So we are getting closer to 2022, as I write this it is a few days away , so starting on the 1st January the UK government is applying at import to the UK full customs controls 
But what does that mean for me ?
Firstly it does not mean that moving to Spain is impossible or returning to the UK from Spain is impossible 
But what it does mean is: 
Full customs controls means there now is a possibility of any vehicle entering the UK with goods on board been sent to an Inland border facility (IBF) where the vehicle can have enhanced and more detailed customs checks and controls applied 
This means that the inventory must be correct , for example , if your load is Tors approved (Transfer of Residency that the items on the vehicle must be the same as declared when you submitted the Tors application )
This is also true of any import to the UK the inventory of goods declared must be the same as what the vehicle is carrying 

And a quick note if for example your one of our customers and the inventory we load is different to what you have already sent the office ?
Well if your Tors approved to the UK We can only load the approved inventory 

None Tors the van team will update the inventory and advise the office who will adjust it , and submit an updated inventory to the relevant customs brokers (please note thou if this is the case addition charges will apply for the extra items/volume ) (if moving to Spain Tors doesn't apply it is a UK systems thou the inventory needs to be accurate, but if not additional charges will apply if more than the volume quoted was loaded )

There are a few other aspects to the full customs controls and related systems that I could go into but they are not something our customers will need to worry about as they will just be added to the list of the customs process we cover as part of dealing with the customs clearance processes for our customers 
An example of this been the Goods Vehicle movement system (GVMS) ​

Please be advised that the systems from the UK to the EU so for example Spain have not changed as the EU applied Full customs controls during 2021 

When any item/goods/belongings leave one country to go to another they are officially exported from the country they are leaving and imported into the new country 

so while officially that means that goods leaving Spain for say France are exported from Spain and imported to Spain but as both countries are in the same customs territories in this case it matters not (in this case the customs territory been the European union)

So when goods leave one country they are Exported and imported when they reach a new country they are imported 

And if the two countries are in different customs territories (like the Uk is to Spain) then there will be a customs processes and b possible customs charges 

So we are into the 6th Month of 2021 here are a few of our stats for the year 

• 14 crossing of the channel with DFDS Seaways via Dieppe- Newhaven 
• 14 boarder crossings each  between Spain and France and France and the UK 28 in all 
• 23 loads on our Spain -UK- Spain route over 7 successful trips 
• which equals 46 customs process completed (each load gets 2 as there is 1 import 1 export operation)

So as you may well be aware all loads that enter or leave Spain for the UK must go though a Customs facility
which 1 can cause delays of course as we have to wait there for Clearance before re hitting the load 
But 2 please be advised that at the current time this places are in Spain not 24/7 and shut around 6pm 
And are in only  a few places open Saturday but that is for limited hours 
As a result this effects our schedule as we have to ensure we don't cross the Spanish boarder on the weekends (or if we do we will have to sit waiting until Monday morning ) 
Which of course means .We have to ensure the schedule reflects this 

*So another thing to note is that each time a load (in your case your items /belongs ) cross the boarder (as in Imported to Spain) they need customs clearance which of course means if you send say 3 loads they need each a set of clearance and each time there is fees to the customs brokers , so for example if you send a 2nd load with us the customs broker fees need paying again they are not a one of sum/figure but each time 

So how does the customs process relating to my house move to Europe from the UK work?

So despite what you may have seen on the news and on facebook and the likes since Brexit, yes there has been a drop in volumes though the ports but that doesn't mean moving to Europe is not possible here at ERS Removal services Ltd (European relocation services ) have managed 2 fully successful runs 

So I thought I would discuss with you the customs process involved for your move to the likes of Spain
  
A few common questions 

So is there more paperwork involved in the customs process now than before Brexit ? yes there is as prior to Brexit there was no customs process per say where as there is now, in regards to the additional customs paperwork required we as your movers will sort the extra paperwork out. 
Will we need more information from you ? Yes we will and I can advise you what extra is needed when discussing your move with you prior to booking stages 
Will you need a more detailed inventory ?  Yes we will (more advice can be found here by clicking the link )but feel free to ask questions 
www.europeanrelocationservices.co.uk/ourblog/updated-infomation-on-inventorys-re-brexit-2021

What is the customs process ?
(UK to Spain) 
A you book your move with us 
B you send the requested documents and inventory 
C we send said documents to our customs agents in Spain and the UK 
D We then advise the UK agent (export ) when loaded that the van is loaded and they finalise the customs documents 
E We present the van to the UK boarder force /HMRC at the port to complete the paperwork side for the UK
F The van checks in with the ferry 
G the van ships on the ferry to Europe 
H the van disembarks the ferry and stops at French passport control 
I the van transit France heading towards the Spanish boarder 
J the van presents to the Spanish customs station (at this stage our Spanish agents check the paperwork and send it to the Spanish government (so it is not until now we will know if any Iva and the likes will be generated for sure)
k at this stage the Spanish customs may request to inspect the van 
L the van gets the discharge papers (discharging the T1 form that is used to transit France ) and we receive the Iva bill (if applicable ) and we pay it as received (if there is no Iva Bill or in rare cases a Tariff bill the holding fee we hold for you will be refunded)
M the van transit though Spain to your delivery 

Spain to UK 
Is as above expect we also have to present outbound to a customs clearance station to be cleared for the load to leave Spain where as in the UK it is usual done remotely 

So the above is just a summary some stages are more involved than others but you don't need to worry as we win handle the customs processes as part of the move 

*And of course until either Covid ends or France change entry requirements for Freight drivers the team/crew on the van will have a PCR after loaded and before heading to the port