Moving from Romania to the UK after Brexit: Customs, Regulations & Costs

Moving from Romania to UK destinations now involves more than booking a removal truck. Since Brexit, household goods entering Great Britain from Romania require customs formalities, even when everything is used and belongs to you. Getting the paperwork right can prevent unexpected taxes, storage charges and delivery delays.

Whether you are leaving a Bucharest apartment, returning to Britain after an assignment or coordinating an employee relocation, the strongest plan connects customs approval, collection access and destination readiness. This guide explains the main rules, realistic budgeting considerations and practical steps for a Romania–UK household move.

Scope: The customs and pet guidance below primarily concerns England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has different arrangements, so request route-specific advice. Prices are indicative planning ranges, not fixed tariffs; confirm current requirements with the relevant authorities before dispatch.

Moving from Romania to the UK: what changed after Brexit?

A Romania-to-Great Britain removal crosses an external EU customs border. Your mover or customs representative must coordinate the Romanian export process, any transit procedure and the British import declaration. A detailed inventory supports this process, but does not replace the declarations.

Immigration and household customs are separate

Permission to import furniture does not give you permission to live or work in the UK. Romanian citizens and other nationals must check their individual immigration position, including any valid EU Settlement Scheme status or appropriate visa. Visitor permission is not a substitute for work or residence permission.

For corporate moves, HR should confirm immigration clearance and the assignment start date before committing to collection. Separately, the employee should establish whether their belongings qualify for Transfer of Residence relief.

Customs relief for personal belongings: understanding ToR

The UK’s Transfer of Residence relief, commonly called ToR, can remove import duty and import VAT from qualifying personal property when you transfer your normal residence to the UK. Relief is not automatic simply because the goods are second-hand.

Main eligibility conditions

For a typical move to Great Britain, the standard conditions generally include:

• You have normally lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months before moving.
• You have possessed and used the belongings for at least six months before the move.
• You will continue using them for substantially the same purpose in your new home.
• You import them within 12 months of establishing your residence in the UK.
• You do not lend, hire out, transfer or dispose of relieved goods during the first 12 months after import without notifying HMRC and addressing any tax due.

Exceptions and special circumstances exist, including certain student, marriage and inheritance situations. New purchases, company-owned equipment and goods for commercial use need separate assessment. Alcohol and tobacco do not qualify under ordinary ToR relief.

Apply before your shipment leaves

Use the official HMRC ToR1 application guidance. Apply well before collection and allow time for requests for additional evidence. Where approved, pass your unique reference number to the customs representative before import clearance.

ToR approval does not replace the import declaration or prevent inspection. If goods arrive without the correct relief arrangements, tax, handling or storage costs may arise. Do not assume retrospective relief or repayment will be straightforward.

Documents and shipment checklist

Have the mover or broker confirm the final document list for your circumstances and route. A typical file includes:

1. Identity: passport copy and contact details, plus immigration evidence where relevant.
2. Residence evidence: Romanian tenancy agreements, utility bills or employment records covering your period abroad.
3. UK move evidence: tenancy or purchase documents, employment information and your planned arrival date.
4. Shipment inventory: numbered packages with understandable English descriptions, quantities and values where requested.
5. ToR approval: the HMRC reference and details of any goods excluded from relief.
6. Customs authorisation: the representative’s mandate and any Romanian export documentation or identifiers required for the procedure.
7. Transport and insurance records: collection instructions, delivery address, consignment documentation and declared-value schedule.

Descriptions such as “Box 18: used kitchen crockery” are more useful than “miscellaneous.” Keep customs values and insurance replacement values clearly distinguished. Photograph valuable items and record serial numbers for electronics. Retain access to all documents while travelling.

Restricted items and vehicles

Ask before packing food, plants, medicines, alcohol, tobacco, weapons or goods containing protected wildlife materials. Used household status does not override product-specific restrictions. Movers also commonly exclude fuel, gas cylinders, aerosols and certain batteries from standard loads.

A car requires a separate plan covering customs relief eligibility, HMRC’s vehicle notification requirements, registration, technical compliance and insurance. Do not assume a household-goods quote includes vehicle import services.

How much does moving from Romania to UK cost?

Volume, route, access, packing level and delivery flexibility drive the price. Weight can also limit a vehicle’s usable capacity. The following are indicative EUR planning ranges for mainland Romania to England under ordinary access conditions, with standard loading, transport and unloading. Full export packing, customs services, insurance, taxes and exceptional access may be additional; confirm the written scope and VAT treatment.

Shipment type	Approximate volume	Indicative transport/removal budget	Typical trade-off
Small shared-load shipment	3–5 m³	€900–€1,700	Lower cost, flexible delivery window
Studio or light one-bedroom move	8–12 m³	€1,700–€3,000	Often suitable for groupage
Two-bedroom household	18–25 m³	€3,000–€5,200	Compare shared and exclusive services
Larger family household	30–45 m³	€4,800–€8,000+	Access and packing strongly affect cost

Scotland, remote destinations, peak-season dates and restricted delivery windows can cost more. A dedicated vehicle usually offers better scheduling control, but compare actual vehicle capacity and payload rather than relying on the label “van move.”

Additional costs to budget for

• Professional packing in Romania: approximately RON 1,000–3,500 for a modest apartment, depending on contents, materials and fragile items.
• Stairs, long carries or shuttle access: approximately RON 300–1,500+ per Romanian collection, subject to crew time and equipment.
• Customs representation: allow roughly €150–€450 for a straightforward shipment across the relevant clearance services; confirm whether both ends are included.
• Storage: approximately €8–€18 per m³ per month, with minimum charges, handling and redelivery potentially extra.
• Shipment insurance: where offered, comprehensive cover may cost around 1–3% of declared replacement value, depending on terms.

These are not government tariffs or eerelo.com quotations. Customs examinations, tax on non-qualifying goods and border-related storage are separate risks. Ask whether owner-packed cartons, pairs and sets, and electrical or mechanical faults are covered by the proposed policy.

Bucharest collection logistics: details that change the quote

Stairs, lifts and building access

A fourth-floor apartment in an older block without a lift needs a different crew plan from a ground-floor house. Even where a lift exists, measure its door opening and cabin: a sofa or wardrobe panel may still need to use the stairs.

In central areas such as Cotroceni or streets around Piața Romană, narrow access and occupied kerbs can prevent a large truck stopping nearby. In newer developments in Pipera, confirm gate clearance, loading rules and permitted working hours with building management.

Parking and timing

Do not assume public parking can be reserved informally. Ask the relevant parking operator or local authority about permissions where required, and agree access to private loading areas in writing. Heavy-vehicle restrictions may affect the collection vehicle and route.

Avoid planning a tightly timed departure around Bucharest’s weekday commuter peaks, especially on routes through DN1, Pipera and major central junctions. Provide photographs of the entrance, stairs, lift and street. Confirm who pays if a smaller shuttle vehicle is needed.

Packing household goods for an international journey

International loads may be handled more than once, particularly with shared transport or storage. Export packing should protect against vibration, stacking pressure and abrasion, not merely keep drawers closed.

• Books: small, five-ply double-wall cartons; keep each manageable, generally around 15–20 kg or less.
• Kitchenware: five-ply double-wall cartons with individually wrapped pieces, dividers and cushioning above and below.
• Heavy or delicate contents: selected seven-ply triple-wall cartons or custom crates where appropriate; board strength matters as well as ply count.
• Furniture: clean protective wrapping, corner guards and purpose-made export protection; avoid adhesive directly on finished surfaces.
• Clothing and bedding: wardrobe cartons for hanging garments and larger cartons for lightweight textiles.

As an initial estimate, allow 10–18 cartons for a kitchen, 8–15 per bedroom and 8–15 for a living room. A two-bedroom apartment might require 40–70 cartons overall, excluding wardrobes and oversized pieces. Books, collections and home offices can increase this substantially.

Label each carton with its inventory number and destination room. Put dismantled-furniture fittings in labelled bags secured to the corresponding item. Carry passports, medication, jewellery and essential work devices yourself.

Transit times and relocation scheduling

A dedicated road shipment may take approximately 4–7 days from collection to delivery when paperwork and access are ready. Groupage commonly requires around 1–3 weeks, sometimes longer. These are planning estimates: consolidation, driver-hours rules, customs checks and ferry or tunnel disruption can change the schedule.

A practical moving timeline

• Six to eight weeks before: confirm immigration, arrange a survey, assess ToR eligibility and decide what to ship.
• Four to six weeks before: submit customs-relief paperwork, book transport and organise pet travel.
• Two weeks before: finalise inventory, access permissions, packing and destination contacts.
• Moving week: photograph condition, record meter readings and keep an essentials bag outside the shipment.
• Before delivery: confirm customs release, key handover and parking arrangements.

Pet relocation from Romania to Great Britain

Dogs, cats and ferrets need a compliant microchip, valid rabies vaccination and an accepted travel document. A valid EU-issued pet passport can be used for entry from Romania when the applicable conditions are met. After a primary rabies vaccination, a waiting period of at least 21 days normally applies.

Dogs travelling from Romania generally need veterinary tapeworm treatment recorded 24–120 hours before entering Great Britain. Use an approved route and check the carrier’s arrangements. The owner normally needs to travel within five days of the pet for non-commercial movement rules to apply; otherwise, different requirements may apply.

Check official pet-entry guidance, including breed restrictions. Pets must not travel inside a furniture load. Specialist accompanied road transport may cost approximately €700–€1,800+ per pet, depending on route and service, plus veterinary charges.

Coordinating corporate moves and return assignments to Romania

For HR teams, immigration, tax advice, household shipping and destination support should have separate owners and budgets. Keep essential laptops and assignment documents available during transit, and assess company-owned equipment separately from the employee’s personal effects.

The same approach helps with onward or return assignments. Germany–Romania and Netherlands–Romania moves generally avoid import customs formalities for Union goods, although restricted items remain regulated. UK–Romania and US–Romania shipments require EU import planning and assessment of any residence-transfer relief; sea freight from the US also adds port and handling stages.

Housing, schools and settling in Bucharest

For a returning household or replacement employee arriving in Romania, book temporary housing before the shipment arrives. A furnished Bucharest one-bedroom apartment might cost approximately €800–€1,500 monthly on a short stay, depending on location, season and inclusions.

Aviatorilor and Dorobanți appeal to households seeking northern-city access; Tineretului offers parks and metro connections; Pipera can suit some international-school commutes but requires careful traffic planning. Confirm school availability before signing a long lease. Settling-in support should cover utility handovers, meter readings, internet installation, building charges and any required residence formalities.

Frequently asked questions

Will I pay UK import tax on used furniture?

Not necessarily. Qualifying goods may receive ToR relief, but being used is not enough on its own. Without relief, applicable import VAT and any duty depend on the goods and their customs treatment.

Can I send belongings before I arrive?

Potentially, but advance imports have conditions. Ask HMRC and your broker to confirm the arrangement before dispatch, particularly if you have not yet established UK residence.

Can I pack my own boxes?

Usually, subject to the mover’s rules. You still need a clear inventory, and insurance may limit cover for damage inside owner-packed cartons. Professional packing is preferable for fragile and high-value items.

Request your free international relocation survey

Plan your Romania–UK move around your actual volume, access and customs position—not a generic price per kilometre. Request a free international relocation survey at eerelo.com to discuss packing, transport, customs coordination and destination support. Share your addresses, preferred dates, floor levels, lift details and an initial inventory so the proposed service reflects your household or corporate assignment.