Moving to France?
You’ve made a big decision: France is the place you want to be. It’s one of the top cities in Europe for emigration and there’s a good reason for it, because whether you’re heading to the vibrant cities or the picturesque countryside, you’re going to find a place that is rich in culture. France has so many different places to visit for those who are seeking a new life abroad, and the city life runs far faster than the quaint vineyards and rustic abodes, meaning that there is something for everyone. It’s the most visited country in the world, with over 80 million tourists stepping foot on French soil each year - more than the actual population of the country.
When you decide that you want to emigrate, you’re making a life-changing decision, and now you get the chance to choose where you’re going to live within a country that is offering you a highly desirable quality of life that you won’t find anywhere else. Moving to a new country should never be a decision that you take lightly. It’s not just the house you’re changing, remember? You’re moving to an entirely new country that has a very different culture than you’re used to, with a whole new language that you will have to brush up on. Life in France can be just as stressful as life where you are, but that doesn't mean that you cannot make it excellent!
Most Brits who are moving over to France don’t have the best grasp of the language, so it’s always advisable that you take some classes and at least try to learn the language as much as possible before you emigrate. It’s also vital that you know that your move should never be based on a summer holiday - life is rarely like that and the culture away from the holiday hotspots is something else. Emigrating your life means that while you won’t let go of the values that you have, you need to embrace that new culture with open arms.
Prepping For The Move The thought of actually packing your life up and moving from London to Paris, searching the average removal costs to France and buying a home over there can be stressful, but that’s where having the right removals services comes in handy. You need to look for a company that deals with removals to France that have your best interests in mind. Providing an unbeatable and professional moving service is important in the company you have who are helping you with moving to France from UK, because this isn’t a small move! It’s not just a case of heading to the next town or even the next street, this is a change of country, culture and life. Here are some things to consider about the removals companies that you look into for the big move to France:
The Cost
The cost of your removals to France will depend on the way you choose to move your belongings, but either way it can be costly to emigrate - you’re moving a considerable distance and this has to be a consideration. It’s not just your shipping method, but whether you have taxes, custom fees and duties to consider on top of insurance costs.
Transport Options
Your transport options have to be considered when you are moving to Paris, as it has to be convenient for you when you move. Do you want a dedicated service, where you don’t share a lorry for your furniture with someone else? Or would you prefer a groupage service, where your consignment shares the lorry space of other people? This is something that you need to consider because groupage services often take longer to arrive at your destination. Here are some of the transport options available to you:
- Shipping containers. These are one of the most common ways to move belongings to France as a 20ft container can hold more than enough of your furniture.
- Road freight. France has a huge road and rail network, so if you choose road freight for your belongings you can feel confident about your door to door services.
- Air freight. A more expensive option, you can get access to your goods far faster this way!
Customs
There are some items that you cannot take with you into France under any circumstances, and border controls are hot on this! These include;
- Pornographic material
- Ivory
- Animal skins
- Plants
- Paints
- Solvent
- Polishes
- Drugs and narcotics
- Counterfeit goods
- Explosives and matches
Items like artwork and antiques need an authority certification, too. If you’re ever unsure about what you can bring with you into France, do some research before packing commences.
A pre-move survey is usually the norm when emigrating, as your removals company will want the chance to meet you and give you the lowdown on their service and how it will work with them. They also need to establish the following:
- The volume of goods needing to be moved.
- Any access required for large vehicles and containers
- Your schedule for moving out and delivery
- Contact details for both sides
- Access at your new home
- Any requirements that you may have that don’t fall under the norm, such as moving specific goods.

The Big Day
When the day comes that your removals company will be at your house and packing your things for you. Most removals companies offer this service as an add-on to the actual move itself, and it’s something that can really take the stress out of the move. You may also find that you need storage services as part of your removals package, just in case you need to complete renovations on your new home, or you have to stay in temporary accommodation while you search for a new home to live in.
Your belongings will go to your destination via the shipping method that you selected earlier and you will be able to head to your new home, with your belongings not far behind you. Most removal companies can also handle moving your vehicle as part of your removals to France. You should have given your removals company the dates of your move with more than enough time to spare!
Removal companies that you hire are experts in their field, and when they give you advice about space and packing, it is worth listening to it. When they reach the other side, you can opt for an unpacking service, whereby they will unpack cartons that they themselves have packed, upon request, to show you that they have listened to your requests and taken care of your goods. Removal men aren’t required to do more than place these items onto a flat surface,
They are not, however, required to unpack or take responsibility for items that you packed yourself, nor are they able to fit your kitchen appliances, make electrical or plumbing connections or, re-assemble flat pack furniture that they have not dismantled themselves. A reputable removal firm will always make an effort to leave things as tidy as possible, it’s not up to them to dispose of rubbish or clean up any dust or mess. Removal companies should be professional and courteous to you and should perform their moving duties with ease, but that doesn't mean that you’ll be dealing with miracle workers. Give them all the help they can get by labelling boxes and dishing out the instructions about fragile goods.
Unpacking
An international move is a big deal, and choosing to pack up your life requires a helping hand. A start to finish removals service is going to help you to get where you need to go without too much fuss. It’s a bold adventure, and getting your household furniture from London to Paris or other parts of France is not much more complicated than moving house to the next street. As France is made up of 22 separate regions, you have plenty to choose from when you get there. Thousands of people move to France every year, and as an EU citizen, you don’t need to have a residence permit as a legal working requirement.
The shipping options are so vast that while you’re waiting for your goods to arrive, you have time to establish your health insurance (a necessity in France), your home and get to know some of the local community. While you’re waiting for your things to arrive via a removals in france service, think about registering your car with the French authorities so that you can get around. Your car may also need some modifications to be compliant with the French driving system.
When you choose to move as far away as France, you are choosing to relearn everything that you ever thought you knew. The culture difference is going to amaze you, and as long as your France removals experience is seamless, you’ll be able to enjoy an entirely new way of life.