For most international moves, customs clearance happens in the background — documentation is prepared, submitted, and approved without the person moving being involved. For some moves, a shipment is held: temporarily detained by customs authorities pending inspection, additional documentation, or clarification. Understanding why holds happen, how long they typically last, and what you can do about them is useful knowledge before the van leaves, not after.
Why Customs Authorities Hold Shipments
Documentation errors
The inventory does not match the declared contents. Descriptions are too vague for customs officers to process — “household goods” is not a category that clears customs efficiently in most EU countries. Declared values are missing or inconsistent. Required documents, such as a Transfer of Residence Relief application or proof of change of residence, have not been submitted correctly or at all.
Random inspection
Customs authorities in all countries conduct random checks on incoming shipments. A hold triggered by random inspection is not necessarily the result of an error by the mover or the removal company. It is a routine check. Most random inspections of household goods are completed within 24–72 hours.
Flagged items
Certain categories attract additional scrutiny. Electronics with high declared values, certain food products, alcohol above specific quantities, plants and soil, items listed as restricted in the destination country. If any of these are in your consignment and have not been flagged in advance, they can trigger a hold.
How Long Does a Hold Last?
Random inspection without findings: typically 24–72 hours. Documentation correction — if something is missing or incorrect in the paperwork — depends on how quickly the missing information can be provided. If the issue is a restricted item that requires a permit that does not exist, resolution takes significantly longer and may involve rejecting or returning that item.
For household goods moves with correct documentation and no unusual items in the consignment, holds that do occur are usually resolved within a few days. The experience of the removal company on the specific route matters — a company with regular departures on a route has an established relationship with the customs process at that border.
What Happens to Your Belongings During a Hold
The goods remain at the customs facility and cannot be accessed by the mover during the hold. Storage charges at customs facilities are typically the mover’s responsibility and are charged from the point of arrival. Your transit insurance may or may not cover storage costs incurred during a hold — check the policy before you move, not during a hold.
What You Can Do When a Hold Occurs
If your removal company handles customs in-house
A company with an in-house customs team can respond directly to the customs authority — no intermediary, no communication delay. Questions from a customs officer can be answered the same day. Additional documentation can be filed promptly. Holds that might take a week through an agent chain often resolve in 24–48 hours when the customs team is part of the removal company.
If your removal company uses a third-party customs agent
Communication goes through an additional layer. You may be asked to provide documents directly to the agent. Response times to customs authorities depend on the agent’s availability and workload. This does not make a hold unresolvable — it does make resolution slower. When getting quotes from removal companies, ask directly: is customs handled in-house or through an agent?
How to Prevent a Hold
Write a specific inventory
“Household goods” is not sufficient. Every item on the customs inventory needs a description specific enough for a customs officer to identify it. “Used Samsung 65-inch OLED television, model QN65S95D, declared value £1,400” is correct. “TV” is not. The same applies to furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchenware, and anything else of significant value.
Declare items accurately
Undeclared or incorrectly valued electronics, jewellery, art, and wine collections are among the most common causes of avoidable holds. Customs authorities in many EU countries have access to retail pricing databases — a monitor declared at £100 that retails for £600 will be queried. Accurate declared values are not just a compliance requirement; they are also what your insurance is based on.
Check the prohibited and restricted items list for your destination
Certain items cannot be imported into certain countries. Aerosols, specific food products, plants, some medications, certain materials. A list of prohibited items should be reviewed before packing begins. Your removal company should provide guidance specific to the destination country — JCL provides a prohibited items guide as part of pre-move documentation on every route.
Submit Transfer of Residence documentation on time
ToR Relief applications need to be submitted correctly and, in most countries, before or alongside the goods arriving at the destination. Submitting them after the shipment arrives is possible but creates avoidable complications. Your removal company should manage this timeline — confirm that they do before booking.
Putting It in Context
Most holds for household goods are minor and resolved within a few days. The significant holds — the ones that cause real disruption — almost always trace back to documentation that was incomplete or incorrect from the start. Accurate paperwork prepared by an experienced customs team is the most effective prevention available. It is also the question worth asking when comparing removal companies: not just “do you handle customs?” but “does your own team handle customs, on this specific route, regularly?”
FAQ
How long does a customs hold last for household goods?
Random inspections typically resolve within 24–72 hours. Holds caused by documentation errors depend on how quickly missing information can be provided. Holds involving restricted items take longer. Most holds for household goods with correct documentation resolve within a few days.
Who pays for storage during a customs hold?
Storage at the customs facility is typically the mover’s responsibility and is charged from the point of arrival. Whether transit insurance covers this depends on the specific policy — check before you move.
Does working with an in-house customs team make a difference?
Yes, practically. When a removal company manages customs in-house, they can respond directly to customs authority queries on the same day. Through a third-party agent, communication takes longer. Ask any removal company you are considering: is customs handled in-house or through an agent?
What is the most common cause of an avoidable customs hold?
Vague inventory descriptions. ‘Household goods’ or ‘electronics’ without further detail is insufficient for efficient customs clearance. Specific descriptions with declared values are required.
