What documents do I need to move household goods to France in 2025?
You are ready to start a new chapter in France, and the only thing between you and croissants in your new kitchen is paperwork. The good news, there is a clear path. With the right documents, your household goods can clear French customs smoothly, and you avoid unnecessary duty or delays. As your guide, SDC International Shipping coordinates the logistics, prepares your file, and walks you through each form so you can focus on your move, not memorize acronyms.
What customs officers actually want to see
French customs wants to confirm who you are, that you are legitimately relocating, and that your shipment is used personal effects coming with you as you change residence. In practice this means a core identity set and a relocation proof set. The identity set usually includes a copy of your passport for every adult shipper and any applicable French visa or residency documentation. The relocation set establishes that you are moving your normal household, not importing new goods for resale. This typically includes proof of your new address in France, such as a signed lease or recent utility bill, proof that you have left or are leaving your U.S. residence, and a written statement that your goods are for your personal use and not for sale.
When we prepare your file, we translate and label the documents the way French customs officers expect to see them, which speeds the review and reduces follow-up questions. We also align your shipping timeline with document validity, since some proofs are time sensitive.
The packing list that opens doors
French customs relies on a valued inventory, often called a packing list, to understand what is in your shipment. This document should list contents by room or box, indicate approximate values, and be signed and dated by you. Including French labels next to English, even if simple, makes a difference during clearance. Our team can provide a bilingual template and help you structure the list so it is thorough without being overwhelming. The goal is accuracy, not perfection, and it should read like a realistic snapshot of a lived-in home.
If you are shipping special categories, like wine collections or musical instruments, you will want to include them clearly on the list and flag any certificates you hold. For artwork, heirlooms, or antiques, we often recommend a brief description and provenance notes. When appropriate, we also recommend pairing your documentation with our specialized service for valuables, and we coordinate crating and condition reporting to support the file. If this applies to you, explore our page on Shipping Artwork & Valuables, and ask your move coordinator to tie your packing list to the crating inventory.
The non-resale statement: why it matters
France expects a signed attestation that your goods are for personal use and not intended for resale. This is commonly called a non cession or non resale certificate. It is a short statement, but it carries weight, because it confirms your eligibility for duty and tax relief on used household effects. We supply a ready to sign version, and we make sure your signature and dates match your other documents, which keeps your file consistent.
Proving your change of residence
To qualify for duty relief, you must show that you are transferring your normal place of residence to France. There are multiple ways to do this, and we help you choose the simplest. Some clients receive an employer transfer letter showing the relocation and dates. Others provide proof of French housing plus evidence of ending a U.S. lease or selling a U.S. home. Your timeline matters here, because customs may look for continuity between your departure, the shipment departure, and your arrival.
If you will work in France, an employer letter on company letterhead stating your role and relocation strengthens the file. If you are moving for family reasons or retirement, proof of French address and a brief personal statement can achieve the same outcome. We format these in a standard way so the officer reviewing your file can understand your story in minutes.
Proof that your goods are used
Another part of duty relief is showing that the items have been in your possession and use for a period before import, typically six months. You do not need receipts for every plate or pillow, but you should be able to show the general age of major items when asked. We recommend simple methods, such as including purchase years in your valued inventory for big items like sofas and TVs, or providing a screenshot of a phone or laptop settings page that shows the purchase year. When your file tells a coherent story, officers rarely ask for more.
Vehicle in the same container, extra documents to add
If you plan to include a car or motorcycle in the same container as your household goods, there are extra documents to add. You will need your original title, a copy of your registration, and identity documents that match the titleholder. You may also be asked for proof of ownership length and compliance documents. SDC can ship vehicles when they are containerized with household goods, and we will guide you through the additional steps, including any technical inspection that may be required after arrival. Start with our page on Car & Vehicle Shipping to understand how container shipping compares to other methods, then speak with your coordinator about the best approach for your specific vehicle.
The shipping documents SDC prepares for you
Alongside your personal documents, there is a set of shipping documents we create and align for customs. These include the bill of lading or air waybill, the export declaration, and your professional packing inventory from our crew. When our team provides Packing Services, we generate a room by room inventory with crate numbers and seal numbers that aligns perfectly with your valued list. This creates a clean link between what you declared and what physically travels, which customs appreciates.
If you prefer a faster departure or have a time-sensitive start date, we might recommend Air Freight vs Ocean Freight. Either way, the customs documentation is similar, and our operations team keeps your file synchronized from pickup to delivery.
Insurance that matches your file
Customs clearance and insurance are related more than most people realize. A well-prepared valued inventory supports your International Moving Insurance, and your policy terms guide how we record high-value items on your inventory. We can review policy options with you, explain how declared value works, and show you when a separate Marine Insurance certificate is appropriate. Good documentation protects your move twice, first at customs, then in the rare event of a claim.
Timelines, storage, and staying compliant
Sometimes, the date you can move out does not match the date you can receive delivery in France. We bridge that gap with Climate-Controlled Storage options at origin or destination, and we keep your document dates aligned so your duty relief stays intact. If your shipment will depart significantly later than your departure flight, tell your coordinator so we can update proofs and keep the file fresh at clearance time.
For planning, most ocean shipments to France follow a door-to-door timeline of roughly six to twelve weeks for direct service, and eight to sixteen weeks for groupage, with variations by season and port conditions. If you are moving from the U.S. West Coast to continental Europe, expect the longer end of the range. We will give you a route specific estimate once we know your origin and destination cities, and we will keep your paperwork timed to the actual sailing.
2025 Insight for moves to France
In 2025, three shifts stand out for France moves. First, several ports are prioritizing earlier appointment slots for sealed household containers, which rewards booking your pickup and sailing window a bit sooner than last year. Second, customs teams prefer one clean PDF packet with legible scans over multiple attachments, so we compile your documents into a single prescreen ready dossier that includes your valued list, relocation proofs, and non-resale statement. Third, officers are reviewing values on big-ticket electronics more closely. Adding purchase years or reasonable replacement values for televisions and computers helps approvals move faster without extra questions.
How SDC guides you through each step
Our process is simple and personal. We begin with a short call to map your move and confirm the documents you already have. Next, we send your tailored document kit, including a bilingual valued inventory and the non-resale statement. If you need help from your employer, we share a transfer letter sample that HR can adapt in minutes. When packing day arrives, our professional crew completes a detailed inventory that mirrors your valued list. We then assemble your customs file, attach your shipping documents, and submit everything to our French clearance partner. Throughout, you have a single coordinator who answers questions and keeps your timeline and paperwork on track.
If you are still comparing providers, you can learn how to look past headline prices on our guide to Comparing International Moving Quotes. If your shipment includes bulky pieces, our team can plan protection and casework, and you can review options on Shipping Furniture Internationally and International Shipping Containers. When you are ready to book, our International Household Movers page will walk you through the service from door to door.
Your personal checklist, transformed into a smooth clearance
Every French move is a little different, but the winning formula is the same, a clear identity set, a complete relocation proof set, a signed non-resale statement, and a bilingual valued inventory that matches your shipment. Add in professional packing, properly timed shipping documents, and insurance that fits your plan, and customs becomes a short checkpoint on the way to your new life.
Ready to move to France with confidence
If you want a specialist to make the paperwork simple, we are here to help. Call SDC International Shipping at 877-339-0267, or reach out through any of the service pages above, and we will build your document kit and timeline so your move clears customs cleanly and arrives ready for delivery.
