Moving to another country is almost always complex, even for people who have moved multiple times within the United States. Each foreign country has different rules for what you’re allowed to bring past their borders, and the amount of planning and coordination required for an international shipment is much longer and more involved than a domestic move.

When planning your international move, pick a moving company that is familiar with the requirements of your new country. The mover can obtain the right documents for you and provide advice that will help you avoid problems for you once after you arrive.

Because numerous parties must coordinate for an international move, start planning several months prior to your actual moving date to allow enough time for required paperwork and necessary arrangements to be completed. Once your documentation is in order, and you’ve had your items picked up at your current residence, transit time will likely take 30-60 days, depending on the final destination and time of the year.

There are number of different contact points for your household items during an international relocation. Your move will start with your origin mover, who will pack and load your items and transport them to the designated port. There, a freight-forwarding company will arrange for your container to be shipped across the ocean to the port closest to your destination city. Once your goods have arrived at the international port of call, another moving company will pick up your items and gain clearance from the customs office of your new country. Once your goods have cleared customers, a local moving company will deliver your items to your new home and handle unpacking and unloading, if needed.

All of these service providers must be closely coordinated during the entire process. To do this, you will need one point of contact with your U.S.-based international moving company. For example, your international mover should be a reputable and experienced company that has a good relationship with all the other points of contact and should be able to provide you with complete tracking of your shipment from start to finish. Otherwise, getting accurate information about your shipment may be a challenge, and long delays are likely, causing you plenty of needless worry.

Get multiple quotes

Thoroughly research international moving companies and verify their ability to successfully handle all the details, as well as their availability as a single contact source for you. It’s highly recommended that you get three to five quotes from licensed, professional companies that have proven experience handling moves to your new country.

Another important detail to verify is whether an international moving company has recent experience handling moves to a particular country or region of the world. This prior experience will help you determine if the company is capable enough to handle your move.

Moving abroad can be quite expensive given the number of parties involved. Because your goods must travel a long distance, your costs per pound will be considerably higher than that of a domestic move. Charges are based on the weight of your goods and are priced at a flat rate that will include full services. Most countries will not accept a shipment of goods that was not inventoried and packed by a professional moving company. The mover must adhere to a strict list of items that cannot be shipped and a long set of rules about how they must inventory your goods. The moving company must then supply certified documents and a complete inventory of the contents of your container.

Discuss your international relocation with only experienced professional moving companies that have documented and extensive international moving experience. It’s worth the time and money to have your goods handled by a qualified company than to deal with problems associated with a mover who has limited experience.