Moving Household Goods Abroad: The Complete Guide to Customs, Packing and the Process

The moment you decide to move abroad, one of the first questions that comes to mind is: "How do I get my belongings there?" The furniture you have collected over the years, your kitchenware, books, your children's toys, perhaps a family heirloom… In customs law, all of this falls under a single heading: personal effects, or household goods (in Turkish, zati eşya). In this guide we explain what shipping personal effects actually involves, which items qualify, whether you will pay duty at the border, how your belongings should be packed, and how a move from Turkey to the UK or mainland Europe unfolds step by step.

The guide is long, because moving abroad is a serious undertaking and a single wrong step can mean days of waiting at customs, unexpected taxes or damaged belongings. If you do not have time to read it all, use the table of contents below to jump straight to the section that concerns you.

Table of Contents

1. What Are Personal Effects, and Which Items Qualify?
2. Personal Effects vs. Commercial Goods vs. New Purchases
3. Duty Relief: Leaving Turkey, Entering the UK and the EU
4. Required Documents
5. Transport Methods
6. How to Estimate the Volume of Your Belongings
7. How to Pack Your Belongings
8. Removals Insurance: Types and What to Look For
9. The Moving Process, Step by Step
10. Timeline: What to Do 8 Weeks Before the Move
11. What Determines Transit Time and Cost
12. Practical Notes by Country
13. If Your Goods Cannot Be Delivered Straight Away: Storage
14. Common Mistakes
15. Pre-Move Checklist
16. Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Are Personal Effects, and Which Items Qualify?

In customs terminology, personal effects (household goods) are the used personal and household items that an individual or family relies on in daily life and that carry no commercial purpose. The Turkish term "zati" simply means "belonging to the person, private". The household goods that someone takes with them when relocating abroad fall squarely into this category.

Items that typically qualify as personal effects include:

• Furniture: beds, sofa sets, dining tables, wardrobes, bookcases, children's bedroom sets
• Appliances and electronics: fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, television, computer (provided they are used)
• Kitchenware: pots and pans, plates, cutlery, small kitchen appliances
• Textiles: clothing, curtains, rugs, bedspreads, bed linen
• Personal items: books, toys, sports equipment, bicycles, musical instruments
• Decorative items: paintings, ornaments, mirrors, chandeliers
• Vehicles, under certain conditions: a private car or motorcycle can also be treated as personal effects under a "transfer of residence" (this is covered separately under vehicle transport)

The key word here is "used". Customs expects the items to have been in your use for some time, to have been unpacked from their original packaging and not to be present in commercial quantities. Five identical televisions, or 30 pairs of shoes still in their boxes, are not personal effects in the eyes of a customs officer; they are commercial merchandise.

2. Personal Effects vs. Commercial Goods vs. New Purchases

This distinction directly determines whether you pay duty at the border. Let us separate the three categories clearly:

Category	Definition	Customs treatment
Personal effects	Used, personal household goods with no commercial purpose	Exempt from duty if the transfer-of-residence conditions are met
New goods	Recently purchased items, still in their packaging or used only briefly	Customs duty and VAT are charged in the destination country
Commercial goods	Products intended for sale, in commercial quantities	Export/import declaration, taxes and product-standards checks

In practice, the situation that causes the most confusion is this: you buy a brand-new bedroom set in Turkey and want to take it to your home in the UK. Even though it is for your own personal use, because it is new it does not qualify for personal-effects relief; customs duty and VAT are payable in the destination country. We handle shipments of this kind through our international furniture shipping service, with the taxes included in the quote. Your used belongings, on the other hand, travel as personal effects under a relief application. It is perfectly possible to combine both groups in the same shipment, but they must be shown separately on the declaration.

3. Duty Relief: Leaving Turkey, Entering the UK and the EU

Customs is the heart of any personal-effects move. The process needs to be looked at from both ends: the export from Turkey and the import into the destination country.

Leaving Turkey

To take used household goods out of Turkey, an export declaration is lodged with Turkish customs. Because personal effects are non-commercial, this declaration falls under a simplified regime; nonetheless, the inventory (packing list), the owner's identity details and the carrier's details must all be complete. If you are working with a removals company that holds import and export authorisation, the company handles these formalities on your behalf under a power of attorney; you do not need to attend customs yourself.

Entering the UK: ToR1 (Transfer of Residence) relief

Since Brexit, every consignment entering the UK is subject to a customs declaration. The way to avoid paying tax on your used household goods is a ToR1 (Transfer of Residence) relief application. The core conditions are:

• You are moving to the UK in order to take up residence (not for tourism or a short stay),
• You have lived outside the UK for at least 12 months before the move,
• The goods have been in your ownership and use for at least 6 months,
• The goods will not be sold or transferred for at least 12 months after arriving in the UK.

The application is made online to HMRC; once approved, you receive a ToR reference number. This number is quoted on the import declaration and your goods enter the country free of customs duty and VAT. One important detail: the ToR1 application must be submitted before the goods set off, and the approval time (usually 2–4 weeks) must be built into your planning. Alcohol, tobacco, commercial goods and newly purchased items are not covered by ToR relief.

At REG Transport we guide our customers through the ToR1 application and make sure the inventory is prepared in the format HMRC expects. For more on the process, see our guide to household removals from Turkey to the UK.

Entering European Union countries

EU countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium offer a similar "transfer of normal residence" relief. The general conditions: at least 12 months of residence outside the EU, goods that have been in use for at least 6 months, and importation within a set period of taking up residence (usually 12 months). The application is made to the customs authority of the destination country, which will ask for documents proving your new address, such as a residence registration, rental agreement or employment contract. Because the details vary slightly from country to country, we recommend reviewing your paperwork with our customs team before the shipment.

Switzerland, Norway and other non-EU countries

Switzerland and Norway are not EU members and apply their own customs legislation; both, however, grant transfer-of-residence relief for used household goods. For moves to these countries, transit documents (T1/T2) and the destination customs declaration are prepared separately.

4. Required Documents

Missing paperwork is the number one cause of delays in personal-effects shipping. As standard, you will need to prepare:

• Copy of ID / passport (belonging to the owner of the goods)
• Detailed inventory (packing list): contents, quantity and approximate value for every box and item. The list is prepared in both Turkish and English.
• Proof of residence in the destination country: rental agreement, title deed, employment contract, visa/residence permit or a utility bill
• Proof of residence in Turkey: a document showing you have lived in Turkey for the past 12 months (residence certificate, utility bill, etc.)
• ToR1 approval number (for the UK) or the EU-country relief application
• Power of attorney: so that the removals company can carry out customs formalities on your behalf
• If a vehicle is being shipped: registration document and, where applicable, the sales contract

We recommend having your documents ready at least two weeks before the shipment, so that any missing or incorrect item can be put right before the loading date.

5. Transport Methods

The volume of your belongings, your budget and your urgency determine which transport method suits you best.

Groupage (part-load, shared) transport

Your belongings travel in the same vehicle as consignments from other customers heading along the same route; you pay only for the space (m³) you occupy. For the contents of a one- or two-bedroom flat, a handful of boxes or a few pieces of furniture, this is the most economical option. Thanks to our regular weekly departures from Turkey to the UK, waiting times are short.

Dedicated (full-load) vehicle

The vehicle is reserved exclusively for your belongings. It is ideal for larger homes (three bedrooms and above), high-value items or moves that require a firm delivery date. It offers faster, direct delivery; the cost is higher than groupage.

Container shipping

For very large volumes, or on long-distance routes where sea freight is preferred (the United Arab Emirates, for example), a 20' or 40' container is used. Transit times are longer than by road.

Air freight

For small quantities of urgently needed items (a few suitcases, documents, a computer), air freight delivers within days, but the cost per kilogram is high. Most families take their urgent items with them on the plane and send the rest by road.

6. How to Estimate the Volume of Your Belongings

In international personal-effects shipping, the price is based on cubic metres (m³) rather than weight. Knowing the approximate volume of your belongings before requesting quotes therefore helps you both set a realistic budget and compare offers properly. The most practical way to estimate volume is to go room by room.

Item	Approximate volume
Double bed + base	1.5 – 2 m³
Three-seater sofa	1.5 – 2 m³
Armchair	0.6 – 0.8 m³
Dining table + 6 chairs	1.5 – 2 m³
Wardrobe (dismantled)	1 – 1.5 m³
Fridge	0.8 – 1.2 m³
Washing machine / dishwasher	0.4 – 0.5 m³
Television (55")	0.2 – 0.3 m³
Standard box (60×40×40 cm)	0.1 m³
Bicycle	0.4 – 0.5 m³

As a rule of thumb, the contents of a home usually take up around number of rooms × 8–10 m³: a one-bedroom flat 10–15 m³, a two-bedroom flat 18–25 m³, a three-bedroom house 25–35 m³. "Forgotten" items such as a bookcase full of books, winter tyres, garden furniture or a children's play set add volume surprisingly quickly; remember to include them in your list.

If you are unsure about your own estimate, our remote video survey takes about 20 minutes and determines the volume to within ±10%. We also carry out on-site surveys in Istanbul and Gaziantep. The survey is free and places you under no obligation. Remember: reducing volume is the most effective way to reduce cost. Disposing of items you no longer use before the move, leaving behind things that can be bought cheaply in your new country (inexpensive shelving, old rugs, worn chairs) and vacuum-packing textiles can easily cut 5–8 m³ from a three-bedroom home.

7. How to Pack Your Belongings

On an international move your belongings travel thousands of kilometres, are handled several times and may be opened and inspected at customs. Correct packing both prevents damage and speeds up the customs check.

Ground rules

• Number every box and match the number to the corresponding entry on your inventory. The customs officer wants to see "Box 12: kitchenware" on the list.
• Wrap fragile items individually in bubble wrap and paper, and mark the box "FRAGILE".
• Dismantle furniture where possible; protect glass and marble surfaces with wooden crates or rigid cardboard. Put screws in labelled bags and tape them to the relevant piece.
• Empty and dry appliances at least 24 hours before the move; fit the transit bolts to the washing-machine drum.
• Vacuum-pack textiles and clothing to reduce volume; volume directly affects cost.
• Pack electronics in their original boxes where possible, otherwise with foam protection; note serial numbers on the inventory.
• Documents, jewellery, cash and medication never go in the shipment; carry them with you.

When does a professional packing service make sense?

If you have many valuable or fragile items, if your time is limited, or if you want full insurance cover, opt for professional packing. Most insurance policies do not cover damage to the contents of boxes packed by the customer, whereas professionally packed items are fully covered. The REG Transport crew packs with materials of international standard (double-wall boxes, corner protectors, stretch film, blankets, wooden crates) and prepares the inventory on your behalf.

8. Removals Insurance: Types and What to Look For

Your belongings will travel thousands of kilometres; they will be loaded and unloaded several times, cross the Channel by ferry and perhaps be opened at customs. Insurance is the non-negotiable part of this journey, but not every policy offers the same protection. When comparing quotes, you need to understand the difference between two basic types of cover.

Carrier's liability insurance (CMR)

This cover, governed by the CMR Convention that regulates the legal liability of carriers in international road transport, comes as standard with every licensed carrier. However, compensation is limited according to the gross weight of the goods, not their real value. For a 20 kg television or a 3 kg painting, that limit can fall far short of what the item is actually worth. In other words, relying on CMR insurance alone does not provide adequate protection where valuable items are concerned.

Goods-in-transit (declared value) insurance — "all risk"

This insures your belongings for the value you declare. It covers risks such as breakage, loss, water damage, theft and accident from the moment of loading until delivery. The premium is generally around 1–2% of the declared value, and it is the cover we strongly recommend for personal-effects shipments. For the policy, you simply note the approximate value next to each item on your inventory; individual items worth more than 1,000 euros (antiques, artwork, musical instruments, high-value electronics) are listed separately.

What to check when reading the policy

• Owner-packed boxes: Most policies do not cover damage to the contents of boxes packed by the customer; they cover only the complete loss of the box. Having fragile items packed by the professional crew closes this gap.
• Pairs and sets: If one plate from a six-piece dinner service breaks, only the single piece is compensated, not the whole set. It helps to list the items of a set as separate entries.
• Electrical faults in electronics: A device that shows no external damage but no longer works is excluded under most policies; for that reason we recommend filming a short video showing the device working before the move.
• Claim deadlines: Visible damage must be recorded on the delivery report at the time of delivery; hidden damage must generally be reported within 7 days. Signing the delivery report without opening the boxes can forfeit your rights.
• Excess (deductible): Some policies carry a small excess; ask for this figure to be stated in writing in the quote.

At REG Transport, standard CMR insurance is included in every shipment; declared-value insurance is shown clearly as a separate line in the quote, calculated on the value you declare. That way you know in advance exactly what you are protecting, and for how much.

9. The Moving Process, Step by Step

A personal-effects move from Turkey to the UK or a European country typically consists of the following steps:

1. Survey and quote: You share your inventory, or a video or on-site survey is carried out. The volume (m³) is determined, the transport method is chosen and a written quote is issued. Always check whether the quote includes the customs, insurance and delivery items.
2. Document preparation and relief application: The ToR1 (UK) or EU relief application is submitted, the inventory is formatted for customs and the power of attorney is signed.
3. Packing: The day before loading, or on the same day, our crew packs and labels your belongings.
4. Loading and Turkish export customs: The goods are loaded onto the vehicle, the export declaration is lodged and the vehicle departs.
5. Transit and destination customs: The goods enter Europe; if they are bound for the UK, the import declaration is lodged at the Channel crossing using the ToR number. A physical inspection may take place at this stage; a well-prepared inventory reduces the check to minutes.
6. Delivery: Your belongings are delivered to your new address, furniture is reassembled and packing waste is removed. The delivery report is signed.

Throughout the process you deal with a single customer representative, and you are kept informed at the loading, customs-crossing and delivery stages.

10. Timeline: What to Do 8 Weeks Before the Move

The most stressful part of moving abroad is juggling dozens of tasks at once (visa, housing, schools, work, banking, belongings). Tying the belongings side of things to a calendar takes a large part of that weight off your shoulders. The plan below is a typical schedule for UK and European routes.

8–6 weeks before

• Start building your inventory; decide what you will take, sell or donate.
• Obtain written quotes from at least two or three companies and compare what they cover (customs, insurance, packing, floors/lift).
• If you are moving to the UK, submit the ToR1 application during this period; approval can take 2–4 weeks.
• Get your proof of residence in the destination country ready (visa, rental agreement, employment contract).

5–4 weeks before

• Choose your removals company, sign the contract and power of attorney, and fix the loading date.
• Finalise the inventory in customs format; separate out new items and their invoices.
• Add item values to the inventory for insurance purposes.
• If the delivery address requires a parking permit, lift booking or building-management approval, apply now (in London, a parking suspension is obtained from the council 1–2 weeks in advance).

3–2 weeks before

• If you are packing yourself, buy the materials and start boxing up the items you use least.
• Take photos/videos showing that electronic devices are in working order.
• Remove prohibited and restricted items from the shipment.
• Dispose of devices that will not work abroad (for example satellite receivers with incompatible channel line-ups; this is not about 220V products, which are fine).

Final week

• Empty and dry appliances; fit transit bolts.
• Put the documents, medication, jewellery and valuables you will carry yourself into a separate suitcase.
• Tell the company who will receive the goods at the delivery address.
• Check the building lift and street access for loading day.

Loading day and after

• During loading, compare the box count with the inventory and sign the loading report.
• Get location updates from your customer representative during transit.
• At delivery, count the boxes, have any visible damage recorded on the report and check the furniture assembly.

11. What Determines Transit Time and Cost

Delivery times

• United Kingdom: on average 7–14 days from loading
• Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium: 4–9 days
• France, Italy, Switzerland: 5–10 days
• Scandinavia: 8–15 days

These are averages for groupage transport; a dedicated vehicle can be quicker. Customs congestion, public holidays and waiting times at the Channel crossing can cause variation.

Cost

In personal-effects shipping, the price is calculated on volume (m³) rather than weight. The main items that influence the price are:

• Volume: a one-bedroom home averages 10–15 m³, a two-bedroom home 18–25 m³, a three-bedroom home 25–35 m³.
• Transport method: groupage is the most economical; a dedicated vehicle is faster and more expensive.
• Packing service: whether materials and labour are included.
• Floor and access: upper floors without a lift, narrow streets or addresses requiring a parking permit (central London, for example) may need extra labour.
• Insurance: standard transit insurance is usually included; additional declared-value cover can be chosen for high-value items.
• Customs: relief application and declaration fees. If there are new items, destination-country taxes.

For a firm figure, simply fill in our quote form; based on your inventory we send a volume-based, written quote with every item clearly listed, on the same day.

12. Practical Notes by Country

Although customs legislation follows the same broad framework, each country has its own particular practices. Here is what to watch out for on the routes along which we move the most personal effects from Turkey:

United Kingdom

Since Brexit, the entry of personal effects into the UK depends entirely on ToR1 approval. Goods that cross the Channel without the approval number (URN) either incur tax or are held at the port. Deliveries in central London call for extra planning because of narrow streets, parking restrictions and the Congestion Charge / ULEZ zones; all you need to do is share the postcode of your delivery address in advance, and we plan the rest. Your belongings travel on our regular weekly departures along the UK route.

Germany

For personal-effects relief in Germany, you must have resided outside the EU for at least 12 months and the goods must have been in use for at least 6 months; an Anmeldung (residence registration) certificate is also required. In the major cities (Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt) a street parking reservation for loading and unloading (Halteverbotszone) is obtained from the municipality in advance. Thanks to our warehouse in Frankfurt, we can offer interim storage and staged delivery.

The Netherlands and Belgium

In the Netherlands, the "verhuisboedel" (household goods) relief application is submitted to customs digitally; a BSN number and a rental or purchase contract are required. In cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht, the narrow staircases of canal houses mean that large furniture is usually taken in through a window or balcony using an exterior hoist; if you mention this at the survey stage, we build it into the plan. The procedure in Belgium is similar to the Dutch one; deliveries in Brussels and Antwerp require a municipal parking permit.

France

In France, a "certificat de changement de résidence" and a French translation of the inventory may be requested for relief. For deliveries within Paris, upper floors without a lift are common in Haussmann-style buildings; the floor number is critical to the accuracy of the quote.

Switzerland and Norway

Because neither country is an EU member, goods are subject to a second customs entry after EU transit. In Switzerland, the transfer-of-residence declaration is made on "Formular 18.44"; in Norway, the relief application is completed at the point of entry with proof of residence and the inventory. Transit times are therefore a few days longer than for EU countries.

For all of these countries we prepare the application forms, inventory templates and translations. All we ask of you are your documents and the details of your belongings; you will find more on our destination pages.

13. If Your Goods Cannot Be Delivered Straight Away: Storage

On an international move, the date your belongings leave and the date your new home becomes available rarely line up. You have to vacate your home in Turkey at the end of the month, but your house in the UK is not ready for another three weeks; or you rent a furnished flat for the first few months and want to move your own things in later. This is where interim storage comes in.

After loading, your belongings are kept, still packed, in our enclosed, secure warehouses in Istanbul or Gaziantep, or in our London or Frankfurt warehouse in the destination country, and delivered when you are ready. The goods remain insured while in storage. Storage charges are calculated weekly or monthly according to volume (m³) and duration, and appear as a separate line in the quote. Make sure the warehouse is enclosed, humidity-controlled and under camera surveillance, and that your belongings are kept on pallets and stretch-wrapped; furniture and textiles left in the open or in a damp environment can be damaged within a few weeks.

14. Common Mistakes

• Applying for relief too late: Goods arriving in the UK without ToR1 approval may be taxed or held at customs.
• An incomplete or generic inventory: A list reading "Household goods – 20 boxes" will not be accepted at customs. The contents of every box must be stated.
• Declaring new items as personal effects: Presenting unopened products as used leads to penalties and delays.
• Sending prohibited or restricted items: Alcohol, tobacco, fresh food, meat and dairy products, plants and seeds, weapons and ammunition and certain medicines are prohibited or subject to permits, depending on the country.
• Shipping without insurance: On a journey of thousands of kilometres, insurance should never be up for negotiation.
• Choosing an unlicensed carrier without the right paperwork: A company without import/export authorisation cannot handle customs formalities, and when a problem arises there is no one to hold accountable.

15. Pre-Move Checklist

Before loading day, make sure you have completed the following:

• ☐ Inventory prepared, boxes numbered
• ☐ ToR1 / EU relief application submitted, approval received
• ☐ ID, residence documents and power of attorney sent to the removals company
• ☐ New items listed separately, invoices prepared
• ☐ Prohibited items removed from the shipment
• ☐ Appliances emptied and dried
• ☐ Valuable documents, jewellery and medication set aside (to be carried with you)
• ☐ Delivery address, floor, lift and parking details given to the removals company
• ☐ Person who will be at the address on delivery day confirmed
• ☐ Insurance cover and value declaration checked

16. Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to set up a company or register as an exporter to ship personal effects?

No. Because personal effects are non-commercial, they are shipped in your name as a private individual; customs formalities are handled by the removals company under a power of attorney.

How long does it take to move household goods from Turkey to the UK?

By road, 7–14 days on average. Having your documents ready in advance is the single most important factor in shortening that time.

Some of my belongings are new and some are used. Can they travel in the same vehicle?

Yes. They can be shipped together; however, the new items are shown separately on the declaration and tax is paid on them in the destination country.

Will my belongings be opened and inspected at customs?

A physical inspection is possible. Properly labelled boxes and a detailed inventory speed up the check; after inspection the goods are repacked.

Does personal-effects relief apply to a partial shipment (just a few boxes)?

Yes. Relief depends not on the quantity of goods but on their being used and personal, and on the residence conditions being met. For small quantities, groupage is an economical solution.

Can I send plants, food or pet supplies?

Live plants and soil are prohibited in most countries; packaged dry food can be shipped in limited quantities. Pet supplies (cages, food bowls) pose no problem, but the animal itself is subject to a separate procedure.

What happens if my belongings are damaged?

All our shipments are covered by international transit insurance. Damage identified at delivery is recorded on the delivery report and compensated under the policy. Professionally packed items enjoy full cover.

Conclusion

When properly planned, shipping your personal effects can be the smoothest part of moving abroad. To sum up the rule: make sure your belongings are used and personal, make sure your inventory is complete, apply for relief early, and leave the job to an experienced carrier with import/export authorisation.

For more than 12 years, REG Transport has been packing, clearing, insuring and delivering the household goods of families moving from Turkey to the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France and the rest of Europe, right to the door of their new home. With our warehouses in Istanbul, Gaziantep, London and Frankfurt and our regular weekly departures, request a free quote for a well-planned move, and our team will get back to you the same day.