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FIDI FAIMPLUS

Top Performer · 100% compliance audit

4.1★ Google

120+ reviews

France-Wide Delivery

Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux & beyond

Est. 1892

More than 130 years of moving experience

Dedicated Consultant

Sydney to France coordination

Sydney to France Route Overview

France is almost 17,000 kilometres from Sydney by direct distance, but the final French destination can be just as important as the international freight journey.

A household destined for central Paris requires a different final delivery plan from one continuing to Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, Nice or a regional French address.

Sydney to France at a Glance

Full Container Load (FCL)
Approximately 11 to 13 weeks door to door

Less than Container Load (LCL)
Approximately 14 to 16 weeks door to door

Air Freight
Available for smaller or time-sensitive shipments

Destination Coverage
Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, Nice and destinations throughout France

Customs
Qualifying personal belongings may receive duty and tax relief where France's transfer-of-main-residence requirements are satisfied

These are approximate door-to-door timeframes rather than guaranteed delivery dates. Freight schedules, French customs clearance, onward transport and final property access can affect the actual timing.

Moving to Paris

Paris destination access can require as much planning as the international shipping stage.

Depending on your property, an apartment delivery may involve:

- upper-floor access

- a small lift or no lift

- narrow staircases

- courtyard access

- limited kerbside loading

- vehicle restrictions

- longer carries from the unloading point to the building

Older Parisian buildings can present very different access conditions from a modern Sydney apartment development.

Provide your full address, floor number, lift details and any known access restrictions before delivery so the French destination team can plan around the actual property.

Moving to Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse

Moves to major inland French cities generally involve onward destination transport after the international freight stage.

Your final postcode therefore needs to be considered when NUSS prepares your quotation and expected delivery arrangements.

Property access can also differ significantly between newer outer-city developments and buildings in older central areas.

Moving to Marseille, Nice and Southern France

Southern France should also be planned around the actual destination rather than treated as one generic France delivery.

Street access, apartment conditions and the distance between the international arrival point and your new property can all affect the final stage.

For properties around Nice and other constrained or elevated residential areas, driveway and street access can also be important.

Moving to Regional France

If you are moving outside the major cities, provide your destination address as early as possible.

Regional relocations can require additional inland transport, and the final property's access conditions may not be obvious from the town or postcode alone.

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French Customs: Transferring Your Main Residence

France provides duty and tax relief for qualifying personal belongings when someone transfers their main residence from a country outside the European Union to France. This is not an automatic exemption simply because the belongings are personally owned.

French Customs applies specific requirements relating to your former residence, how long qualifying belongings have been used and the purpose of their import.

The 12-Month Former-Residence Requirement

As a general rule, a person transferring their main residence to France from outside the EU needs to have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months to qualify for the standard relief.

The important distinction is that this process relates to a genuine transfer of principal residence, not simply importing furniture into a property you own in France. 

The Six-Month Private-Use Requirement

Qualifying personal belongings generally need to have been privately used for at least six months before the transfer of residence.

Recently purchased furniture, appliances or other household goods may therefore receive different customs treatment and should be identified separately. 

Your French Inventory Needs to Be Detailed

For a qualifying transfer of residence, French Customs requires a detailed, estimated, dated and signed household inventory in two copies. 

This means the documentation should clearly identify what is entering France rather than relying on descriptions such as “boxes” or “household goods”.

Cerfa 10070

Cerfa 10070 is associated with the French customs process for the duty-free entry of qualifying personal property arriving from a country outside the European Union.

Your French destination partner can provide the relevant forms and guidance for your circumstances, while you complete the personal declarations required for your move. 

Evidence of Leaving Australia and Establishing Residence in France

You may also need evidence supporting the actual transfer of your principal residence. Depending on your circumstances, this may include documentation relating to:

  • #
    your former principal residence in Australia
  • #
    the end of an Australian lease or occupancy
  • #
    employment or employer arrangements
  • #
    your new French home
  • #
    French employment
  • #
    residence or immigration documentation
  • #
    other evidence demonstrating your establishment in France

When Should Your Belongings Arrive?

Qualifying belongings generally need to be transferred to France within 12 months of the date on which you transfer your residence.

They may arrive in more than one shipment, but where multiple consignments are used, the relevant inventory should account for the goods for which relief is being claimed. 

When Should Your Belongings Arrive?

Qualifying belongings generally need to be transferred to France within 12 months of the date on which you transfer your residence.

They may arrive in more than one shipment, but where multiple consignments are used, the relevant inventory should account for the goods for which relief is being claimed. 

Restrictions After Import

Goods imported under the transfer-of-residence relief are also subject to conditions after arrival.

French Customs generally restricts the sale, rental, loan or disposal of qualifying goods during the first 12 months after entry without affecting their customs treatment. 

What Is Excluded from the Standard Relief?

Some belongings do not receive the ordinary transfer-of-residence relief. These can include:

  • #
    alcoholic and tobacco products
  • #
    commercial means of transport
  • #
    certain mixed-use vehicles
  • #
    transportable dwellings
  • #
    most professional equipment other than qualifying portable instruments
  • #
    commercial stocks and materials

These goods should be identified before packing rather than assumed to receive the same treatment as normal household belongings. 

What NUSS and the French Destination Partner Coordinate

  • #
    detailed international packing inventories
  • #
    international freight documentation
  • #
    shipping paperwork
  • #
    communication with the French destination agent
  • #
    customs-clearance arrangements
  • #
    onward transport within France
  • #
    final residential delivery

The destination partner provides the applicable French customs forms and guidance. You remain responsible for completing your personal declarations and providing the required supporting information.

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What's Included in Your Sydney to France Move

Your international quotation is prepared around your household volume, freight method, French destination and the services required at both ends.

Following your home or video survey, NUSS prepares a written quotation outlining the agreed packing, freight and destination services.

Your France Move Can Include

  • #
    Sydney Home Collection
  • #
    Professional Export Packing
  • #
    Detailed Packing Inventory
  • #
    International Freight
  • #
    French Customs Coordination
  • #
    Onward Transport Within France
  • #
    Final Home Delivery
  • #
    Dedicated NUSS International Consultant

Optional Services

  • #
    Professional Unpacking
  • #
    Transit and Storage Insurance
  • #
    Air Freight
  • #
    Temporary Storage
  • #
    Fine Art, Antiques and Specialist Packing
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The Ultimate Moving to France from Australia Checklist

France's transfer-of-residence process rewards early preparation.

The documents you organise before leaving Sydney can be just as important as how your belongings are packed.

Confirm You Are Transferring Your Principal Residence

Check that your circumstances meet the relevant transfer-of-residence requirements before relying on duty and tax relief.

Prepare the French Inventory Properly

Your inventory should be detailed, estimated, dated and signed, with newly purchased and valuable belongings clearly identified.

Gather Evidence of Leaving Australia and Establishing Yourself in France

Keep the relevant housing, employment and residence documentation accessible for the destination process.

Identify Goods Outside the Standard Relief

Alcohol, tobacco, commercial goods and other separately treated belongings should be identified before professional packing begins. 

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What Our Sydney to France Customers Say

4.1★ across 120+ Google reviews

Reviews from genuine France relocations can provide useful insight into international communication, French customs preparation and destination delivery.

Great service from the team at Nuss! James and Will were very professional and took a lot of care when handling our items. Came early and loaded the truck within 1.5 hours. Would recommend to anyone looking for removalists. Will definitely use their services again!

Candice Barquez

Nuss helped me move house in to a unit in the city. We had store our furniture for a month, then last minute there was an issue with moving in. Nuss stepped up took control and offered up an amazing solution. We couldn't have been happier. Highly recommend.

Corey Tai
Local Guide

From the start I was impressed by the friendly professionalism of the staff at Nuss. On the packing day, Tony and his team could not have been more helpful. In addition, they were amazingly efficient and caring of our possessions. Our household was in storage for over a month and on moving in day we were pleased to see the same friendly team arrive and efficiently unload our furniture and boxes. I would not hesitate to recommend them.

Anne Wall

We moved from a 4 bedroom home on a very elevated block with 50 steps to the front door to an apartment... after living in this home for 52 years it was quite a stressful and emotional time for us... but this team of very strong I professionals were amazing! Their pleasant manner and can do attitude made it so much easier.
After our experience today would recommend this company without hesitation.

Jasmin Vicario
Local Guide
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Why NUSS for international moves

Why Choose NUSS for Your Sydney to France Move

France has a clearly defined transfer-of-residence process, so good international move management starts before your household shipment is packed.

FIDI FAIMPLUS Independently Audited Standards

NUSS is a FIDI FAIMPLUS Top Performer and achieved a 100% compliance audit result independently assessed by EY.

FAIM provides an independently audited framework for international moving companies and supports accountability when origin and destination teams need to work together.

Detailed Inventory Preparation

France places particular emphasis on detailed customs documentation.

NUSS prepares a detailed international packing inventory and coordinates with the French destination moving partner around the applicable customs requirements.

This means customs preparation becomes part of the move rather than something left until the shipment reaches Europe.

Destination Planning Across France

NUSS does not treat France as a single generic European delivery point.

Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, Nice and regional locations can involve different inland transport and property-access requirements.

Your actual destination forms part of the move plan and quotation.

100% FIDI compliance audit

180+ countries

100,000+ moves

Est. 1892

International Moving Resources

Prepare for your France move with guidance on packing, freight options, documentation and restricted belongings. Your NUSS consultant can explain the requirements for your destination and shipment.

International related blogs

Moving to France from Sydney: Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to move from Sydney to France?

The cost depends on your French destination, shipment volume, Full Container Load or Less than Container Load service, packing requirements, air freight, insurance options, storage and final delivery. NUSS completes a home or video survey before preparing a written quotation based on the actual requirements of your relocation.

Get a Free France Moving Quote

How long does it take to ship belongings from Sydney to France?

As an approximate door-to-door guide, a Full Container Load shipment may take around 11 to 13 weeks, while a Less than Container Load shipment may take around 14 to 16 weeks. These are indicative rather than guaranteed timeframes. Freight schedules, French customs clearance, onward transport and your final destination can affect the actual timing.

Can I import my furniture duty-free when moving to France?

Potentially. French Customs provides duty and tax relief for qualifying personal belongings when you transfer your principal residence from outside the EU. Generally, you need to have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and qualifying belongings need to have been privately used for at least six months before the move.

What documents does French Customs require?

For a qualifying transfer of main residence, documentation can include a detailed, estimated, dated and signed inventory in two copies, Cerfa 10070 and evidence supporting both your former principal residence outside the EU and your establishment in France. Other shipment and personal documentation can apply depending on your circumstances.

What is Cerfa 10070?

Cerfa 10070 is a French declaration associated with the duty-free entry of qualifying personal property arriving from outside the European Union. Your French destination partner can provide the applicable form and guidance as part of your customs preparation.

Can I send belongings to furnish a holiday home in France duty-free?

Not under the ordinary transfer-of-main-residence relief. That relief is designed for people genuinely transferring their principal residence to France rather than simply importing belongings to furnish a second or holiday home. 

Can I ship wine or alcohol with my household belongings?

Alcohol should be identified separately before packing. Alcoholic products are excluded from the ordinary transfer-of-residence relief applying to qualifying household belongings, so their transport and customs treatment need to be assessed separately.

Planning Your Move to France?

Whether you are relocating to Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, Nice or elsewhere in France, your customs eligibility and final delivery address should be considered before your household shipment leaves Australia.

A NUSS international consultant can arrange a home or video survey, assess your shipment and prepare a free, no-obligation quotation covering the services required for your French relocation.

Get a Free Quote (02) 9425 4600