Moving Household Goods to France: Change of Residence Explained
Updated March 2026
French customs does not often reject household goods shipments outright, but it does hold them, challenge documentation, and in some cases assess duties that the shipper was not expecting. Understanding what rejection and customs holds actually look like in practice, what triggers them, and what your options are if it happens to your shipment, is useful preparation for a US-to-France move. The good news is that most problems are recoverable. The bad news is that recovering from them is expensive and stressful in ways that proper preparation avoids entirely.
SDC International Shipping is a door-to-door international shipping company serving all 50 US states. Our destination partners in France manage customs clearance on behalf of SDC clients and handle the full range of issues that arise at Le Havre and Marseille. Here is what you need to know.
What “Rejection” Actually Means in French Customs
A true outright rejection of a household goods shipment, where French customs refuses to release the goods under any conditions, is rare for genuine residential relocations. What happens far more commonly is one of three things: a documentation hold, a duty assessment in lieu of the expected relief, or a physical inspection that delays clearance significantly.
A documentation hold means customs has identified a missing or insufficient document and will not process the clearance until it is provided. The shipment sits in bonded storage while the issue is resolved. Storage charges accrue from the moment the free storage period expires, typically a few days after arrival.
A duty assessment means customs has determined that the Transfer of Residence duty-free relief does not apply to the shipment, in whole or in part, and is assessing duties and VAT accordingly. This may be because the Changement de Résidence is missing or invalid, because items in the shipment do not qualify for the relief, or because customs has questions about the genuineness of the transfer of residence.
A physical inspection means customs wants to open and examine the container. This adds time, and it can result in the discovery of undeclared items that then trigger duty assessments or more serious consequences.
The Most Common Triggers for French Customs Problems
Missing or Invalid Changement de Résidence
The Changement de Résidence is the document that establishes your eligibility for duty-free Transfer of Residence relief. If it is missing, French customs cannot grant the relief. If it is present but does not clearly state your dates of arrival in and departure from the US, or does not contain the required language about your definitive transfer of residence to France, customs may consider it invalid. Either situation results in a duty assessment on the full value of the shipment.
This is the most consequential document in the French customs package. Getting it right at the French consulate before you leave the US, and confirming it contains all required information before your container is packed, is the single most important step in protecting your duty-free eligibility.
Packing List Discrepancies
French customs requires a packing list that describes the contents of each carton including brand names and serial numbers for electronics. A packing list that is vague, inconsistent with what is actually in the container, or that omits required item details is a red flag. If a physical inspection reveals that the container contents do not match the declared inventory, customs will scrutinize the entire shipment more carefully, which can result in additional duty assessments and significantly extended clearance times.
Undeclared Alcohol or Restricted Items
Alcohol found during a physical inspection that was not declared separately on an alcohol inventory is a significant problem. It calls into question the accuracy of the entire packing list and gives customs grounds to inspect the container more thoroughly. Alcohol must always be declared separately with full details. The duty on properly declared alcohol is a known and manageable cost. Undeclared alcohol discovered at inspection is a different situation entirely.
Secondary Residence Questions
French customs is alert to shipments that are presented as Transfer of Residence moves but are actually for secondary or vacation residences. If your documentation suggests you are maintaining a primary residence in the US while establishing a secondary home in France, the duty-free relief will be denied. The relief applies only to a genuine, definitive transfer of principal residence. If your situation is in any way ambiguous on this point, discuss it with your SDC coordinator before the shipment departs.
Items That Do Not Qualify for the Relief
New items purchased within 6 months of the vessel departure date do not qualify for Transfer of Residence duty-free relief. If a physical inspection reveals clearly new items in the container, customs may assess duty on those items specifically, and potentially question whether other items in the shipment are as well-used as declared. Keeping new purchases out of the container, or declaring them separately and factoring in the duty cost, is the correct approach.
What Happens When Your Shipment Is Held
When French customs places a shipment on hold, the sequence is as follows. The destination agent notifies SDC of the hold and the specific reason. SDC contacts the client. The client must then take whatever action is required to resolve the issue, which may involve obtaining documents, providing additional information, or in the case of a duty assessment, deciding whether to pay the assessed amount or contest it.
During this period, the shipment remains in bonded storage at the French port. Le Havre and Marseille both have storage charge structures that begin after a short free period. For containers held for weeks rather than days, these charges accumulate to amounts that can rival the original shipping cost.
In cases where a duty assessment has been made and the client believes it is incorrect, the assessment can be contested through the French customs appeals process. This requires working with the destination agent and potentially a French customs broker. Contesting an assessment is possible but takes time, and the shipment typically remains in storage while the contest is in process.
Can a Shipment Be Returned to the US?
In theory, yes. If a shipment cannot be cleared and the importer does not wish to pay assessed duties, the goods can be re-exported. In practice, re-exporting a household goods container from a French port is expensive, logistically complex, and time-consuming. It is not a practical solution in most situations and should be considered only as a last resort. The cost of return shipping, additional port handling, and the time involved typically exceeds the duty liability that triggered the problem.
How to Avoid French Customs Problems Before They Happen
The most effective approach is a thorough pre-shipment documentation review with your SDC coordinator. This review should confirm that the Changement de Résidence is in hand and contains all required information, that the packing list is detailed and accurate, that alcohol is either excluded from the shipment or declared correctly, and that any items that may not qualify for the duty-free relief have been identified and addressed before the container is packed. For packing guidance and help preparing your inventory correctly, see SDC’s international packing services.
Problems that are identified before the container departs are manageable. Problems discovered at Le Havre or Marseille after a three-week ocean crossing are expensive and stressful. The preparation investment is always worth it on a France household goods shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can French customs refuse to release my household goods entirely?
An outright refusal to release goods under any conditions is rare for genuine residential relocations. What happens more commonly is a hold pending documentation, a duty assessment, or both. These are recoverable situations, but they are expensive and time-consuming. Prohibited items discovered during inspection are a different matter and can result in those specific items being seized regardless of the status of the rest of the shipment.
How long can French customs hold my shipment?
There is no fixed time limit on a customs hold. The shipment remains in bonded storage until the documentation issue is resolved or the duty is paid. Holds of several weeks are not uncommon when documentation problems require obtaining new documents from outside France. Storage charges continue to accrue throughout this period.
What is the duty rate if French customs denies my Transfer of Residence relief?
French customs duty on household goods from non-EU countries is typically in the range of 3% to 5% on the declared value, with French VAT at 20% applied on top of the combined value and duty. The combined burden on a full household goods shipment where relief is denied can reach approximately 50% of the shipment’s assessed value, which is why protecting eligibility through correct documentation is so important.
Can I contest a French customs duty assessment?
Yes. Duty assessments can be contested through the French customs appeals process. This requires working with the destination customs agent and potentially a French customs broker, and takes time. The shipment typically remains in storage while the contest is in process, with storage charges continuing to accrue. If you believe an assessment is incorrect, discuss the options with your SDC coordinator promptly rather than allowing the situation to sit unresolved.
