Brexit and UK-France moves

Customs changes — household goods

Pre-Brexit, UK-to-EU goods movement was free of customs declarations under the EU customs union. Post-Brexit, the UK is a third country, and UK-to-France household moves now require customs declarations at both ends.

The key reliefs are still in place. Most household goods owned more than 6 months qualify for the EU Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief, which exempts them from import duty and VAT. The UK-side equivalent is the ToR1 declaration with HMRC. Filing both correctly keeps a household move duty-free.

What changed in practice is paperwork volume. The bilingual customs inventory, the EORI number requirement, the French douanes declaration, the entry-point manifest — all of this is new since 2021. The good news is that route specialists like ourselves now have the workflow tuned; the inventory and filings flow as standard practice.

New goods (less than 6 months ownership) are treated as commercial imports and attract VAT and potential duty. This catches some movers who buy furniture in the UK shortly before moving — those purchases may not qualify for ToR relief.

Residency changes — Withdrawal Agreement vs new arrivals

UK citizens who established residence in France before 31 December 2020 are protected under the Withdrawal Agreement and have a streamlined route to a Withdrawal Agreement carte de séjour, which preserves their pre-Brexit rights. Many in this category still need to formalise the carte; the application process for them is more straightforward.

UK citizens arriving from 1 January 2021 onwards are treated as third-country nationals and follow the standard French immigration system — visiteur, salarié, profession libérale, vie privée, étudiant categories all apply. The 90-in-180 visa-waiver applies for short visits below the threshold; longer stays require a long-stay visa from the French embassy.

The practical difference is meaningful: pre-Brexit residents have more flexibility on income evidence and process; post-Brexit arrivals have stricter income thresholds and more paperwork.

Vehicle imports — what changed

Pre-Brexit, UK-registered vehicles could be driven in France indefinitely under the freedom-of-movement regime. Post-Brexit, UK vehicles brought to France for residence need to be registered on French plates (immatriculation française) within a defined window after residence is established.

The process: import declaration with the French customs (douanes), payment of import VAT if applicable (often waived under ToR if the vehicle is part of a household removal and meets ownership conditions), contrôle technique alignment (your UK MOT does not transfer; you need a fresh French CT), and the immatriculation at the French ANTS system.

Vehicles older than 30 years sometimes qualify for voiture de collection registration with relaxed requirements; speak with our vehicle partner for the right paperwork track.

Pet travel — post-Brexit AHC regime

The pre-Brexit EU Pet Passport scheme is no longer valid for UK-issued passports for travel from UK to France. UK-resident dogs, cats, and ferrets travelling to France now need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of travel.

The AHC requires a current rabies vaccination (with a 21-day waiting period after vaccination before travel), a microchip, and a recent vet examination. Tapeworm treatment is required for dogs travelling to certain destinations but not specifically required for entering France.

For other pets (rabbits, birds, reptiles), separate species-specific paperwork applies. Plan the AHC timeline 2-3 weeks ahead of the move date for comfort margin.

Practical summary — does Brexit make the move harder?

For UK households moving to France in 2026, Brexit adds paperwork but does not block the move. Customs filings flow through specialist removers; residency follows the standard third-country immigration pathway; vehicle and pet rules are clear once you know them. The right preparation removes most of the friction.

Where Brexit does still bite: spontaneity is harder than pre-2021 (more pre-arrival paperwork required); some categories (low-income retirees who would previously have moved freely) face stricter income thresholds; and the early years of post-Brexit administration had some inconsistency that has now mostly settled.

For most households, the difference between a smooth post-Brexit move and a difficult one is preparation. Six months ahead, you can comfortably handle everything; six weeks ahead, you cannot.