Do I pay customs duty when moving from Geneva to France?

No, if you have lived in Switzerland for at least 12 months and have used your belongings for at least 6 months: they enter duty-free with an inventory and the cerfa 10070 form. Alcohol, tobacco and professional equipment are excluded.

Which documents do French customs need?

A detailed, valued, dated and signed inventory in 2 copies, the cerfa 10070 form, and proof of your residence in Switzerland and of your settlement in France.

When should I announce my departure from Geneva?

To the OCPM at least 2 weeks before, and to the tax office at least 15 days before.

How long does a move from Geneva to France take?

Usually one day to Haute-Savoie or the Pays de Gex, and 1 to 3 days to the rest of France.

Moving from Geneva to France: Steps and Customs

Moving from Geneva to France: formalities and customs, step by step

To move from Geneva to France, notify the OCPM and the tax office of your departure at least 15 days before, then prepare a detailed, valued inventory of your belongings and the cerfa 10070 form for French customs. Your furniture enters France free of duty and VAT if you have lived in Switzerland for at least 12 months and have used it for at least 6 months. Here are the steps in order, with the mistakes we see most often.

By Uriel De Liberato, co-founder of DL Company · Updated on 5 October 2026

One month before: announce your departure

To the OCPM, online and free of charge, at least 2 weeks before you leave. You can order a departure certificate (CHF 25), useful for customs.
To the tax office, at least 15 days before you leave.
Your lease: give notice at least 3 months before an end date (see our guide Moving to Geneva: the checklist).
Parking: book the truck’s parking space in Geneva at least 10 days ahead (we handle it), and check with the town hall of your new commune in France.

Two weeks before: the customs inventory

A detailed, valued, dated and signed inventory, in 2 copies: every piece of furniture and every box, with its value. Number your boxes; the inventory follows their numbers.
The cerfa 10070 form, the declaration for duty-free entry of personal belongings into France.
Proof of your residence in Switzerland (for example the departure certificate) and of your settlement in France (lease, deed of sale, employment contract).
At DL Company, we handle everything: we prepare the inventory and the cerfa form with you and present them at the border. You only sign.

Conditions to avoid paying customs duty

12 months of residence outside the European Union, in Switzerland for example, before settling in France.
6 months of use of your belongings before the move.
12 months to import them, in one or several shipments; in that case, the inventory handed over the first time must already list everything.
No selling, lending or renting these belongings for 12 months after they enter France.
What is excluded: alcohol, tobacco, commercial vehicles and professional equipment (except portable instruments).

Your car: a separate procedure

Your private car can also enter duty-free, but with its own procedure: customs issue a 846 A certificate, needed to register it in France. Plan it separately from the move.

Moving day

To Haute-Savoie or the Pays de Gex, a move usually takes one day. To the rest of France, allow 1 to 3 days depending on the distance.
The truck clears customs with the inventory and the cerfa form: that is why they must be ready before moving day.

The mistakes we see most often

Preparing the inventory too late. Customs want every item and its value: the day before is too tight.
Taking excluded goods. Alcohol, tobacco or professional equipment are not covered by the exemption and must be declared separately.
Forgetting the car. It has its own procedure (846 A certificate), to plan separately from the move.
Announcing your departure too late. The OCPM and the tax office ask for at least 15 days.

And the other way, from France to Geneva?

Register your arrival with the OCPM within 14 days. In Switzerland, your furniture enters duty-free if it has been used for at least 6 months, with form 18.44: everything is in our guide Moving from France to Switzerland. We move in both directions, as an international move with customs included.