Work going to a fair and returning can often travel under temporary paperwork instead. We agree the paperwork with you before collection, then collect, drive and hand over at the other end. Send a photo, both addresses and the date that matters, and we will explain how the job would run.
The route at a glance
| Route | London and Paris, either direction |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Van, by road |
| Crossing | The Channel, by ferry or through the Channel Tunnel, chosen for each job |
| Customs position | Going out: UK export, French import. Coming back: EU export, UK import. One border. |
| What is included | Collection, the drive, delivery and handover, with customs paperwork handled as part of the job. Pieces are normally wrapped by you; we can wrap them at an extra cost. |
The journey
From London the van heads for the Channel, crosses by ferry or through the tunnel, and runs on through northern France to the city. The Channel is the only customs border on the way. Goods can be cleared into France as they arrive, or travel under customs transit and be cleared nearer Paris. Once they are cleared, nothing else is declared on the road.
Work for Paris is usually tied to a date: a sale, a fair, a gallery consignment, a loan for an exhibition, or a piece sold to a buyer who lives there. Much of it comes back again, so tell us at the start whether the work is staying in France or returning to London, because the paperwork differs from the first day.
At the Paris end, many apartment buildings are reached through a courtyard and a door with a code, with a small lift or none at all. Galleries and institutions usually run a delivery entrance with set times and a named contact. Send what you know about the address and we will ask about the rest.
Paperwork for this route
Export and import declarations
Moving goods from Great Britain to France is a UK export and a French import, and both sides normally need a declaration. A business moving goods out of Great Britain needs a GB EORI number; the receiver in France may need its own EU number to import. A private person moving their own goods that are not controlled may not need one, and the carrier or agent can declare for them.
Fairs and exhibitions: ATA Carnet or temporary admission
Work going to a Paris fair or exhibition and coming back unsold can often travel temporarily instead of being exported and re-imported in full. An ATA Carnet works like a passport for goods taken out temporarily and lasts a year. The alternative is temporary admission, declared in France on arrival, with Returned Goods Relief claimed on the way back into Great Britain. Which suits depends on the dates and on whether anything may be sold.
UK export licence from Arts Council England
Some works of art and antiques need a UK export licence before they leave Great Britain for any destination, France included. Whether yours does depends on the kind of object, its age and its value; Arts Council England publishes the thresholds for each category. A licence is granted before collection, never on the day, so check this first if the piece is old or valuable.
Coming back from Paris
A return from France is an EU export and a UK import. Since 28 June 2025 the EU has also required an import licence or importer statement for some cultural goods arriving from outside it, and certain cultural goods leaving the EU need an EU export licence issued by the country where the object was lawfully located.
Ivory, tortoiseshell and other protected materials
Antiques with ivory inlay, tortoiseshell veneer or other material from protected species can need CITES permits from both the UK and France, and selling items that contain ivory needs an exemption under the Ivory Act. Tell us before anything else is arranged.
Questions about London and Paris
Who prepares the customs paperwork for a job to Paris?
Customs paperwork is handled as part of the job, and we help with the CMR consignment note, commercial invoices and packing lists. If you already use a customs agent or freight forwarder, tell us and we will work with them.
Will the receiver in France have to pay anything on arrival?
Imports into France can attract import VAT and, for some goods, duty. Who pays is a question for the sale or loan agreement. We will tell you what paperwork we need to bring the goods in.
Can you bring a work back from Paris to London?
Yes. A return from the EU needs its own export and import paperwork, and some cultural goods need an EU export licence to leave France.