Moving from Paris to Delhi (2026): Costs, Visas & Complete Guide

Moving from Paris to Delhi (2026): Costs, Visas & Complete Guide

Relocating from Paris to Delhi takes you from one historic capital to one of the world’s largest capital regions – and into one of Asia’s more document-heavy customs systems. Delhi’s National Capital Region (NCR), which includes the corporate hubs of Gurgaon (Gurugram) and Noida, is landlocked, so household goods sail to a west-coast Indian port and then travel inland by rail or road, or fly in for smaller, faster shipments. This guide covers the route, the real cost drivers, India’s Transfer of Residence customs relief, life in Delhi NCR, and the visa, tax, healthcare, driving and pet rules that shape your first year.

Key takeaways

• Household goods from France usually ship by sea from Le Havre or Marseille-Fos to Nhava Sheva (JNPT, near Mumbai) or Mundra in Gujarat, then move inland to a Delhi Inland Container Depot; air freight suits smaller, urgent loads.
• India’s Transfer of Residence relief (Baggage Rules, 2016) lets qualifying movers clear used household goods largely duty-free after roughly two years abroad – but a defined list of appliances attracts a concessional duty rate.
• Most professionals enter on an Employment Visa (sponsored, with a salary threshold of about US$25,000/year) or use an OCI card if of Indian origin; long stays require FRRO registration within 14 days.
• Pets travel under the AQCS regime with an advance No Objection Certificate, microchip, rabies vaccination and health certificate; up to two pets qualify under Transfer of Residence.
• Budget realistically for door-to-door sea freight taking roughly 8–14 weeks, and plan around Delhi’s seasonal air quality.

1. The route: how your belongings travel from Paris to Delhi

Delhi sits about 1,000 km inland from India’s coast, so there is no direct sea leg to the capital. A full-container or shared-container shipment from France typically loads at Le Havre on the Channel coast or Marseille-Fos on the Mediterranean and sails to Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port, JNPT) near Mumbai or to Mundra in Gujarat. From there your container moves inland, usually by rail and sometimes by road, to an Inland Container Depot (ICD) serving Delhi NCR, such as Tughlakabad, Patparganj or Dadri, where customs clearance takes place before final delivery.

Sea freight is the standard choice for a full household because it carries volume economically, but it is slow: allow roughly 8–14 weeks door-to-door once you factor in collection, sailing, the inland leg and clearance. Air freight is far quicker – often a couple of weeks door-to-door via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) – and is worth it for a small, high-priority consignment. Most movers combine the two: sea for the bulk, and a small air shipment for what they need immediately on arrival.

2. What it costs: the general drivers

International moving quotes vary widely, so it helps to understand what pushes the price up or down rather than fixate on a single number. The main cost drivers for a Paris–Delhi move are:

• Volume and weight. The biggest lever. Sea freight is priced by the cubic metre (or by the container for a full load), so decluttering before you pack pays back directly.
• Sole-use vs shared container. A dedicated 20ft or 40ft container is faster and more private; a shared (groupage) container is cheaper but slower, as it waits for consolidation.
• Sea vs air. Air is typically several times the cost of sea per unit of volume, justified only by speed or fragility.
• Access and services. Parisian apartments with narrow staircases, no lift or a small lift, and restricted street access often need extra labour or a hoisting service; full export packing, crating for artwork or a piano, and insurance all add to the total.
• The inland India leg and clearance. Port handling, rail/road haulage to the Delhi ICD, customs clearance, and any duty on concessional-rate items.
• Duty exposure. New or high-value items outside the used-goods relief can attract duty – a real budget line, covered next.

A structured inventory and a clear packing plan are the simplest ways to keep costs predictable.

3. India customs and Transfer of Residence (Baggage Rules, 2016)

India’s customs treatment of household goods is governed by the Baggage Rules, 2016, administered by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The relevant relief for movers is Transfer of Residence (TR), which lets a person genuinely shifting residence to India bring in used personal and household effects with substantial duty relief.

The core conditions: the owner must generally have stayed abroad for a minimum of two years and be transferring residence to India, with limits on how many days they visited India during that period. Used household goods and personal effects are largely admitted free of duty. However, a defined list of appliances and higher-value items attracts a concessional rate of basic customs duty (plus applicable surcharge) rather than full relief, and certain items are excluded from concessions altogether. Brand-new items, items still in their packaging, and goods bought shortly before the move are treated more strictly and can attract duty.

Documentation is decisive. Expect to provide a detailed valued inventory, your passport and visa, proof of your period abroad, and a Transfer of Residence declaration. Getting the paperwork exactly right – and being present or represented for clearance at the Delhi ICD – is what prevents storage charges and delays. Always confirm the current rules against CBIC before shipping, as annexes and rates are updated.

4. Living in Delhi NCR

Delhi NCR is India’s political and administrative heart and a sprawling metropolitan region rather than a single city. Where you live usually follows where you work:

• South Delhi – established, leafy and popular with international families. Vasant Vihar, Defence Colony and Greater Kailash (GK) are long-standing expat enclaves with embassies, international schools and good amenities nearby.
• Lutyens’ Delhi – the historic, low-rise, tree-lined government quarter; prestigious, central and expensive, with limited private housing.
• Gurgaon (Gurugram) – the corporate boom-town southwest of Delhi, home to multinationals, high-rise condominiums with gyms and pools, malls and a large professional community. The default choice for many corporate transferees.
• Noida – a planned satellite city to the east in Uttar Pradesh, with newer housing stock, tech and media employers, and generally more space for the money.

Air quality is a genuine consideration: Delhi NCR experiences severe seasonal pollution, typically worst from late autumn into winter. Many residents fit air purifiers, choose apartments with good filtration, and factor this into where and how they live. On cost, rents and services in prime South Delhi and central Gurgaon towers sit at the top of the local market, while outer Gurgaon and Noida offer more space for less. Compared with Paris, day-to-day costs and domestic help are generally far more affordable, though international schooling and premium housing can be significant.

5. Visas, tax, healthcare, driving and pets

Visa. Most foreign professionals move on an Employment Visa, which must be sponsored by an India-registered employer and generally requires a salary of at least about US$25,000 per year (with narrow exceptions). A Business Visa covers commercial visits but not local employment. People of Indian origin often use the OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card, which grants near-parity work and residence rights and is the most flexible route where eligible. Any foreigner staying beyond 180 days must complete FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) registration – done online through the e-FRRO portal – within 14 days of arrival.

Tax. Indian income tax depends on residency status, determined by days present in India. Newcomers may qualify as RNOR (Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident) for a transitional period, which can limit tax on certain foreign income before full resident status applies. France and India have a double-taxation agreement; take professional advice on your specific position before and after the move.

Healthcare. Expats overwhelmingly use India’s private hospitals and clinics, which are excellent in the major NCR centres. Comprehensive private health insurance is essential and often provided or expected as part of an employment package.

Driving licence. Traffic is demanding and many expats employ a driver. If you intend to drive, check the current rules on using a foreign or international licence versus converting to an Indian licence, which is handled through the regional transport authority.

Pets. Cats and dogs are imported under the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) regime. You need an advance No Objection Certificate (applied for before travel), an ISO-standard microchip implanted before a valid rabies vaccination, and an official health certificate from the origin country. Under Transfer of Residence, up to two pets may typically accompany the family. Confirm the latest requirements directly with AQCS well ahead of travel.

6. A realistic timeline

• 8–12 weeks before: confirm your visa route, get a survey and quote, and start decluttering.
• 4–6 weeks before: book your shipment, assemble the Transfer of Residence paperwork and valued inventory, and begin the AQCS pet process if relevant.
• Moving week: professional packing and collection in Paris; small air shipment dispatched if you need essentials on arrival.
• On arrival: complete FRRO registration within 14 days, sort housing and schooling, and arrange local health cover.
• Weeks 8–14: sea shipment arrives at the Indian port, moves inland to the Delhi ICD, clears customs and is delivered.

How Flyto handles your move

Flyto Relocation runs its own hubs across Europe, including France, and coordinates worldwide shipping, so your Paris–Delhi move is managed end to end – export packing and collection in Paris, the sea or air leg via Le Havre, Marseille-Fos or Charles de Gaulle, the inland journey to the Delhi ICD, and customs clearance with your Transfer of Residence documentation prepared correctly. We plan the timeline around your visa and FRRO deadlines and, where needed, the AQCS pet process, so nothing stalls at the port.

Get your personalised Paris–Delhi moving plan and quote with the Flyto advisor.

Frequently asked questions

How long does moving from Paris to Delhi take?

Sea freight is typically around 8–14 weeks door-to-door once collection, sailing, the inland leg to the Delhi ICD and customs clearance are included. Air freight is much faster, often a couple of weeks, and suits a small, urgent shipment.

Can I bring my used household goods duty-free?

Largely, yes, under Transfer of Residence relief in the Baggage Rules, 2016, provided you meet the conditions – generally around two years abroad and a genuine transfer of residence. A defined list of appliances attracts a concessional duty rate, and new items can be dutiable.

Which visa do I need to work in Delhi?

Most professionals need a sponsored Employment Visa, which generally requires a salary of at least about US$25,000 per year. People of Indian origin often use an OCI card instead. Any stay over 180 days requires FRRO registration within 14 days of arrival.

Should I ship by sea or air?

Ship the bulk of your household by sea for cost efficiency, and use a small air shipment for essentials you need immediately. Many movers combine both.

Can I bring my dog or cat?

Yes. Pets are imported under the AQCS regime and need an advance No Objection Certificate, an ISO-standard microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an official health certificate. Up to two pets typically qualify under Transfer of Residence.

Where do expats usually live in Delhi NCR?

South Delhi enclaves such as Vasant Vihar, Defence Colony and Greater Kailash are popular with international families, while Gurgaon (Gurugram) and Noida suit corporate professionals. Central Lutyens’ Delhi is prestigious but has limited private housing.

Related moves

• Moving from London to Delhi
• Moving from Amsterdam to Delhi
• Moving to Delhi from Abroad
• Moving to Mumbai from Abroad

Sources

• Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) – Baggage Rules, 2016: taxinformation.cbic.gov.in
• Ministry of Home Affairs / FRRO – e-FRRO services: indianfrro.gov.in
• Bureau of Immigration, India (visa categories): boi.gov.in
• Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS): aqcsindia.gov.in
• French Customs (Douane) – moving your household abroad: douane.gouv.fr

Hiring an international mover? See our full International removals to India service — Flyto’s own European hubs, vetted local partners and one English-speaking coordinator, door to door.