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Since the UK left the EU customs union, every shipment travelling to Italy is treated as a formal import – your belongings need to clear Italian customs before they reach your new home, just like any other international shipment. The reassuring part is that Italy, like most EU countries, offers genuine relief from import duty and VAT for people who are properly relocating their household, under the Transfer of Residence Scheme (ToR). Getting the documentation right from the start is what makes the difference.
ToR relief depends on specific forms being completed correctly and on time – get this wrong, and clearance stalls. Your move manager prepares this paperwork with you from the first conversation, confirms your eligibility before anything is packed, and stays your one continuous point of contact through to delivery, working with an in-country partner in Italy who manages clearance on the ground.
Under Transfer of Residence relief, genuinely used household goods and personal belongings import into Italy free of duty and VAT, provided:
New items purchased specifically for the move do not qualify and are treated as a standard import instead. Customs clearance itself typically adds 1–3 business days to your delivery timeline once your shipment reaches Italy. Your move manager will confirm a specific cost range for your shipment once they understand your volume and ToR eligibility – get in touch for a personalised quote.
The most common reason ToR relief is refused isn’t the rule itself – it’s paperwork submitted late or incorrectly, or the wrong items mixed into a relief-eligible shipment. Your move manager checks your documentation and timing against Italian customs’ requirements before your shipment leaves the UK, not after it’s already stuck in clearance.
Generally permitted, under Transfer of Residence relief: used household goods, furniture, clothing, and personal electronics owned for 6+ months, declared as being for personal use rather than sale, listed on a detailed inventory.
Outside the relief: new items bought specifically for the move, and anything intended for resale – both face standard import treatment rather than ToR relief.
Documentation required: a detailed inventory, proof you’re transferring your primary residence, and identification confirming your UK-to-Italy move.
Gerson Moving Services holds British Association of Removers (BAR) membership with the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee, International Association of Movers (IAM) accreditation, Planet Mark sustainability certification, and is part of the AGM Group of companies. Disputes are handled through the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman (FHIO).
When moving with us, you have a comprehensive choice of services that ensure removals to Italy are secure, safe and efficient.
Experts in packing and wrapping, we use only premium materials to ensure all of your belongings stay in great condition throughout the journey. Everything you want to take will have extra care and attention from us, so you won’t need to worry about any mishaps during the long trip to Italy.
If you have bulky furniture to take with you, leave it to us to ensure it arrives safely. We can handle everything from large tables to wardrobes, beds and sofas, ready for use when you move in. If required, we can also disassemble furniture where this is possible for easier transit.
Have valuable or fragile items that need extra protection? Take advantage of our specialist packing services for these items that go above and beyond to protect them during their onward journey. Everything from antiques to your priceless sentimental possessions will be securely wrapped.
Get from A to B with minimal effort with door-to-door delivery during international removals to Italy. Wherever in the country you’re moving to, we can provide onward transit after shipping to ensure you’ve got all your items ready to unpack in your new home.
Make the complicated aspect of customs and immigration as simple as possible with our help. We’ve assisted many individuals and families filling in confusing or time-consuming documentation for Italy, so we’ll ensure nothing important is missed.
We offer temporary storage if you need this both in the UK and once you’ve arrived in Italy. Both short and long-term options are available if you need them, so that you won’t have to rush if you need more time before the move or after arrival.
We offer a simple 4 step process for all international removals to Italy that makes it simple for you:
Get A Move
Quote
Packing &
Collection
Sea, Air or Road
Transport
Delivery and
Unpacking
Get in touch for a personalised quote. Your move manager will confirm your Transfer of Residence eligibility first, since that’s what determines whether your move qualifies for duty-free treatment.
Real feedback from people who chose our international moving company.
“Relocating from Manchester to Milan with two young children was our biggest worry. Gerson handled the packing, the paperwork, the lot. We were settled inside a fortnight.”
“Our whole house travelled down to Rome and not one thing went missing. The inventory was spot on, and the crew unpacked the kitchen before they left.”
“Italian customs sounded terrifying, but Gerson dealt with it all and kept us posted weekly. Everything reached our house near Florence on the day they promised.”
If you qualify for Transfer of Residence relief, no. You need to have owned and used the goods for at least 6 months and be genuinely transferring your primary residence from the UK to Italy, taking up residence within 12 months of your shipment’s arrival.
No, not under Transfer of Residence relief. New purchases made specifically for the move don’t qualify and are treated as a standard import instead.
Typically 1–3 business days once your shipment arrives, provided your ToR paperwork is complete and correct.
Paperwork submitted late or incorrectly, or non-qualifying items (like new purchases) mixed into the same shipment as relief-eligible goods.
Yes. Your dedicated move manager is your primary contact from the initial survey through to delivery in Italy, working alongside a local partner for customs clearance and final delivery.
