Hi,
I’m hiring a van in a couple of weeks to move some of my wife’s bits and pieces to her house in France. She has residency there; I don’t have residency there, but I do in UK.
Ours is an unusual situation: we’re not separated or divorced but have to live apart for a couple of years because of work.
I’ve read the posts here about the documentation I need (inventories etc) but I would like to ask: given our situation is there any other documentation I may need? Proof of marriage, for example?
Hi Charles65,
Welcome to the forum.
I’m no expert, but I guess the first question I’d have for you is, what documents are you already planning on bringing? You mentioned an inventory….
I can’t envision any reason why you would need to have a marriage document with you for what sounds like a routine travel plan to move some items in a rented vehicle, from the UK to France, but perhaps I’m missing something. I would suggest that having a marriage license, translated to French if it’s not already in French, would be advisable for many other administrative situations, just as a matter of course.
If these items are of high value, then perhaps that’s a different situation entirely.
I assume you have a properly insured vehicle, safe to drive.
Perhaps you could provide a bit more detail, if you feel so inclined.
Best regards and safe trip!
Here’s a link Transferring your primary residence to France | Portail de la Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects
but I see @JaneJones is typing a reply …
Your problem may be showing that your wife is (now) moving her main residence to France, but as @MaryW has already observed, more details would help.
You can only bring things in tax/duty free in I think the first 12 months of moving to France, by filing in all the customs forms and getting them stamped etc. And only in one go. (Edit as Porridge’s link)
After that everyone has a personal allowance per trip of around €300-400. So if you can create a list of the bits and pieces that gives values that add up to less than the limit then should be fine.
What to you mean by “bits an pieces”. That’s the key question.
You’ve all been most helpful. Thank you.
By ‘bits and pieces’ I mean:
I don’t think there’ll be a problem getting it to come in at under €400.
No, I don’t think so, especially as all will obviously be used 
.
This applies to items you purchase, not used goods. But I don’t see that your list of bits and pieces would interest a customs officer unless the wooden chest contains meat or milk products!
OTOH, that 2008 digital keyboard might today be classed as a ‘collectible’…
That is so beautiful. 
Looks like ‘authentic’ steampunk, whereas, how about this much older machine?
Ada Lovelace surely. Charlie couldn’t type, could he?
Well I can’t type either but I have several computer keyboards. 
Charlie don’t surf , surely?
Yes that’s what it is, but computer keyboards didn’t come along until the 1950s so I had to improvise. 
