal, driven by our own crew the whole way. No other destinations, no hand-off to a foreign agent.
Request a written quote →Which countries do we move to?
France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Keeping the list to four is what lets the same crew that loads your home in the UK drive it across the Channel and carry it into the new one. Each destination has its own guide covering the route, the residency paperwork and what to have ready before collection.
| Destination | What the route is like | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| France | The shortest crossing. Typical moves: second homes in Brittany and the Dordogne, family relocations to Lyon and Bordeaux, retirement to the south. | UK to France removals |
| Spain | The route most often asked about. Typical moves: Costa retirement, Madrid and Barcelona job transfers, Valencia and Alicante for lifestyle moves. | UK to Spain removals |
| Italy | The Alpine route. Typical moves: Milan and Turin professional transfers, Tuscan and Umbrian restoration properties, Puglia retirement. | UK to Italy removals |
| Portugal | The longest road leg we run, so packing standard matters most. Typical moves: Lisbon and Porto families, Algarve retirement. | UK to Portugal removals |
Where in the UK do international moves start?
Anywhere in Great Britain. Most of our international collections start in one of seven cities. We regularly run removals from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh or Bristol to Spain, France, Italy or Portugal. Whether you are moving from London to Spain or from Glasgow to Portugal, the process is the same: a survey of the home, a written quote, then one crew from loading to delivery.
- London
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Leeds
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- Bristol
Our office is in Wood Green, north London, which is why London to France and London to Spain are the routes we run most. A collection from Leeds or Edinburgh is quoted the same way as one from north London: the distance to the Channel goes on the written quote.
How does a UK to Europe removal run?
Every move to the four destinations follows the same sequence. The order matters more than the speed, because most delays come from paperwork that was started too late rather than from the road.
- Survey. In person or by video. We list every room, flag items that need crating, and note access at both addresses.
- Written quote. Itemised, with what is included, the cover level, and the estimated delivery window for your route.
- Packing. Full packing, fragile-only, or you pack and we supply materials. See packing services.
- Inventory. A numbered inventory you sign. Customs uses it on both sides of the border.
- Loading and crossing. Your goods stay on our vehicle from your UK door through the Channel crossing to the new address.
- Customs. We file the export declaration in the UK and the import entry at the destination, claiming transfer-of-residence relief where you qualify.
- Delivery. Unloading, placing furniture room by room, reassembly, and removing packing materials if you want them gone.
If the new home is not ready, goods can wait in storage in the UK before departure. If your belongings will be stored before they go abroad, mention it at the survey: transfer-of-residence relief only covers goods imported within a limited period after you move, so a long stay in storage can affect whether they qualify. Your quote includes an estimated window for your route; consolidation, customs and access at each end decide where in that window delivery lands.
What changed for UK movers after Brexit?
Since the UK left the EU customs union, household goods moving to France, Italy, Spain or Portugal need an export declaration in the UK and an import declaration at the destination. Relief from import VAT and duty is still available for a genuine change of residence under Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009. To qualify, you must have lived outside the EU for a minimum period before the move, and the goods must be personal belongings you have owned and used.
UK nationals moving now are treated as non-EU citizens, so the residence route is a visa and residence permit rather than the EU-citizen registration. Each destination guide names the right document. The UK government's "Living in" guides are the official starting point: France, Spain, Italy, Portugal. On the UK side, tell HMRC you are leaving using form P85 (GOV.UK: form P85).
The customs and paperwork guide sets out what we file and what you file. The European removals page covers crossings and timing factors. The moving abroad checklist covers the admin outside the move itself.
International removals: common questions
Which countries do you move to from the UK?
Four: France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Every move is door to door by road with our own crew. We do not run routes to any other country, and we will tell you so rather than pass the job to an agent.
Where in the UK can you collect from?
Anywhere in Great Britain. Most international collections start in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh or Bristol, but the survey and quote work the same way from any address.
Do I need to deal with customs myself?
We prepare the export and import paperwork for the household goods. You supply the documents only you can get — proof of your new residence and an inventory you have signed. The customs page lists both sides.