Are there customs fees when moving within the EU?

No. Within the European Union there is free movement of goods, so neither customs duties nor a customs declaration apply to your household goods. You deregister in Germany and register in the destination country according to its registration rules. When moving within the EU, pay more attention to tolls, vehicle documents and re-registering your car. You should still keep important documents such as your ID, tenancy agreement and deregistration certificate to hand.

How long does customs clearance take on a move abroad?

With complete documents, clearance at the border is often done in a short time; if papers are missing, Switzerland can clear the goods provisionally against a security deposit, and you then submit the proof within the deadline set by customs. The opening hours are important: Swiss customs offices generally clear removal goods Monday to Friday during office hours.

Which items are exempt from customs duties?

Used household goods that you will continue to use are generally free of duties: furniture, clothing, personal belongings. Switzerland requires at least six months of use abroad, the UK six months of ownership and twelve months of residence outside the country. New goods, alcohol and tobacco are usually excluded and treated separately.

What do the costs of a long-distance move depend on?

With us, the costs of a long-distance move start from €4.25 per kilometre and also depend on the moving volume, floor and staff required. Thanks to our transparent fixed price , you know exactly from the outset what the total costs will be. This way you avoid nasty surprises and can budget your move abroad as well as possible.

What is a part load and how does it work?

With a part load , your belongings are transported together with other transports in the same direction, so the transport costs are shared among several customers. This money-saving option is particularly suitable for smaller moving volumes and long distances . With a little flexibility on timing, you can save considerably without having to do without professional support and insurance cover.

How are my belongings protected on a long-distance move?

For damage during transport we are liable under the statutory rules of the HGB (§ 451e: €620 per cubic metre of household goods), including on journeys abroad. For particularly valuable items or long distances, you can take out additional insurance on request. It is best to take valuables and important documents with you yourself.

Which documents do I need in addition to the inventory list?

Besides the detailed inventory list , depending on the destination country you often need a valid ID card or passport, a registration certificate and, where applicable, a tenancy agreement or proof of purchase for the new home. For certain countries, proof of your previous residence is also required. We will put together an individual checklist for your customs clearance .

Can I also plan my long-distance move at short notice?

For moves to non-EU countries you should allow several weeks of lead time so that the inventory list, deregistration and proof are ready in time – for the UK, the ToR1 application even has to be approved before import. Within the EU, things go faster. Contact us directly and we will check which date is realistic for your move abroad .

Which rules apply in popular destination countries?

The rules differ greatly: you move to EU countries such as Austria, Spain or Poland without customs formalities. Switzerland and Norway are not part of the EU customs union and require a declaration of the removal goods; for the UK, the ToR1 procedure has applied since Brexit. For overseas destinations, sea freight and customs agents are added – ask us about your destination country.

What happens if customs documents are incorrect or incomplete?

Incorrect or incomplete documents lead to waiting times at the border and can trigger duties if the exemption is not proven. In Switzerland, provisional clearance against a security deposit is possible if papers are missing. So check your list together with us before departure so that your long-distance move continues as planned.

How can I save costs on a move over long distances?

Besides the part load as a low-cost alternative, you can save extra through early planning, a reduced amount of household goods and flexible dates. Doing without express delivery also lowers the costs noticeably. We are happy to advise you individually on how to make your long-distance move as cost-efficient as possible without compromising on safety and quality.

EU, SWITZERLAND, UK

Customs when moving abroad

Moving abroad: when customs duties apply, which documents Switzerland or the UK require – and how your household goods arrive safely.

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DECLARING HOUSEHOLD GOODS CORRECTLY

International move

Customs on a move abroad: free within the EU, paperwork outside it

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Unsere Firma Inventory list, proof of the change of residence and the rules of the destination country – this is how your household goods cross the border without duties.

A move abroad quickly raises customs questions. Within the EU there are no customs checks on your household goods – no customs declaration is needed. If, on the other hand, you move to a non-EU country such as Switzerland, Norway or the UK, customs there require a detailed inventory list and proof that you are genuinely relocating your residence. Used removal goods (Übersiedlungsgut) then generally remain free of duties. We help you prepare the list completely and in good time, so that there are no delays at the border.

Every destination country has its own rules: Switzerland requires form 18.44 and at least six months of use abroad, the UK a ToR1 application approved in advance. On top of this come deadlines and proof such as your deregistration, tenancy agreement or employment contract. With long-distance moves across several borders, complete documentation is crucial. You can read what we take care of for moves abroad under International move. We are based in Berlin and plan the journey so that it fits the opening hours of the customs office.

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PERSONAL ADVICE

Fixed price after a survey for moves abroad

Clearly calculated, with no hidden costs

After the survey we give you a fixed price for your long-distance move abroad, which takes the route, volume and effort into account. As a guide, our price per kilometre starts from €4.25 per kilometre. We clarify with you in advance which customs and toll costs will be added in the destination country.

Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.

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ACROSS THE BORDER

How we plan moves abroad

Good paperwork, fixed dates, clear routes

With international moves, preparation is what decides: together with you we draw up the inventory list, check which proof the destination country requires and plan the arrival at the customs office within its opening hours. We are liable for damage during transport under the German Commercial Code (HGB), and additional insurance for long distances is possible on request. We give you the price as a fixed price after a survey. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide and abroad.

Inventory list

When packing, we number the boxes and note their contents – this becomes the list for customs in the destination country.

Packing service

For long distances we pack sturdily and in such a way that customs can open individual boxes without the whole loading space having to be rearranged at the border crossing.

Part load

For smaller amounts going abroad, you share the loading space with other orders heading in the same direction – with a little flexibility on the delivery date.

Furniture transport

Furniture travels secured and padded; on request we take care of dismantling and reassembly so that you can settle in quickly in the new country.

THE CUSTOMS RULES

What really counts at customs

The costs of a long-distance move abroad depend on the distance, volume and destination country; as a guide, prices start from €4.25 per kilometre. Whether customs duties apply depends on these rules.

Moving within the EU single market

Between EU states there is no customs declaration for your household goods. You deregister in Germany and register in the destination country according to its rules.

Six months of use

Switzerland exempts removal goods that you have used abroad for at least six months. You must declare new goods separately.

Inventory list

A detailed list of all boxes and furniture is mandatory. List valuables, alcohol and weapons on it separately in each case.

Prove the change of residence

Deregistration from Germany, an employment or tenancy agreement in the destination country: customs want to see that you really live there.

UK: ToR1

The exemption requires a ToR1 application approved before import; the goods may then not be sold for twelve months.

Later deliveries

If part of the goods follows later, list it separately when you first import into Switzerland – otherwise there will be problems.

SMALL AMOUNTS ABROAD

Part load across the border

Ideal for a few items

With a part load, your belongings travel together with other orders in the same direction and the travel costs are shared. For moves to EU countries this is straightforward. If you are going to Switzerland or the UK, each consignment needs its own documents and is cleared individually at the border – allow a little more time for this.

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MOVES ACROSS EUROPE

From
deregistering to arriving

We take care of every detail

A move abroad involves more than transport: the inventory list, customs documents, the destination country's entry requirements and deregistration in Germany, which takes place no earlier than one week before and no later than two weeks after you move out. Tax and insurance questions are part of it too. How this works in practice for Switzerland is explained in the article Moving to Switzerland: customs and process. You will find routes with their own page under long-distance moves.

Plan paperwork in good time

Deregistration, the inventory list and proof for the destination country should be ready weeks before the move. That way your private move, senior move or student move abroad avoids waiting time at the border.

Pack boxes for customs

With a packing service, numbered boxes and careful furniture transport, every item on the inventory list can be found quickly if customs check a small transport or a box.

Costs, tolls, special cases

On top of the fixed price, tolls and duties on new goods may apply in the destination country. For an office move or company relocation, different customs rules apply than for household goods; small amounts go by part load.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about customs on a move abroad

EU, Switzerland, UK, paperwork, costs.

For destinations outside the EU you usually need a detailed inventory list, proof of the change of residence (such as your deregistration and a tenancy or employment contract) and the destination country's forms – for Switzerland form 18.44, for the UK the ToR1 application approved in advance. The exact requirements are published by the customs authority of the destination country. We help you prepare the list completely.

How customs clearance works on a move abroad

First you draw up – together with us if you wish – a detailed inventory list of all items, which serves as the basis for the customs declaration in the destination country. Then you check the destination country's import regulations and put the documents together: deregistration certificate, tenancy or employment contract, and for Switzerland the signed form 18.44.

The customs declaration takes place at the border or at a customs office in the destination country. We plan the journey so that we arrive there within opening hours, and take care of the transport to the new home so that your long-distance move runs without delays.

Part load abroad: cheaper, but with your own paperwork

With a part load, your belongings are transported together with other transports in the same direction, and the travel costs are shared among several customers. This is particularly suitable for smaller amounts or if you are flexible on the date.

Especially with long-distance moves of several hundred kilometres, a part load lowers the costs considerably. For destinations outside the EU, however, each consignment needs its own inventory list and declaration. We advise you on whether this option is possible for your destination country.

Prices for moves abroad

Type of flat	Price
1 room	from €375
2 rooms	from €594
3 rooms	from €899
4 rooms	from €1,324
House/villa	individual quote
Long-distance move	from €4.25/km

Take advantage of our free survey to gain planning certainty.

What determines the price of a move abroad

Volume of the goods transported
Distance (from €4.25/km)
Floor without a lift
Parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone)

Further cost items are furniture assembly and part load.

Services for your move abroad

Combine these services for a move across the border.

Company relocation: when a business moves abroad. Company relocation

House clearance: whatever does not come along is not left behind. House clearance

Furniture transport: individual pieces of furniture safely over long distances. Furniture transport

Move with assembly: dismantling and reassembly in the destination country. Move with assembly

Part load: shared loading space for small amounts. Part load

Private move: the whole household to the new country. Private move

From Berlin abroad and back

We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide and abroad – also for returnees moving back to Germany from abroad. You will find destinations with their own page in the locations overview, and routes under long-distance moves.

Long-Distance Moves & Transport

Beste Umzug Redaktion

August 19, 2026

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Long-Distance Moves & Transport Moving Costs Long-Distance Move

Shared Load on a Long-Distance Move: Affordable over Long Routes

Long-Distance Moves & Transport

Customs when moving abroad

Customs on a move abroad: free within the EU, paperwork outside it

Fixed price after a survey for moves abroad

Clearly calculated, with no hidden costs

How we plan moves abroad

Good paperwork, fixed dates, clear routes

Inventory list

Packing service

Part load

Furniture transport

What really counts at customs

Moving within the EU single market

Six months of use

Inventory list

Prove the change of residence

UK: ToR1

Later deliveries

Part load across the border

From deregistering to arriving

Plan paperwork in good time

Pack boxes for customs

Costs, tolls, special cases

Frequently asked questions about customs on a move abroad

What do I need to bear in mind with the customs declaration for a move abroad?

Are there customs fees when moving within the EU?

How long does customs clearance take on a move abroad?

Which items are exempt from customs duties?

What do the costs of a long-distance move depend on?

What is a part load and how does it work?

How are my belongings protected on a long-distance move?

Which documents do I need in addition to the inventory list?

Can I also plan my long-distance move at short notice?

Which rules apply in popular destination countries?

What happens if customs documents are incorrect or incomplete?

How can I save costs on a move over long distances?

How customs clearance works on a move abroad

Part load abroad: cheaper, but with your own paperwork

Prices for moves abroad

What determines the price of a move abroad

Services for your move abroad

From Berlin abroad and back

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From
deregistering to arriving