International Removals
Moving overseas involves more than transporting furniture from one address to another. We plan the move around your destination, shipment volume, packing requirements, access, storage needs and the customs information required before your belongings travel.
More Than Transport Between Two Countries
An international move starts with understanding what is travelling, where it is going and what needs to happen before collection. We then build the move around the route, shipment size, packing, access and any storage required before onward transport.
Household Contents
Full household moves or selected furniture, boxes and personal belongings can be assessed around the destination and available transport options.
Packing
Packing requirements are discussed before the quotation so materials, fragile belongings and items needing extra preparation can be planned properly.
Storage
UK storage can be incorporated where your collection date and international shipping arrangements do not line up.
Destination Planning
Customs information, local restrictions and access at the delivery property should be considered before the shipment leaves the UK.
Use the Right Page for Each Part of the Move
This page is the international service hub. More specific information is available through the relevant service and destination pages.
How an International Move Is Planned
The exact route depends on the destination and service selected, but the planning process should establish the shipment, transport option and destination requirements before your belongings leave the UK.
Survey
We establish what is moving, the approximate volume, property access, destination, preferred dates and whether packing or storage is required.
Shipping Options
The suitable transport method depends on the destination, shipment size, budget, flexibility and how quickly the belongings need to arrive.
Packing and Inventory
Belongings are prepared for the agreed transport method and a clear inventory helps identify what is travelling and anything needing special attention.
Customs Preparation
Required information varies by destination. Restrictions, taxes and documentation should be checked against current official guidance.
International Transit
The shipment follows the agreed route. Transit time depends on the transport mode, destination, consolidation arrangements and customs processing.
Destination Delivery
Final delivery is organised around the destination address, access conditions, clearance requirements and the agreed delivery arrangement.
International and European Removal Destinations
Use the destination page for route-specific planning information, then return to this hub for the wider international removals process, cost factors, packing, storage and customs preparation.
Europe
Eleven live guidesWhat Does an International Removal Cost?
There is no single price for moving overseas. Destination, volume, transport mode, packing, access, storage and customs-related charges can all change the final figure. The figures below are current UK market benchmarks, not Intercity Removals quotations.
| Destination region | Small apartment | Family home | What changes the price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | £1,200 - £2,000 | £2,000 - £4,000 | Distance, part-load or dedicated transport, access and packing. |
| United States | £3,000 - £4,500 | £5,000 - £8,000 | Shipment volume, container space, port routing and destination delivery. |
| Australia | £3,500 - £5,000 | £6,000 - £10,000 | Volume, sea or air freight, container option and destination handling. |
| Middle East | £2,800 - £4,000 | £4,500 - £7,500 | Transport mode, destination, shipment size and customs requirements. |
| Asia | £3,000 - £4,500 | £5,500 - £9,000 | Sea or air freight, volume, route and final delivery requirements. |
Published UK long-distance market average.
Published UK long-distance market average.
Published market range per 100kg.
UK packing benchmark. International requirements can differ.
What Is the Most Affordable Way to Move Overseas?
The lowest-cost option depends on how much you are sending and how flexible you can be. Paying for speed or dedicated capacity normally costs more, while sharing transport space or reducing professional packing can lower the removal element of the cost.
Groupage or Part-Load
A smaller shipment can share vehicle or container capacity with other consignments rather than paying for dedicated space that you do not need.
Trade-off: collection and delivery windows are usually wider because the shared load needs to be coordinated.Sea Freight
For long-haul household shipments, sea freight is generally more affordable than sending the same volume by air.
Trade-off: transit is normally longer and port or customs stages can affect the final delivery date.Self-Packing
Packing suitable items yourself can reduce professional packing labour where the agreed service allows it.
Trade-off: you take on more preparation and should check how self-packed belongings affect the written cover terms available for the move.Reduce the Shipment Volume
International removal costs are heavily influenced by the space or weight being transported. Removing items you do not need can reduce the required capacity.
Trade-off: compare the cost of replacing an item abroad before deciding to leave it behind.Customs, Restrictions and Taxes Checklist
Destination-country rules can change, so customs requirements should never be copied from an old moving guide and treated as permanent.
Before shipping, check the current rules for your destination and make sure the inventory, supporting documents and restricted-item information match what is actually travelling.
Inventory
Prepare a clear list of the household contents and personal belongings included in the shipment.
Import Restrictions
Check whether any furniture, food, alcohol, medicines, plants, materials or other belongings are restricted.
Duties and Taxes
Confirm whether your circumstances qualify for relief or whether duties, tax or destination charges may apply.
Residency and Identity
Check which identification, residency or ownership documents the destination authority requires.
Customs Forms
Make sure declarations and supporting paperwork are completed using current destination requirements.
Pets and Plants
Pets and plants can be subject to separate import rules and should not be treated as ordinary household contents.
Destination Charges
Ask which port, handling, inspection or third-party charges are included in the removal quote and which are separate.
Delivery Access
Confirm stairs, lifts, parking, gated access, narrow roads and any local restrictions at the destination property.
Packing for an International Move
Packing requirements depend on what is travelling and the transport method being used. Fragile, valuable, unusual or difficult items should be raised during the survey so the preparation required can be discussed before collection.
UK Storage Can Be Built Into the Move
Your UK property date and international shipping date do not always need to be the same. Storage can be discussed when belongings need to be collected before onward transport is ready.
This is also useful when you are moving in stages or do not want every item delivered abroad at the same time.
How Long Does an International Move Take?
A useful timescale cannot be promised from the destination name alone. Road, groupage, sea freight and air freight all operate differently, and customs or destination access can change when final delivery takes place.
Before Collection
Time is needed to confirm the survey, inventory, packing requirements, transport option, documentation and any storage required before the shipment leaves.
International Transit
Dedicated European transport can operate differently from groupage or long-haul sea freight. Shared loads usually involve wider scheduling windows than dedicated capacity.
Clearance and Delivery
Destination customs, port or terminal handling and access at the final property can affect the point at which delivery can be completed.
Examples From International Moves
These are factual summaries of international-move experiences already reported in published customer feedback. They are not standard timing promises and should not be treated as guaranteed outcomes for another route.
Customer-Reported Delivery in Under a Week
A published Google review from June 2025 describes an Italy-to-UK move where the customer's belongings were delivered and offloaded less than a week after collection in Italy.
The review is useful evidence of one completed move, but international transit depends on the route, service selected, shipment size and clearance requirements.
Collection, Storage, Transit, Customs and Delivery
Another published customer review describes a move involving collection in Wales, storage, international transit, customs and final delivery in Italy.
The feedback also states that the customer had previously used Intercity Removals for a UK-to-Europe move.
Questions About Moving Overseas
Practical answers about pricing, shipping methods, customs, packing, storage and international moving timescales.
How does an international removal work?
The move normally starts with a survey or detailed inventory. We then consider the shipment volume, destination, packing, access, storage and suitable transport method before planning collection and onward delivery.
How much does an international removal cost?
Cost depends on the destination, shipment size, transport method, packing, access, storage and destination charges. Current UK market benchmarks range from around £1,200 for smaller European shipments to several thousand pounds for larger long-haul household moves. Your quotation should be based on the actual move rather than a generic online figure.
What is the most affordable way to move overseas?
For smaller loads, groupage or part-load transport can be more affordable than paying for dedicated capacity. Sea freight is generally more affordable than air for larger long-haul shipments. Packing suitable belongings yourself may also reduce labour costs, but the trade-offs in timing and cover terms should be considered.
What is groupage?
Groupage means your shipment shares transport capacity with other consignments travelling on a compatible route. It can reduce cost for smaller loads, but collection and delivery windows are normally wider than with dedicated transport.
Can storage be included before an international move?
Yes. UK storage can be discussed when belongings need to be collected before onward international transport is ready. Visit our storage solutions page for more information.
Can you help with packing for an international move?
Packing support can be discussed during the survey, including full packing, selected or fragile packing and materials. See our packing services.
Will I have to pay customs duties or taxes?
That depends on the destination, your circumstances and what is being imported. Rules and reliefs can change, so current government and customs-authority guidance for the destination country should always be checked before shipping.
How long will my international move take?
There is no reliable single timescale for every route. Destination, transport mode, groupage arrangements, customs clearance, seasonality and destination access can all affect final delivery.
Do you handle moves back to the UK?
Return moves can be discussed where the collection country, UK destination, inventory, access and transport requirements can be confirmed. Provide both addresses and details of what is moving when requesting a quote.
Which countries do you have destination guides for?
Current destination pages cover Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Thailand, UAE and USA. Kuwait should be added to this hub once its dedicated page is live.
Tell Us Where You Are Moving and What Needs to Travel
Send us your UK collection address, overseas destination, preferred dates and an outline of what you plan to move. Include packing, storage and access information so the next stage can be planned around the actual shipment.
What We Need to Start Planning
