Importing a mobile home from the UK to Portugal, Spain or France (post-Brexit)
The UK is Europe's largest source of good-condition used mobile homes and static caravans — often at 40–60% of the price of an equivalent new unit. Since Brexit, buying one of these units and bringing it to Portugal, Spain or France is no longer a simple purchase within the EU: it has become a formal import, with a customs declaration, proof of origin and import VAT.
The good news: under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), a mobile home manufactured in the UK enters the European Union at 0% customs duty — provided its UK origin is proven. This guide explains exactly what changes, which documents you need, how much it costs and how Green Village handles the entire process as an end-to-end operator.
What changed with Brexit
Before Brexit, a mobile home bought in the UK moved freely to any EU country with no customs — like any goods within the single market. Since 1 January 2021, the UK is a third country: every unit entering the EU must be declared to the customs authorities of the destination country.
In practice, this means three new things: (1) an import customs declaration (the DAU), (2) proof of origin to qualify for the 0% duty, and (3) payment of import VAT in the country where the unit will be installed. None of these prevent the import — they simply require an operator who knows how to handle the paperwork correctly.
Customs duty: 0% for UK origin (TCA)
Under the TCA, products originating in the UK qualify for 0% customs duty on entry into the EU. Mobile homes, static caravans and park homes manufactured in the UK (by brands such as Willerby, ABI, Swift, Cosalt, Atlas, among others) qualify — the overwhelming majority of British stock is domestically made.
The condition is proving origin. This is done with a statement of origin on the invoice or with an EUR1 movement certificate. Without proof of origin, customs may apply the standard tariff — which is why the EUR1 is the document that "unlocks" the 0% benefit. Note: units not manufactured in the UK (for example, imported from China and merely resold in the UK) may not qualify for the 0%.
Import VAT still applies
A 0% duty does not mean a tax-free import. Import VAT is due at the rate of the country where the unit is cleared through customs and installed. This is the most significant tax cost of the operation and varies by destination:
| Destination country | Import VAT rate |
|---|---|
| Portugal | 23% |
| Spain | 21% |
| France | 20% |
| Netherlands | 21% |
| Germany | 19% |
| Italy | 22% |
The essential documents: EUR1, CMR and DAU
Three documents define a well-executed mobile home import. Green Village handles all of them as part of the service, but it helps to know what each one does:
- EUR1 (Movement Certificate) — proves the unit's UK origin and is what activates the 0% customs duty under the TCA.
- CMR (International Consignment Note) — the road transport document that accompanies the unit and proves dispatch and delivery.
- DAU / DU (Single Administrative Document) — the import customs declaration submitted to the destination country's customs; this is where import VAT is settled.
- EORI — the importer's economic operator number, required to clear customs in the EU. Green Village imports under its own EORI (PT518231585), so the customer does not need to have one.
How the transport works: RoRo vs abnormal load
There are two ways to bring the unit over. By sea via RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) — the unit travels on a roll-on freight ferry, typically between northern European ports and Leixões (Porto), Santander/Bilbao (Spain) or Le Havre (France). This is the preferred option: cheaper, safer for the structure and without the oversized-load permits.
The alternative is road transport as an abnormal load / oversized road transport (convoi exceptionnel), needed when there is no suitable RoRo route or for out-of-gauge dimensions. It requires special permits and, in many cases, escort vehicles — which typically makes it three to four times more expensive than the equivalent sea route. As a rule, RoRo whenever possible.
How much importing costs (indicative ranges)
The total import cost adds up four components: the price of the unit, transport, import VAT and customs clearance/installation. Sea transport per unit typically falls within:
| Route | Transport per unit (indicative) |
|---|---|
| UK → Spain (RoRo) | ≈ €2.000–€2.500 |
| UK → Portugal (RoRo) | ≈ €2.500–€4.000 |
| Road / convoi exceptionnel | 3–4× the RoRo price |
The process, from start to finish
As an end-to-end operator, Green Village looks after the unit from selection in the UK to installation on your plot. In practice, the journey looks like this:
How to import a mobile home from the UK to the EU
- Choose the unit. Select the mobile home or static caravan from the catalogue, with an inspection report and detailed photographs.
- Confirm origin and destination. Verify the UK origin (for the 0% duty) and the country of installation (which sets the import VAT rate).
- Handle the paperwork. Issue the EUR1 (origin) and CMR (transport) and prepare the DAU for the destination customs, importing under the operator's EORI.
- Ship by RoRo. Load the unit onto a RoRo ferry to the nearest port (Leixões, Santander/Bilbao or Le Havre), with road transport at the destination.
- Clear customs and pay the VAT. Submit the DAU, settle the import VAT at the destination country's rate and release the unit.
- Deliver and install. Deliver to the plot with crane/unloading and positioning, leaving the unit ready to use.
In summary
- UK origin = 0% customs duty under the TCA (proven by EUR1).
- Import VAT applies at the destination country's rate (PT 23%, ES 21%, FR 20%).
- Key documents: EUR1 (origin), CMR (transport), DAU (customs declaration).
- RoRo (sea) is typically 3–4× cheaper than road transport.
- Green Village imports under its own EORI and handles the entire end-to-end process.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay customs duty when importing a mobile home from the UK?
No, provided the unit is UK-made and its origin is proven (via EUR1 or a statement of origin). Under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), products of UK origin enter the EU at 0% customs duty. Without proof of origin, the standard tariff may apply.
Do I have to pay VAT when importing from the UK?
Yes. The 0% customs duty does not exempt you from VAT. Import VAT is due at the rate of the country where the unit is cleared through customs and installed: 23% in Portugal, 21% in Spain, 20% in France, 21% in the Netherlands, 19% in Germany and 22% in Italy.
Which documents do I need to import a static caravan from the UK?
The three essential documents are the EUR1 (certificate of origin that activates the 0% duty), the CMR (transport consignment note) and the DAU (import customs declaration). An importer's EORI number is also required — Green Village imports under its own EORI, so the customer does not need to deal with this step.
How long does importing from the UK take?
The transport itself typically takes 1 to 3 weeks depending on the RoRo route. The full process, from purchase to delivery and installation on the plot, generally takes between 4 and 8 weeks, depending on sailing availability and customs clearance.