Shipping and removals in France

When planning your international move, you’ll find shipping to France a fairly painless affair. The country boasts several major ports, including Marseille Fos Port and Le Havre, a high-density rail system, and Charles de Gaulle – one of the largest international airports in the world.

Despite the apparent ease of sending goods abroad, be mindful that international shipping costs add up quickly. Many expats find purchasing new or used household goods upon arrival more cost-effective or simply opt for furnished accommodation.

Plenty of removal companies offer door-to-door shipping services or can handle specific parts of the relocation process according to your needs.

Relocation Companies in France
Accommodation in France

Shipping household goods to France

To ship household goods to France duty-free, your items must be more than six months old, and you must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months. To qualify, you’ll need proof of residency in France along with the required customs paperwork.

These requirements can change without much notice, particularly since Brexit has impacted shipping between the UK and France. Check with French customs for the current terms and requirements before shipping duty-free.

 If you’re committed to keeping your furniture, get at least three quotes from shipping providers and verify they offer the essential services listed below.

Common services to look for in a shipper:

• Pick-up of goods at your location
• Basic disassembly and reassembly of furniture
• Border clearance and customs formalities at the destination
• Professional wrapping of all wooden, metal and fabric furniture
• Export documents for household goods only
• Wooden crate lift van or palletising
• Preparing a professional inventory list
• Unloading of all items to destination residence and setting all items per request
• Agent fees and NVOCC deconsolidation charges
• Removal of packing debris from destination resident

Most shippers charge by your items' weight and/or volume. Watch out for additional expenses often tacked on for specific packing materials, handling oversized items, or special processing requirements.

Purchase insurance from a company other than your shipping provider to ensure reliable coverage for damaged cargo.

Shipping pets to France

All pets entering France require microchipping, rabies vaccination, and proper documentation (either an EU Pet Passport or Health Certificate). Pets under 16 weeks cannot enter France under any circumstances, and certain dog breeds face strict restrictions.

Pet passport and identification

Your pet must have a microchip implanted for identification before any other procedures. The microchip must meet ISO standard 11784/11785. You’ll need an EU pet passport if travelling from within the EU. If coming from outside the EU (like the US or post-Brexit UK), you’ll need an EU Health Certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 10 days of entry into France.

Microchipping is strictly enforced at French borders, so ensure this is done before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination.

Vaccinations and health requirements

All dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age must have a valid rabies vaccination administered after the microchip insertion. After the primary vaccination, pets must wait at least 21 days before travelling to France. For booster vaccinations, your pet can travel immediately if the previous vaccination hasn’t expired.

If your pet is arriving from a high-rabies country, they’ll need a blood titer test taken at least 30 days after vaccination, followed by a three-month waiting period before travel. France is a rabies-free country and takes these requirements seriously.

France doesn’t typically impose quarantine for pets from most countries when all documentation is properly prepared. If your pet doesn’t meet entry requirements, it may face quarantine, return to your origin country, or, in worst-case scenarios, euthanasia. Proper preparation is non-negotiable.

Restricted breeds

France restricts certain dog breeds categorised as ‘attack dogs’ (Category 1) and ‘guard and defence dogs’ (Category 2). Category 1 includes unmixed pit bulls, boerbulls, and tosas. Category 2 covers Staffordshire terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Rottweilers, and tosa-type dogs.

Owners of these dogs must be over 18 with no criminal record and must obtain a certificate of fitness and a permit, and the dogs must be leashed and muzzled and are restricted from public transport and some public spaces.

Exotic animals

Exotic pet imports require special permits from both your origin country and France. Many exotic species fall under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations and need specific documentation.

For pet birds, additional concerns about avian influenza mean special regulations apply. Birds must be kept isolated for 30 days after entering the EU and should not be brought to places where birds gather during this period.

Read more about Moving Your Pets to France

Useful links

• French Customs: Official Pet Travel Requirements
• EU Pet Entry Requirements by Country of Origin
• CITES Protected Species List