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

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

Leaving the boulevards of Paris for the sunshine and skyline of Miami is a move a growing number of French professionals, families and entrepreneurs are making in 2026. Miami has grown into a genuine international business hub as well as a lifestyle destination, and relocating there from France is very achievable once you understand how the shipping, customs and immigration steps connect. This guide takes you through the whole journey.

Key takeaways

• Household goods travel by sea from French ports across the Atlantic to the Port of Miami or nearby Port Everglades, typically around three to five weeks in transit plus packing and clearance time.
• Your used personal effects can usually enter the United States duty-free, but you must file CBP Form 3299 with a detailed inventory.
• French nationals have several routes to live and work in Miami; the E-2 treaty investor visa is especially popular with entrepreneurs because France is a treaty country.
• Florida charges no state income tax, a significant financial draw for people relocating from Paris.
• Dogs must meet CDC import rules that changed in August 2024; France is a rabies-free/low-risk country, so requirements are relatively light. Cats are exempt from CDC rules.

1. The route: Paris to Miami by sea and air

Most household relocations from Paris to Miami move as ocean freight. Your goods are packed in the Paris area and trucked to a deep-sea port – Le Havre is the usual French Atlantic gateway – then shipped across the Atlantic to South Florida. The two ports serving the Miami region are the Port of Miami (PortMiami) and neighbouring Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, which together handle the bulk of the area’s container traffic.

Atlantic sea transit from northern Europe to South Florida generally runs around three to five weeks, depending on the sailing schedule, any transhipment and port congestion. Add time for professional packing in Paris and for customs clearance and final delivery in Florida. For a smaller consignment, your goods usually share a container with other shipments (groupage or LCL), which is cheaper but can add time while the container is consolidated and later deconsolidated.

Air freight is the faster alternative, reducing the ocean crossing to a matter of days, and it suits a small volume of essentials or items you need quickly. It costs considerably more per cubic metre than sea freight, so most people use it selectively rather than for an entire home.

2. What the move costs: the general drivers

International removal pricing is driven by a handful of factors rather than one fixed figure. The main ones to plan around are:

• Volume and weight – the cubic metres you ship is the single biggest cost driver. Decluttering before you pack has an outsized effect on the final bill.
• Sea versus air – ocean freight is far cheaper for large volumes; air is a premium option for speed.
• Full container versus shared – a dedicated (FCL) container is faster and more private; shared groupage is cheaper for modest volumes.
• Access and handling – Haussmannian apartments, narrow staircases, upper floors with small or no lift and restricted parking all add labour and equipment costs at origin.
• Services – full packing, custom crating for art or antiques, insurance cover and storage each add to the total.
• Destination charges – US port fees, customs clearance, terminal handling and final delivery in Miami.

Because these variables differ so much between households, the only reliable figure is a surveyed quote based on your actual inventory.

3. US customs and CBP Form 3299

When your household goods arrive in the United States without you carrying them personally, they are treated as unaccompanied articles and must be declared to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on CBP Form 3299, Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles. This is the form that supports your claim to bring used personal and household effects in duty-free.

To qualify for free entry, the goods should generally be used personal and household effects that you owned and used abroad. You complete the form with your details, US address, arrival information and shipment particulars, and your full packing inventory serves as the itemised list CBP may ask to see. New items, items for sale, alcohol, firearms and certain restricted goods are handled differently and may attract duty or extra controls, so they must be declared honestly. A good removals partner prepares the 3299 and inventory with you so clearance runs smoothly.

4. Living in Miami

Miami is a sprawling, sun-drenched metropolis with a strongly international, Latin-American character – Spanish is spoken everywhere and the city acts as a gateway between the Americas. For newcomers from Paris, choosing a neighbourhood is the first big decision:

• Brickell – the dense financial district, packed with high-rise apartments, restaurants and nightlife; the natural choice for finance and tech professionals who want a walkable, urban feel.
• Coconut Grove – leafy, village-like and family-friendly, with a bayfront and a relaxed pace.
• Coral Gables – elegant, tree-lined and known for good schools and Mediterranean-style architecture.
• Wynwood – the arts and creative district, famous for its murals, galleries and younger crowd.
• Miami Beach / South Beach – the iconic barrier-island lifestyle, beaches and Art Deco; lively but pricier and busier.
• Aventura – to the north, popular with families and international residents, centred on a large shopping district.

Two practical realities to weigh: Miami lies in the Atlantic hurricane season (broadly June to November), so home insurance, building resilience and a preparedness plan matter; and Florida’s lack of a state income tax is a real financial advantage that offsets a cost of living which, in the desirable neighbourhoods, can be high for housing and cooling. Coming from Paris, expect to swap the Metro for the car, budget for year-round air-conditioning, and adjust to a city built around driving rather than public transport and walking.

5. Visas, status and the practical set-up

Immigration status. You cannot simply move to the United States on the visa waiver; you need an appropriate work or investor visa, or permanent residence. Common routes for French nationals include the H-1B (specialty occupation, employer-sponsored), the L-1 (intracompany transfer), the O-1 (individuals of extraordinary ability), and family- or employment-based green cards.

The standout option for entrepreneurs is the E-2 treaty investor visa. France is an E-2 treaty country, so French nationals can qualify by investing a substantial amount of capital in a real, active US business that they own at least 50% of or otherwise control, with the funds genuinely at risk. There is no fixed minimum investment, but it must be substantial relative to the business. The E-2 is renewable and is a favourite of Miami’s large founder and small-business community. Immigration outcomes are individual, so take qualified legal advice for your circumstances.

Social Security Number (SSN). Once you have work authorisation you apply for an SSN, which you will need for payroll, banking, credit and most official life admin.

Health insurance. The US has no public health system comparable to the French model. Cover is typically employer-provided or bought privately, and it is essential from day one – medical costs without insurance are very high.

Driving licence. Florida requires new residents to obtain a Florida driver licence within 30 days of establishing residency, done in person at a local office where you surrender your French licence; a vision test applies and you may be exempt from written and road tests. Vehicle insurance and registration have their own short deadlines.

Pets. Since 1 August 2024, all dogs entering the US must appear healthy, be at least six months old, be microchipped, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Because France is classed as a dog-rabies-free/low-risk country, dogs coming only from France face the lighter documentation set. Cats are not subject to CDC import rules. Confirm the current requirements close to travel, as CDC forms and processes continue to be updated.

6. A realistic timeline

Start planning three to four months out. A typical Paris-to-Miami sequence looks like: secure your visa and legal advice (this drives everything); book a home survey and confirm your removals quote; declutter and arrange housing in Miami; complete CDC and pet steps if applicable; pack and load in Paris; ocean transit of roughly three to five weeks; US customs clearance with your CBP Form 3299; and final delivery. Air-freighted essentials can bridge the gap while your sea shipment is in transit.

How Flyto handles your move

Flyto Relocation runs its own hubs across Europe and ships worldwide, so a Paris-to-Miami move is coordinated end to end – packing in France, the Atlantic ocean freight, US customs paperwork including CBP Form 3299, and delivery in Miami – through a single point of contact. That means one team managing the origin survey, the sailing, the clearance and the final mile, rather than a chain of disconnected brokers.

Get a personalised moving plan and quote from a Flyto advisor

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from Paris to Miami take? Ocean freight across the Atlantic typically takes around three to five weeks in transit, plus packing at the Paris end and customs clearance and delivery in Florida. Air freight is a matter of days but costs considerably more.

Do I pay duty on my household goods? Used personal and household effects can generally enter duty-free when declared on CBP Form 3299 with a full inventory. New goods, items for sale and restricted categories are treated differently and must be declared.

Which visa is best for moving to Miami from France? It depends on your situation. Employees often use H-1B, L-1 or O-1 routes; entrepreneurs frequently choose the E-2 treaty investor visa, for which French nationals are eligible. Take qualified legal advice.

Is it true there is no income tax in Florida? Florida levies no state income tax, which is a significant draw for people relocating from Paris. Federal US taxes and other state and local taxes still apply.

Can I bring my dog from Paris to Miami? Yes. Since August 2024 dogs must appear healthy, be at least six months old, be microchipped and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. As France is a low-risk rabies country, documentation is lighter. Cats are exempt from CDC rules.

Which port will my shipment arrive at? South Florida is served by the Port of Miami (PortMiami) and nearby Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale; both handle the region’s container freight.

Related moves

• Moving from London to Miami
• Moving from Amsterdam to Miami
• Moving to Philadelphia from Abroad
• Moving to San Diego from Abroad

Sources

• CBP Form 3299 (cbp.gov)
• Moving used household goods into the US (help.cbp.gov)
• E-2 Treaty Investors (uscis.gov)
• Treaty Investor (E-2) visas (travel.state.gov / US Embassy France)
• Bringing a Dog into the U.S. (cdc.gov)
• New Resident information (flhsmv.gov)
• Départ à l’étranger (service-public.fr)

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