Moving to France from the USA
France attracts Americans for lifestyle, work and study, with belongings shipping by sea container to Le Havre or Marseille. This guide covers costs, transit times, EU customs relief and French long-stay visa options.
Estimate your move cost
An instant, route-specific range for France. Adjust the details for a closer figure, then get matched with movers for exact quotes.
Estimated shipping cost
$6,600 – $9,800
Indicative only — based on typical 2 bedrooms moves. Get real quotes below.
Visa & residency options in France
France sets its own immigration rules. The routes below are informational — consult a French immigration lawyer for advice.
Long-stay visa (VLS-TS)
The base route, converted to a residence permit on arrival.
Visitor (visiteur) visa
For those with sufficient income who will not work locally.
Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)
For skilled workers, founders and investors.
Profession Libérale
For self-employed professionals.
These are France immigration routes — consult a local immigration lawyer for advice. Portunus specializes in U.S. visas, not France ones.
Typical moving costs
Indicative ranges by home size for moving to france from the usa. Reviewed 2026-06-15.
Studio
$2,660–$4,200
1 bedroom
$4,060–$6,300
2 bedrooms
$5,460–$8,750
3 bedrooms
$8,050–$12,600
20ft container
$3,995–$6,110
40ft container
$6,630–$10,140
What drives the cost
- Shared vs full container (volume)
- Origin coast & port pair
- Door-to-door vs port-to-port
- Packing, insurance & customs handling
- Season — summer is peak
Transit times
Shipping methods
- Sea freight, shared container / LCL (cheapest for partial loads)
- Sea freight, full container / FCL (20ft or 40ft for whole-home moves)
- Air freight (fast but expensive — for essentials only)
Moving companies for this route
Compare what each mover offers, then request quotes to see exact pricing for your move.
| Mover | Best for | Door-to-door | Packing | Storage | Vehicles | Pets | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDC International Shipping | Sea freight, Door-to-door overseas | Get quote | |||||
| International Van Lines | Best overall, Full-service moves | Get quote | |||||
| Crown Relocations | Premium, Corporate relocation | Get quote | |||||
| Seven Seas Worldwide | Budget, Small moves & students | Get quote | |||||
| PSS International Removals | Worldwide shipping, Part & full loads | Get quote | |||||
| Sirelo (compare multiple movers) | Compare several quotes at once | Get quote |
Movers serving the France route. Links go to each company's own quote page; we may be compensated for referrals. We don't publish third-party star ratings — request quotes to compare directly.
Customs & import rules
- France is in the EU: used household goods enter duty/VAT-free under transfer-of-residence relief.
- Generally requires you lived outside the EU 12+ months and owned/used the goods 6+ months.
- A detailed inventory and French residence documentation are required at import.
- New items, alcohol/tobacco over limits and vehicles have separate rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move to France from the USA?
A shared-container move is roughly $2,700–$8,800 by volume and service; a full 40ft container can run $7,800+. The estimator above gives a route-specific range.
How long does shipping from the USA to France take?
From the U.S. East Coast, sea freight to Le Havre/Marseille is typically 14–30 days in transit; the West Coast is longer. Add packing, customs and delivery.
Do I pay import duty moving household goods to France?
Used belongings usually qualify for EU transfer-of-residence relief if you lived outside the EU 12+ months and have French residence documents plus an inventory.
Can Americans move to France?
Yes — common routes include the long-stay (VLS-TS), visitor, Talent Passport and Profession Libérale visas. These are French routes; consult a French immigration lawyer.
Estimates and timelines are indicative; mover and route details last reviewed 2026-06-15. We may be compensated when you request a quote through links on this page.