Moving to Another Country

A complete international moving guide. Shipping options and costs, customs rules by destination country, a 12-week preparation timeline, documentation checklist, and insurance guidance.

Updated 2026-09-20

Shipping Options Compared

Six ways to ship your belongings internationally, from full containers to baggage services. Costs are port-to-port estimates and do not include door pickup, customs brokerage, or destination delivery.

Method	Cost	Transit Time	Best For
Full container load (FCL, 20ft)	$3,000 to $8,000	3 to 8 weeks	3+ bedroom household, full furniture sets
Full container load (FCL, 40ft)	$5,000 to $12,000	3 to 8 weeks	4+ bedroom household, vehicles, large shipments
Less than container load (LCL)	$500 to $2,500	4 to 10 weeks	Studio to 2BR, partial household, fewer than 200 cu ft
Air freight	$2,000 to $10,000	5 to 14 days	Urgent items, small volume (under 500 lbs), high-value goods
Air freight (express)	$5,000 to $20,000+	2 to 5 days	Critical items needed immediately, documents, medications
Baggage shipping service	$100 to $500 per bag	7 to 21 days	Extra luggage, boxes of clothing, books

Top 10 Destination Countries for US Expats

Customs rules, prohibited items, duty rates, and typical shipping costs for the most common destinations. All costs assume a 3-bedroom household shipped by sea freight, door to door.

United Kingdom

$3,500 to $7,000 (3BR)

Duty-free for used goods owned 6+ months. Transfer of Residence relief available

Prohibited: Firearms, drugs, counterfeit goods, certain food products

Duty: 0% on used personal goods with ToR

Canada

$2,000 to $5,000 (3BR)

Goods to Follow list required. No duty on personal effects owned 6+ months

Prohibited: Certain firearms, cannabis products, obscene material

Duty: 0% on used personal goods

Germany

$4,000 to $8,000 (3BR)

EU Transfer of Residence rules apply. Must have lived outside EU for 12+ months

Prohibited: Narcotics, weapons, certain animal products, counterfeit goods

Duty: 0% on used goods with residence proof

Australia

$5,000 to $10,000 (3BR)

Strict biosecurity. All wood items may be inspected or fumigated. B534 form required

Prohibited: Food, plants, soil, untreated wood, certain medications, firearms

Duty: 0% on used goods for permanent residents

Japan

$4,500 to $9,000 (3BR)

Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration form required. Register at local ward office first

Prohibited: Narcotics, firearms, certain food, counterfeit goods, some OTC medications

Duty: 0% on used personal effects

Mexico

$2,500 to $5,000 (3BR)

Menaje de Casa (household goods) permit required. Must have FM2 or FM3 visa

Prohibited: Firearms (strict), narcotics, certain chemicals, pornography

Duty: 0% with Menaje de Casa permit (one-time use)

France

$4,000 to $8,500 (3BR)

EU Transfer of Residence. Must have lived outside EU 12+ months. Inventory in French may be required

Prohibited: Weapons, drugs, counterfeit goods, certain animal products

Duty: 0% on used personal goods with ToR

Singapore

$4,500 to $8,000 (3BR)

GST exemption available for used goods. Requires employment or residency pass

Prohibited: Chewing gum, e-cigarettes, controlled drugs, firecrackers

Duty: 0% on used goods; 9% GST on new items

UAE (Dubai)

$4,000 to $9,000 (3BR)

Residence visa required. Household goods must arrive within 6 months of visa issuance

Prohibited: Alcohol (restricted), pork products, gambling devices, drugs, certain books and media

Duty: 5% on most goods; 0% possible for used personal items

New Zealand

$5,500 to $11,000 (3BR)

MPI biosecurity clearance mandatory. All organic materials subject to inspection

Prohibited: Food, plants, animal products, soil, untreated wood, certain medications

Duty: 0% on used personal goods with 21+ month ownership

12-Week International Moving Timeline

Start 12 weeks before your departure date. International moves require significantly more lead time than domestic moves due to visa processing, customs documentation, and shipping schedules.

When	Tasks	Notes
12 weeks before	Research visa requirements and apply. Get quotes from 3+ international movers. Start decluttering	Visa processing can take 4 to 12 weeks
10 weeks before	Book international mover. Begin gathering documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, medical records)	Apostille or notarize documents if required
8 weeks before	Schedule health exams and vaccinations. Research health insurance at destination. Notify employer and start remote work setup if applicable	Some countries require specific vaccinations
6 weeks before	Open a bank account in the destination country (if possible remotely). Research housing. Notify your current landlord	Wise, Revolut, or local banks with expat accounts
4 weeks before	Pack non-essential items. Create a detailed inventory for customs. Photograph all valuables. Purchase transit insurance	Customs requires itemized lists with values
3 weeks before	Ship your container or schedule pickup. Arrange pet transport if applicable ($2,000 to $5,000 internationally)	Pets require health certificates and quarantine planning
2 weeks before	Cancel or transfer utilities, subscriptions, and memberships. File USPS mail forwarding. Notify banks and credit cards of international travel	Keep 1 to 2 US credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
1 week before	Pack suitcases with 2 to 4 weeks of clothing and essentials. Confirm flight and temporary housing. Download offline maps and translation apps	Your shipment may not arrive for 3 to 8 weeks
Move day	Final walkthrough. Hand over keys. Carry passport, visa, customs documents, medications, and valuables personally	Never put critical documents in checked luggage
Week 1 at destination	Register with local authorities. Set up a local phone number. Open a local bank account. Find temporary furnished housing if your goods have not arrived	Many countries require registration within 7 to 14 days

Documentation Checklist

Personal identification

Valid passport (with at least 6 months remaining before expiration). Visa or residency permit for your destination country. Birth certificate (apostilled if required). Marriage certificate (apostilled if required). Social Security card. International driving permit ($20 from AAA, valid in 150+ countries). Passport-size photos (carry 6 to 10 extras for local registrations).

Financial and tax documents

Proof of funds (bank statements from the last 3 months). Employment contract or job offer letter. Tax returns from the last 2 to 3 years. US citizens must continue filing US taxes while living abroad. Report foreign bank accounts exceeding $10,000 via FBAR (FinCEN Form 114). FATCA reporting may apply for accounts over $50,000. Consult an international tax professional before moving.

Shipping and customs documents

Detailed inventory list with estimated value of each item. Bill of lading (provided by your shipping company). Customs declaration forms (specific to destination country). Proof of prior residence (utility bills, lease, bank statements showing US address). Photos of high-value items. Insurance policy documents. Power of attorney if a customs broker will clear goods on your behalf.

Medical records

Vaccination records (some countries require proof of specific vaccinations). Prescription documentation for any medications you carry (generic drug names, not brand names). Doctor's letter for controlled substances. Dental and vision records. Health insurance policy valid at your destination. If moving to the EU, apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or equivalent once you have residency.

International Moving Insurance

Carrier liability (included)

Standard carrier liability covers approximately $0.60 per pound per item. A 50-pound TV worth $1,500 would be covered for only $30. This is nearly worthless for anything valuable. It is included in your shipping cost by default, but it should not be your only coverage.

Full-value transit insurance

Covers repair or replacement at current market value. Costs 2 to 4% of declared shipment value. A $20,000 shipment costs $400 to $800 to insure. Available through your moving company or third-party insurers like Covac Global or Aon. Read exclusions carefully: some policies exclude breakage of fragile items unless professionally packed.

What to document before shipping

Photograph every item you ship. Record serial numbers for electronics. Keep receipts for items purchased within the last 2 years. Create a video walkthrough of your packed items before the container is sealed. Store documentation digitally (cloud backup) and in a physical folder you carry personally. Claims require proof of condition before shipping.

Filing a claim

Inspect all items upon delivery. Note any damage on the delivery receipt before signing. Most policies require claims to be filed within 14 to 90 days of delivery. Provide photographs of damage, your original inventory, and proof of item value. Processing takes 4 to 12 weeks. If using a FIDI-affiliated mover, their dispute resolution process can help if the claim is denied.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to ship household goods internationally?+

Sea freight takes 3 to 8 weeks depending on the route. US to Western Europe averages 3 to 5 weeks. US to Australia or Southeast Asia takes 5 to 8 weeks. US to Central or South America takes 2 to 4 weeks. Air freight takes 5 to 14 days but costs 4 to 8 times more than sea freight for the same volume. Add 1 to 3 weeks for customs clearance at the destination, which varies by country and the accuracy of your documentation.

How much does it cost to ship a container overseas?+

A full 20-foot container (FCL) costs $3,000 to $8,000 for sea freight depending on the route. US East Coast to Europe runs $3,000 to $5,500. US to Asia runs $4,000 to $7,000. US to Australia runs $5,000 to $8,000. A shared container (LCL) costs $500 to $2,500 depending on cubic footage. These prices cover port-to-port shipping only. Add $1,000 to $3,000 for door-to-port pickup, customs brokerage, destination delivery, and insurance. Total door-to-door costs for a 3-bedroom household typically range from $5,000 to $15,000 by sea.

What items are commonly prohibited from international shipping?+

Nearly every country prohibits: firearms and ammunition, narcotics, perishable food, live plants, hazardous chemicals, and certain medications. Many countries also restrict alcohol (limited to personal quantities or banned entirely in some Middle Eastern countries), tobacco products, and currency above reporting thresholds ($10,000 USD equivalent). Australia and New Zealand have strict biosecurity rules and may confiscate wooden furniture, untreated wood, and items with soil residue. Always check your destination country's customs authority website for a current prohibited items list before packing.

Do I need to pay customs duties on my personal belongings?+

Most countries allow duty-free import of used personal and household goods if you have owned them for 6 to 12 months and are establishing permanent residency. You will typically need to provide an itemized inventory list, proof of prior residency (utility bills, lease), and a valid visa or residency permit. New items, items purchased within the last 6 months, and gifts are often subject to duty. Rates vary: the EU charges 0 to 15% on most household goods, while some countries (Brazil, India) charge 50 to 100% on electronics. Cars are almost always subject to heavy duties (10 to 100%+).

Should I sell everything and buy new furniture at my destination?+

For moves beyond 3,000 miles, selling and rebuying is often cheaper unless you own high-value or specialty furniture. Shipping a 3-bedroom household from the US to Europe costs $8,000 to $15,000. You could furnish an equivalent apartment with IKEA and local secondhand markets for $3,000 to $7,000 in most European cities. However, sentimental items, heirloom furniture, and specialty equipment (musical instruments, art) should be shipped since they cannot be replaced. The breakeven point is roughly when an item is worth more than $3 to $5 per pound of shipping weight.

How do I choose between an international moving company and doing it myself?+

Full-service international movers handle packing, customs documentation, shipping, customs clearance, and delivery. They cost 30 to 50% more than self-service options but manage the entire process. Self-service (booking your own container, hiring local packers, filing customs paperwork) saves money but requires significant research and time. For your first international move, a full-service company is worth the premium because customs errors can delay your shipment by weeks and result in fines. Get quotes from at least 3 companies that are members of FIDI (Federation of International Movers) or IAM (International Association of Movers).

What insurance should I get for an international move?+

Standard carrier liability covers roughly $0.60 per pound per item, which is almost nothing for valuables. Purchase full-value (replacement cost) transit insurance from your mover or a third-party insurer. Expect to pay 2 to 4% of the declared value. For a shipment valued at $20,000, insurance costs $400 to $800. Document everything with photographs and a detailed inventory before packing. Note serial numbers for electronics. Some policies exclude breakage of fragile items unless professionally packed, so read the exclusions carefully.