Moving from the US to the United Kingdom
Household goods heading from the US to the UK typically cross the Atlantic by sea container, with air freight used for smaller or urgent shipments.
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What decides the customs outcome is paperwork filed before the goods leave: HMRC runs a transfer of residence relief for people making the UK their main home, and it needs approval in advance. Below is what the relief covers, what it leaves out, and how vehicles and pets fit in.
Documents and customs basics
Check you meet the relief conditions
Transfer of residence relief requires that you lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months before the move, that you import the goods within 12 months of coming to live in the UK, and that you owned the goods for at least 6 months before moving. The goods may arrive in more than one consignment. Source
Apply on form ToR1 before shipping
HMRC says approval must come before claiming the relief. The online ToR1 application takes a list of what you are bringing, where grouped items such as books or kitchenware can carry estimated counts instead of one line each. It also asks for proof of your UK address dated within the last 3 months and proof of the non-UK address you are leaving dated within the last 6 months. Source
Give your agent the reference
If goods are shipped, the application is completed before they leave, and the unique reference number you receive goes on the import declaration. HMRC says that without a valid reference you may be billed duties and administration charges. Source
Leave out what the relief excludes
Alcohol, tobacco, commercial means of transport and non-portable trade equipment are excluded. The relief also does not replace licences for restricted goods such as firearms or endangered species products. Source
Handle vehicles and pets separately
A private vehicle brought in permanently needs a Notification of Vehicle Arrival alongside the import declaration. Non-commercial pets qualify for the relief, but they have their own entry rules, with a Pet Travel helpline listed by HMRC. Source
If you do not qualify
Tax and duty owed on belongings must be paid before they can be collected, and customs can seize goods and the vehicle they travelled in if the rules are broken. Source
Exporting a car from the US side
A used vehicle leaving the US needs its title documents presented to CBP at least 72 hours before export, and for sea or air export the vehicle itself must be presented in that window too. Source
What your estimate needs
Your estimate starts from your inventory: the rooms, the larger items and anything that needs special handling, such as a vehicle. Share your list and your move date, and your consultant confirms the details for your route.
FAQ
Moving from the US to the United Kingdom
What does an estimate for a UK move need from me?
A room-by-room inventory. HMRC's own list for the ToR1 form is similar in spirit, so the same walk-through of the home can feed both.
Do I have to itemise every book and plate?
No. HMRC's guidance lets you group items such as books, cutlery and crockery and give approximate numbers, and its sample list counts electronics such as TVs and laptops by type.
Can my shipment arrive in more than one batch?
Yes, relief can apply across several consignments, as long as everything comes in within 12 months of establishing residence.
Can I sell furniture shortly after it arrives?
Goods that received relief cannot be lent, used as security, hired out or transferred within 12 months of the move, so plan what to ship accordingly.
Sources
- HM Revenue and Customs: Transfer of residence to the UK (opens in a new tab)
- HM Revenue and Customs: Application for transfer of residence relief (ToR1) (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: Moving personal belongings to the UK (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Exporting a Motor Vehicle (opens in a new tab)
Last updated November 1, 2026
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