Importing from France to the UK

Q: Do I need an EORI number to import from France to the UK?

Yes. A GB EORI number is mandatory for every commercial import into the United Kingdom, regardless of origin country or shipment value. Registration is free through HMRC and usually completes within a week. Without a valid EORI on the declaration your goods cannot be cleared and will accrue storage and demurrage charges while you apply. Gxpresss can check your EORI status before your first shipment leaves France.

Q: Can I reclaim the import VAT on goods from France?

Import VAT at 20% is reclaimable by VAT-registered UK businesses on their next VAT return, either against the C79 certificate HMRC issues or through postponed VAT accounting, which lets you account for the VAT on the return rather than paying it at the border and improves cash flow. Customs duty is never reclaimable — it is a real cost, which is why correct commodity code classification matters more than most importers expect.

Q: What happens if the commodity code on my declaration is wrong?

An incorrect commodity code means you pay the wrong duty. If you underpay, HMRC can issue a retrospective demand covering up to three years plus interest and penalties. If you overpay, the money is recoverable but only if you spot it and file a claim. Incorrect codes also trigger inspections, which hold cargo at the border and generate storage charges. Gxpresss classifies goods before shipment so the code is settled before it becomes expensive.

Q: Do I need to pay excise duty on wine imported from France?

Yes. UK excise duty applies to wine and spirits imported from France in addition to customs duty and VAT, calculated by alcohol content and volume, and is unaffected by TCA duty preference on the goods themselves.

Q: What is a statement on origin and who issues it?

It is a declaration made by your French supplier, on the invoice or a separate document, confirming the goods meet the TCA rules of origin. It replaces the older EUR1 certificate for most shipments and is what secures 0% duty rather than the full UK Global Tariff.

Q: How long does road freight from France actually take?

1-2 days door to door from most French collection points, using daily groupage or full-trailer services via the Channel Tunnel or Dover-Calais crossings.

Q: Do aerospace components need special import treatment?

Aerospace components generally clear under standard customs procedures, but multi-country component sourcing across the European aerospace supply chain means TCA origin eligibility should be checked per part rather than assumed for the whole assembly.

Q: What happens if my French supplier ships EXW?

You become responsible for the French export declaration, which a UK-established business cannot legally file itself — the supplier or a French agent must file it under indirect representation. Confirm this in writing before the goods are booked, not when the truck is loaded.

Q: Is cheese and cured meat from France easy to import?

It needs a valid export health certificate and is subject to checks at the UK border given its animal-origin status, but is routinely imported once the correct certification is in place.

Why do UK businesses import from France?

France is one of the UK's largest European trading partners, with total UK-France trade worth £56.3 billion in the four quarters to Q4 2025 (ONS). Wine and spirits, aerospace components, machinery and pharmaceuticals dominate, moving daily via the Channel Tunnel and Dover-Calais road freight.

France sits alongside Germany and the Netherlands as one of the UK's largest EU trading partners. Wine and spirits are the most visible category, but aerospace components (reflecting the deep UK-France aerospace supply chain), precision machinery, pharmaceuticals and luxury goods make up a substantial share of the corridor's value.

Since Brexit, importing from France requires full customs declarations and an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) under the UK's Safety and Security regime. Gxpresss provides comprehensive customs clearance for French imports, including preferential origin assessment under the TCA so qualifying goods enter at 0% customs duty. Wine and spirits additionally attract UK excise duty regardless of TCA preference, calculated separately from the customs treatment.

The corridor is dominated by road freight — daily departures from Calais, Lille and Paris via the Channel Tunnel or Dover-Calais give 1-2 day transit for both groupage and full-trailer loads, with sea and air available for bulk or time-critical cargo.

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What are you shipping?

What documents do you need to import from France to the UK?

Six documents clear a French import into the UK: commercial invoice, statement on origin for TCA preference, CMR note or bill of lading, Entry Summary Declaration, excise declaration for wine and spirits, and a health certificate for food and animal products.

Essential documents you will need when importing goods from France into the United Kingdom.

Commercial Invoice

Full goods description, HS code, quantities, values, currency and Incoterms from your French supplier.

Statement on Origin (TCA Preference)

Issued by your French supplier to secure 0% duty on qualifying goods under the TCA rules of origin.

CMR Note / Bill of Lading

A CMR note for road freight, a bill of lading for sea — confirms consignor, consignee and routing.

Entry Summary Declaration (ENS / S&S GB)

Pre-arrival safety and security filing required on UK imports from the EU.

Excise Declaration (Wine, Spirits)

Required for wine, spirits and other alcoholic products, calculated alongside standard customs treatment regardless of TCA preference.

Health Certificate (Food & Animal Products)

Required for cheese, cured meats and other products of animal origin, given the volume of French food and drink imports.

How much duty and VAT do you pay importing from France?

Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, goods that qualify as EU-preferential origin can enter the UK at 0% customs duty, provided the French exporter issues a valid statement on origin. Wine, spirits and other alcoholic products attract UK excise duty on top of customs treatment, regardless of TCA preference. Standard UK VAT at 20% applies to most goods.

Duty relief under the TCA depends on the goods meeting the agreement's rules of origin. Aerospace components sourced from a genuinely European supply chain typically qualify without difficulty; goods assembled from significant non-EU components may not. Wine and spirits carry UK excise duty calculated by alcohol content and volume, separate from and in addition to any customs duty and VAT treatment.

Gxpresss handles all duty calculations and HMRC submissions on your behalf, ensuring you pay the correct amount with no surprises.

Check My Duty Rate UK customs clearance cost guide →

Category	Typical Duty Rate	VAT
Wine & Spirits	0% (TCA qualifying)	20% + UK excise duty
Aerospace Components	0% (TCA qualifying)	20%
Cheese & Dairy	0% (TCA qualifying)	0% (most food zero-rated)
Machinery & Industrial Equipment	0-4% (TCA qualifying often 0%)	20%
Pharmaceutical Products	0%	0% (most medicines)

Rates are indicative and may vary. Contact us for exact calculations.

How long does shipping from France to the UK take?

Road freight from Calais, Lille or Paris reaches the UK in 1-2 days via the Channel Tunnel or Dover-Calais, with daily groupage and full-trailer departures. Sea freight takes 2-3 days for bulk cargo, and air freight under a day for time-critical shipments.

Estimated shipping times depending on your chosen freight method.

1-2 Days

Road Freight (Channel Tunnel / Dover-Calais)

The dominant mode for this corridor. Daily groupage and full-trailer departures from Calais, Lille and Paris give reliable 1-2 day door-to-door transit.

2-3 Days

Sea Freight

Short-sea services from northern French ports suit bulk or oversized cargo where road capacity is a constraint.

<1 Day

Air Freight

Direct flights from Paris and Lyon to UK airports for time-critical pharmaceuticals or high-value aerospace components.

How do you import goods from France to the UK?

Importing from France takes seven steps: confirm TCA origin eligibility, request a statement on origin, file the Entry Summary Declaration, assess excise liability for alcohol, book road, sea or air freight, pay any duty, excise and 20% VAT, then take UK delivery.

How Gxpresss manages your import from France to the UK.

1

Supplier Engagement & Origin Assessment

Confirm product details with your French supplier and establish TCA preferential origin eligibility, particularly for aerospace and machinery with multi-country component sourcing.

2

EORI & Preference Documentation

Ensure your UK EORI number is valid and request a statement on origin from your French exporter to claim TCA preference where eligible.

3

ENS / S&S GB Pre-Arrival Declaration

Gxpresss coordinates the Entry Summary Declaration with the carrier ahead of arrival, avoiding border delays under the UK Safety and Security regime.

4

Excise Assessment

For wine, spirits and other alcoholic products, we calculate UK excise duty alongside the standard customs and VAT treatment.

5

Arrange Freight

We offer road groupage, FTL, sea and air freight from all major French regions, matched to your shipment size and urgency.

6

Customs Declaration & Duty Payment

We submit the import declaration via CDS, claim TCA preference where eligible, and arrange duty and VAT payment or deferment.

7

UK Delivery

Cleared goods are delivered to your UK premises via our nationwide haulage network, with full tracking from collection to door.

What does it cost to import from France to the UK?

Landed cost from France is driven by freight, origin evidence, excise (for alcohol) and 20% import VAT. Full truckloads run roughly £1,700-£3,000 and groupage £60-£130 per pallet. With a valid statement on origin, duty is 0% on qualifying goods.

Factors that affect the total cost of importing from France to the UK.

Road Freight

Full truckload rates run roughly £1,700-£3,000 depending on route and season. Groupage is priced per pallet, typically £60-£130 per pallet.

Customs Duty

With a valid TCA statement on origin, duty is 0% on qualifying goods. Goods failing origin rules pay the full UK Global Tariff.

VAT (20%)

Standard UK VAT of 20% applies to most goods; most pharmaceutical products are zero-rated. VAT-registered importers reclaim import VAT.

Excise Duties

Wine and spirits carry UK excise duty on top of customs treatment, calculated by alcohol content and volume regardless of TCA preference.

Customs Brokerage

Gxpresss clearance fees cover full declaration processing, TCA origin verification, and duty and VAT calculation.

Sea and Air Alternatives

Sea freight suits bulk or oversized cargo; air freight is reserved for time-critical pharmaceuticals or high-value aerospace parts where the premium is justified.

Which Incoterm should you use with French suppliers?

French manufacturers commonly quote EXW or DAP. Since Brexit that decides who files the French export declaration.

EXW (Ex Works)

You collect from the supplier's premises and carry every cost and risk from that point, including the French export declaration. Because a UK business is not established in the EU, the declaration must be filed by the supplier or a French agent under indirect representation — agree this before ordering, not when the truck arrives.

DAP (Delivered at Place)

The supplier clears the goods for export and delivers to your UK address; you handle the UK import declaration, duty and VAT. This keeps the TCA statement on origin and commodity code classification under your control, which matters on aerospace and machinery with multi-country component sourcing.

If your French supplier insists on EXW, confirm in writing who files the French export declaration before you place the order. Gxpresss arranges the French-side export entry and UK import clearance on one booking.

What is the total landed cost of a shipment from France?

A real shipment structure — EU-origin machinery components, full truckload, northern France to London, claiming TCA preference.

Goods value (FCA Lille)	£17,500
Road freight (FTL, northern France–London)	£1,650
Insurance (0.3%)	£58
Customs value (CIF)	£19,208
Duty @ 0% (TCA preference, statement on origin held)	£0
Import VAT @ 20% on CIF value	£3,841.60
Customs brokerage fee	£55
Total landed cost	£23,104.60

VAT is reclaimable for VAT-registered UK businesses on their next return — duty is not. Without a valid statement on origin, duty at the standard machinery rate would add several hundred pounds more on the same shipment. Figures are illustrative; exact duty depends on the correct commodity code for your specific product.

What can't you import from France to the UK?

Check these before you place an order — clearance will stop, or goods will be seized, if they apply.

Wine and spirits without correct excise declarations.
Cheese, cured meats and other products of animal origin without a valid health certificate.
Cultural goods and antiques needing an export licence on the French side.
Non-EU-origin goods routed through France without correct origin declaration.
Wood packaging and pallets that are not ISPM15 heat-treated and marked.

Unsure if your product falls into a restricted category? Get a free pre-shipment compliance check before you commit funds with your supplier.

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Importing from France — FAQ

Common questions about importing goods from France to the UK.