Working remotely has changed what an international move involves. Where a household once moved with furniture, kitchen equipment, and personal items, many moves now include a full professional workspace: monitors, docking stations, ergonomic chairs, standing desks, and specialist peripherals accumulated over years of remote work. A home office setup worth several thousand pounds deserves specific planning — for packing, for customs, and for insurance.
What Counts as Home Office Equipment in a Removal Context
For customs purposes, everything in a removal has a declared value. Electronics — monitors, peripherals, specialist chairs — are not exempt. They need to be listed on the inventory with specific descriptions and approximate values. This matters because customs authorities use the inventory to process your Transfer of Residence Relief application. Vague descriptions like “home office equipment” or “electronics” are insufficient for customs clearance in most EU countries.
A correct customs entry for a monitor looks like: “Used Dell UltraSharp 27-inch 4K monitor, model U2723D, purchased 2022, declared value £450.” This level of specificity is also what your insurance company will require if you make a claim.
What to Take in Hand Luggage vs What Goes in the Van
tems to hand-carry
Your laptop should travel with you. The same applies to external hard drives containing important data, original software licences if physical, and documents you need in the first few days. These are items where loss would be irreplaceable, and their size makes them easy to hand-carry.
What ships well
Monitors, desk accessories, peripherals, ergonomic chairs, and sit-stand desk frames all ship well with a removal company. These items are bulky, relatively durable when packed correctly, and awkward to bring on a flight.
Packing Standards for Screens and Electronics
Monitors are fragile and expensive to replace. If you have original manufacturer packaging, use it — it is designed to protect the screen during transport. Without original boxes, a removal company should use foam corner protection, anti-static wrapping for screens, and double-walled outer boxes.
Monitors should be transported vertically or in the orientation specified by the manufacturer, not flat under other boxes. Peripherals and small electronics should be wrapped individually. Cables bundled separately, clearly labelled.
Customs and Your Home Office Equipment
Every item on the customs inventory needs a description specific enough for a customs officer to identify and value it. “Electronics” is not a category — it is a description so vague that it creates problems at import. Use make, model, approximate year of purchase, and declared value for every significant item.
Transfer of Residence Relief covers personal and household goods imported when establishing permanent residence in an EU country. Professional equipment you own and have been using qualifies, provided it has been in your possession for at least six months before the move. Keep records of purchase if you can, but the inventory itself is the primary document.
Voltage and Compatibility
Moving within Europe: UK mains voltage is nominally 230V, 50Hz — the same as EU standard. UK plugs are physically different from EU plugs, but the voltage is identical. Most UK electronics will work with an adaptor and no converter is required. Check the device specification panel: if it reads “100-240V,” it works anywhere in the world.
Moving to the United States: US voltage is 120V. A plug adaptor alone is not sufficient for devices that are not multi-voltage. Most modern laptops and phone chargers handle 100-240V and work with adaptors. Older items with motors or heating elements — blenders, certain appliances — are often single-voltage and will fail or perform poorly without a step-up converter. Check every high-value item before packing, not on arrival.
Insurance for Professional Equipment in Transit
Standard home contents insurance does not cover goods during international transit. This assumption leads to uncovered claims more often than any other insurance misunderstanding in international removals.
Removal companies offer transit insurance. Understand what is covered before collection day. High-value items — a specialist monitor, a high-end ergonomic chair, a professional audio interface — may need to be specifically listed on the policy rather than covered under a general household goods limit. Ask your removal company what the single-item limit is on their standard transit cover and whether professional equipment needs to be declared separately.
A Practical Checklist Before Collection Day
Back up all data from computers and drives before packing. Photograph your monitor setup, desk configuration, and specialist equipment from multiple angles — this gives you a visual record alongside the written inventory. Export software licence keys and store them somewhere accessible independent of the physical hardware. Remove personal data from any devices you are not taking with you.
Confirm with your removal company that they know screens and electronics are in the consignment. This affects how the van is loaded and whether additional packing materials are required
FAQ
Does my home insurance cover office equipment during an international move?
Standard home contents insurance does not cover goods during international transit. You need transit insurance provided by the removal company, and high-value items may need to be scheduled separately on that policy.
Do I need to declare monitors and computers at customs?
Yes. Every electronic item needs to appear on the customs inventory with a specific description and declared value. Vague entries like ‘electronics’ are insufficient for customs clearance.
What voltage do UK monitors use — will they work in Europe?
UK and EU mains voltage is both 230V. UK electronics work in EU countries with a plug adaptor, no voltage converter required. For moves to the United States (120V), check whether each device is multi-voltage before packing.
Should I pack my monitors myself or leave them for the removal company?
If you do not have original manufacturer packaging, it is generally better to have the removal company pack monitors using foam-insert boxes and anti-static protection. Improper packing is the most common cause of screen damage in transit.
JCL Transport Group handles moves from Spain to the UK with in-house customs clearance on both sides. We manage Spanish export documentation, UK import clearance, and HMRC Transfer of Residence applications as part of the service. Get in touch for a fixed quote – we’ll walk you through the process before anything is committed.
If you’re planning a family move from the UK to Europe and want to talk through the logistics – timelines, packing, pet transport, customs – get in touch. We’ve moved a lot of families, with a lot of dogs, and we’re happy to help you think it through before you commit to anything.
JCL Transport Group offers door-to-door international removals from the UK to Europe. We handle customs clearance in-house and work with families relocating to Spain, France, Poland, the Netherlands and beyond.
