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Guide Details
Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
- Passport copy
- Detailed inventory list in French, valued in EUR, dated and signed by the shipper
- Certificate of non-resale / power of attorney (completed, dated, and signed; must mention a vehicle when applicable)
- Certificate of change of residence issued by the French Consulate, stipulating the date of arrival in the origin country and date of departure. This certificate is only requested for French nationals. The shipper must have stayed abroad for at least 12 months for duty-free treatment.
- Certificate of transfer or certificate of employment on employer letterhead with date of employment in the origin country and date of transfer (confirming at least 12 months abroad and primary residence at origin)
- Proof of residence in France (electricity bill, phone bill, or rental contract less than 3 months old)
- Two originals (three in case of transit) of Form Cerfa N° 10070*01: declaration of duty exemption entry of personal effects from a non-EU country
- Bill of lading (express release accepted) / air waybill (AWB)
- Sales invoices for items purchased within 6 months prior to import
- Visa (only if other documentation cannot be provided)
- Authorization certificate from the Regional Customs Directorate of the secondary residence area (requested in triplicate)
- Detailed inventory in French, valued in EUR, dated and signed
- Evidence of ownership or rental of the secondary residence
- Evidence of normal residence abroad
- Bill of transport and insurance
- Inventory of goods. No customs formalities required. Personal goods circulate freely within the EU, though certain sensitive items (health, security, environment, cultural considerations) remain subject to regulation.
Specific Information
Less than 12 months abroad: If the shipper has been abroad for less than 12 months, the shipment is subject to duties and taxes. If payment of duties is required, authorization must be obtained from French customs prior to arrival.
Secondary residence: Goods for a secondary residence are subject to duty and 20% VAT. The authorization from the Regional Customs Directorate is a separate application.
Multiple consignments: If goods arrive in separate consignments, they must all be shown on the first inventory list deposited with customs.
Alienation restriction: Goods must remain in the importer's possession for at least 12 months from the date of importation.
Shipper presence not required. The importer may authorize another person to handle formalities on their behalf.
Customs clearance: Approximately 3-4 days once documentation is complete.
Payment methods: Customs duties must be paid in cash or with bank/postal cheques. Cheques must be certified by the bank.
Carte de libre circulation: Customs supplies on request a free trade card for items such as cameras, lenses, and radios. This document proves the correct condition of objects during a 10-year period.
Missing documents (non-EU): If documents are missing but the importer needs household effects immediately, the customs office can provide information on existing possibilities (per FIDI guide).
Non-duty-free rates (non-EU): For items from outside the EU that do not qualify for duty-free entry, expect VAT of 20% plus duties of approximately 10%.
Currency: Euro (EUR).
Duties & Taxes
Duty-free conditions (non-EU origin): Used household goods and personal effects are duty-free provided the shipper has had their primary residence outside the EU for at least 12 months, the goods have been in the shipper's possession and use for at least 6 months, and the shipper's primary residence will be in France. Goods must be imported within 12 months of the date of transfer of residence.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Weapons, ammunition, and explosives — prohibited without import permit
- Products made from animals (ivory, turtle shell, etc.) — prohibited
- Endangered flora and fauna species and products made from them — prohibited `CITES`
- Items protected by the 1973 Washington Convention — prohibited
- Narcotics and illegal drugs — strictly prohibited
- Category 1 dog breeds (pit bull-type, Boerboel-type not belonging to recognized breeds)
- Meat and dairy products from non-EU countries (standard EU prohibition with limited exceptions)
- Counterfeit goods — prohibited
Restricted / Dutiable Items
Traveler Allowances (from non-EU countries, 17 years and older)
Alcohol:
- 1 litre of spirits exceeding 22%, or 2 litres of alcohol not exceeding 22%
- 4 litres of still wine
- 16 litres of beer
Tobacco:
- 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g smoking tobacco
Alcohol Within Household Goods Shipments
Alcohol is subject to duties in all cases. Only "Fond de Cave" (personal wine cellar) is accepted, limited to 15 bottles. A separate and detailed inventory of each bottle is required. An import license or state liquor license may be required. Diplomats are treated as private persons for alcohol importation and are subject to the same duty rules. Important cellar provisions are also subject to duties.
Restricted Items
- Tobacco and related products — subject to duties
- Firearms, weapons, and ammunition — import permit from the Directorate General of Customs (Bureau D3, 23bis rue de l'Université, 75007 Paris) required; proof of ownership, registration, certificates, and licenses must be obtained prior to import; some weapons are prohibited `PERMIT REQUIRED`
- Medications — for personal use only; narcotics require authorization from the Ministry of Health (Direction de la Pharmacie et du Médicament)
- New items — subject to VAT (20%) and duties (approximately 10%); must be declared separately with sales invoices
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Original certificate of title in the shipper's name (no leasing authorized) Per the FIDI guide, in addition to the standard removal goods documents:
- Copy of the vehicle purchase invoice Per the FIDI guide, in addition to the standard removal goods documents:
- Current vehicle registration Per the FIDI guide, in addition to the standard removal goods documents:
- Import declaration Per the FIDI guide, in addition to the standard removal goods documents:
Specific Information
Duty-free conditions: Same as household goods. The vehicle must have been owned and used by the shipper for at least 6 months before the estimated time of departure (ETD), and the shipper must have lived abroad for at least 12 months. Both the title and purchase invoice should be issued at least 6 months before ETD.
No leased vehicles: The original certificate of title must be in the shipper's name. Leased vehicles are not authorized for duty-free import.
VAT on all imported vehicles: Customs duties are dependent on the vehicle's country of origin; however, all non-EU imported vehicles are subject to VAT. EU-origin vehicles are generally not subject to additional VAT if VAT was paid in the EU country of origin.
Vehicle registration in France: After customs clearance, vehicles must be registered with the French vehicle registration system (Système d'Immatriculation des Véhicules, SIV). A contrôle technique (technical inspection) may be required for vehicles over 4 years old.
Driving: Driving is on the RIGHT-hand side of the road.
Pets
- EU Pet Passport issued by an authorized veterinarian in the origin EU country **From EU member states:**
- ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip (implanted before rabies vaccination) **From EU member states:**
- Current rabies vaccination (pet must be at least 12 weeks old; 21-day wait after primary vaccination) **From EU member states:**
- ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip **From non-EU listed countries (including USA, Canada, Australia, etc.):**
- Current rabies vaccination (primary: at least 21 days before travel) **From non-EU listed countries (including USA, Canada, Australia, etc.):**
- EU Health Certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian (for U.S. origin) and endorsed by USDA APHIS within 10 days of travel **From non-EU listed countries (including USA, Canada, Australia, etc.):**
- All of the above, plus **From non-EU unlisted countries:**
- Rabies antibody titer test at an EU-approved laboratory; result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml; 3-month wait after blood sample **From non-EU unlisted countries:**
France follows EU pet import regulations. As of 21 April 2026, these are governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (Animal Health Law), which replaces Regulation (EU) No 576/2013. Old-format health certificates issued under Reg. 576/2013 remain valid until 31 March 2027 if issued before 1 October 2026.
Microchip before vaccination rule: Standard EU requirement. Microchip must be implanted before rabies vaccination.
Tattoo identification: Accepted only if applied before July 3, 2011 and clearly legible, with all rabies vaccinations kept current. The IAM guide references tattoo identification; this is now limited to pre-2011 tattoos under EU rules.
France banned breeds: France has breed-specific legislation. Category 1 (attack dogs, banned from import): pit bull-type dogs that do not belong to a breed recognized by the French Ministry of Agriculture, and Boerboel-type dogs. Category 2 (guard dogs, restricted): American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Tosa. Category 2 dogs require muzzling in public, civil liability insurance, and a permit. Confirm current breed restrictions with the destination agent.
No quarantine for healthy pets with valid documentation from EU and listed non-EU countries.
Health certificate issued by an official veterinary surgeon (per FIDI guide).
CDC rabies status: France is NOT on the U.S. CDC's list of high-risk countries for dog rabies.
Diplomats and alcohol for pets: The FIDI guide notes that for animal importation, conditions apply differently for domestic animals from EU vs. non-EU countries and for wild animals subject to extinction threat (CITES).
Common mistakes: Vaccinating before microchip implantation. Attempting to import Category 1 banned breeds. Not having the bilingual EU health certificate. Not having the microchip scanned by the vet before rabies vaccination.
Consignment Instructions
Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air/sea shipments.
Inventory must be in French. Both the IAM guide and FIDI guide specify the inventory must be in French (the IAM guide says "valued in Euro"; the FIDI guide says "in French, valued in EUR"). This is a harder requirement than many EU countries.
Certificate of change of residence (French nationals only). This document from the French Consulate is mandatory for French nationals returning to France. It is not required for foreign citizens.
Form Cerfa N° 10070*01. Two originals (three if transiting) of this customs declaration form are required for non-EU household goods. Standard copies are available at French customs offices or online.
Secondary residence is not duty-free. Unlike primary residence moves, goods for a secondary residence in France are subject to 20% VAT plus duties. This requires separate authorization from the Regional Customs Directorate.
Alcohol: diplomats pay duties too. France treats diplomats as private persons for alcohol importation, meaning they are subject to the same duty rules as everyone else.
Fond de Cave limit: 15 bottles. Only personal wine cellar ("Fond de Cave") is accepted, capped at 15 bottles.
Overseas territories: France has numerous overseas territories (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna). Several of these territories have different customs regimes from metropolitan France. Confirm specific requirements with the destination agent for moves to/from overseas territories.
Ports of entry: Le Havre (primary container port), Marseille, and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport for air freight. Calais and Dunkirk for Channel crossings from the UK (post-Brexit, these are now non-EU to EU moves requiring full customs clearance).
Cultural & Other Information
- OpenFactBook — France (replaces CIA World Factbook) — verified 200
- Wikipedia — France — verified 403 to bots, works in browser
- French Customs (Douane) — verified 200
- French Ministry of Foreign Affairs — verified 200
- USDA APHIS — Pet Travel to France — returns 503 to this proxy (standard WAF/IP block); confirmed live in prior audit checks
- PetTravel.com — France Pet Import Requirements — verified 200
- Trade.gov — France Import Tariffs — verified 200
- VisaHQ — France Customs — verified 200
EU membership: France is a founding member of the EU (1957) and the Schengen Area (1995). The EU Common Customs Tariff applies to non-EU imports.
Currency: Euro (EUR).
Language: French is the official language. All customs documentation must be in French for non-EU moves. English is less commonly used in government offices outside Paris.
VAT rate: 20% (standard rate). Reduced rates of 10%, 5.5%, and 2.1% apply to certain categories.
Post-Brexit note: Since January 1, 2021, moves from the UK to France are treated as non-EU imports requiring full customs clearance, duties assessment, and all documentation listed above.
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