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International Removals

We can make your move overseas faster, safer and, smarter.

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25 Years of UK International Removals Services

We have the expertise to handle your international house move with ease. Since establishing our company in 1998, we've managed thousands of overseas relocations for families and corporations around the globe. Our quarter century in the industry means we have extensive knowledge of changing customs regulations, immigration laws, shipping routes, logistics, and more. We stay on top of the latest requirements, so your move overseas is always compliant and smooth.

Full-Service Packing and Moving Options

We offer a range of international moving, packing, shipping and insurance options for personal effects and household goods, each move tailored to your needs and the size of your move. Our services include weekly shipping by full container and shared container services direct from the UK to over 6500 destinations worldwide. Our dedicated move managers handle your entire move from start to finish, including packing, shipping, customs clearance, and final delivery, and we have a global network of approved agents to ensure prompt customs clearance at destination ports and final delivery to your door.

Get a Tailored Quote for Your Overseas Move

Find out more about the relocation services offered by 1st Move International. Simply complete our online quote form, and our move managers will advise you on costs, prices, and detailed information on packing, shipping, and customs formalities. Each moving quote is tailored to your own specific needs and destination. Whether you are moving just a few boxes of personal items, furniture, single room, small apartments moves or the entire contents of your 3 or 4 bedroom home find out now how to "Ship it like the Pro's" by completing our online moving quote.

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Why Choose 1st Move

Container ship sailing fast
Faster

Faster Weekly Shipping Service

There's no waiting to fill our containers. We have pre-booked container slots sharing space with commercial exporters, so we can ship weekly with the world's premier shipping lines.
 

Packed pallets lined up
Safer

Better Protection For Your Move

Palletised shipping for a safer move overseas. Our shrink-wrap packing stops the handling of individual items. This reduces the risks of damage or mix-ups and improves the security & protection of your goods.

Pallets being measured
Smarter

Measured Exactly for Accurate Billing

When it comes to shipping, size matters. Moving costs are determined by the total volume of your shipment. After packing, our pallets can be measured exactly to ensure clear and accurate billing for your move abroad.

Further Benefits of Using 1st Move International:

  • 25 years’ experience providing international removals services
  • Members of the British Association of Removers
  • Members of the British International Freight Association
  • Modern fleet and fully trained packers and movers
  • Fully insured from your home to your destination
  • Your own personal, dedicated move manager
  • Free UK storage up to the next scheduled sailing date
  • Electronic and Fastrack Customs clearance
  • Faster weekly sailings with unbeatable transit times
  • 24/7 container and vessel tracking systems

Shipping Options For Your Move

Loading a Shared Container with 1st Move Pallets

Shared Container

Our shared container services allow you to share a shipping container with other customers who are moving to the same overseas destination. This is a more affordable option for smaller international shipments, as you only pay for the space your own goods take up inside the container. This is the preferred shipping choice for shipments up to 15 cubic metres or 530 cubic feet.

Palletised shipping makes it easier to load and offload and is a safer way to share a container with other customers. Our shared container services run on set weekly shipping schedules to most of our popular destinations worldwide, including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, and more.

Loading a Full Container with 1st Move Pallets

Full Container

Our full container services provide either a 20ft or 40ft container to be used solely for your own overseas shipment. This is ideal for larger international moves, such as a 3-4 bedroom household, and where you are taking all your personal effects, including white goods and furniture.

Subject to access, we can load the container directly from your home into the container, or we can pack and collect your household goods in smaller vans to be securely loaded a few days later at our own warehouse facilities.

Either process can take up to 3 days to allow for professional packing and loading, and then your container will go directly to the port for the first available sailing to your home country.

Safer Packing for Every Move

Benefit from our safer packing procedures. Every house move is carefully packed and palletised. This unique process is designed to provide the maximum protection for your belongings. For the safest way to ship your household goods overseas check out the slider and our video below.

Read More About our Packing Process

Before After

A Global Relocation Service Like No Other

With over 25 years of experience in providing international moving services from the UK, we have the expertise to handle your move with ease. Since establishing our company in 1997, we've managed thousands of overseas relocations for families and corporations around the globe. Let our seasoned team put our 25+ years of industry experience to work for you.

Personal Move Manager

With their extensive experience in international removals, customs protocols, and documentation requirements, your personal Move Manager will coordinate every aspect of your international move. They will be your single point of contact, available to answer questions, provide recommendations, and ensure your personal belongings arrive safely.

Read more about our experienced team.

Insurance

Protect your belongings on their journey to your new home. Our comprehensive shipping insurance covers loss or damage to your household goods and personal effects during international transit and storage. We offer flexible plans with different coverage options for your shipment's value; whether you need full protection or more basic coverage, we have an insurance solution that fits your budget and risk tolerance.

Read more about insurance.

Customs Clearance

We use our customs expertise to simplify your international move. We are registered customs brokers, and we handle all the customs documentation, regulations, and inspections to get your personal belongings swiftly through border control and on their way to your new home. Our palletised shipping system allows for fast-track customs clearance at your destination and speedy delivery to your door.

Read more about our customs clearance process.

Look for the Badge. We are a BAR registered mover.

As a BAR member, our company has been rigorously vetted and subject to regular audits to ensure we meet their strict quality guidelines, including financial stability, full regulatory compliance, and adhering to the BAR's strict code of practice when dealing with our customers and all aspects of shipping their goods worldwide.

Trading Standards Approved Code of Practice

BAR Member companies must follow a Chartered Trading Standards Institute Code of Practice. This code protects our customers and ensures we, as members, are transparent in all our communications with you, our customer.

Shipping Around the World

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The cost to move overseas will vary depending on the size of your move and whether you will need a shared or a dedicated container service. A full house move with a dedicated container can cost between £4500.00 and £7500.00 depending on the destination. Shared container costs are between £1250.00 and £4000.00 depending on the final packed volume of your move.

Completing the Quick Quote form on this page will give us your moving requirements. From this, we can provide you with exact costs once we know what you are shipping, where you are moving from, and your destination.

You can also visit our here for further information.

The best way to get a quote for overseas removals is to complete the on our website. We'll send you your tailored estimate within 24 hours with everything you need to know.

Typically, you can import your personal and household items without paying any duties if you've owned and used them for at least one year and they're not intended for resale or for someone else. However, regulations can vary by country, so please contact us to confirm if any taxes or restrictions apply to your move.

Yes, we handle all customs paperwork and forms for your move. We are a government-registered customs broker and electronically file all UK customs documents on your behalf. We use the UK Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system to ensure a smooth transit through UK customs. Any company involved in moving goods between the UK and other countries must have a registered EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification number) in order to file customs entry declarations. 1st Move’s EORI number is GB720702181000, and you can check our company’s compliance on this .

Check EORI.

See our here.

You can also search the .

Yes, you can ship your car when you move overseas. In most cases, you will have to have owned the vehicle for more than 12 months to avoid any duty or taxes. Every country has complex customs regulations and procedures for importing vehicles, so you need to check with us beforehand. Please see our page for more information.

The 3 main methods to ship internationally from the UK are; shared container (for small to medium moves), full container services (for larger household moves), or airfreight (for small, more expensive, and must-have items).

  1. Passport: A copy of your passport is necessary for all international moves.
  2. Visa or Resident PermitM: Depending on your destination, the specific type of visa or resident permit required will vary.
  3. Inventory and Valuation: An inventory and valuation of the goods you are shipping is essential.

These documents can be uploaded via our .

Yes, you can track the progress of your shipment during your move by using our and entering the container number that we provide you once everything has been packed and loaded. In arrival, our local agents will keep you updated every step of the way up to delivery to your door.

Yes, you can pack most items yourself, but please note that any items you have packed yourself will not be covered for damages. We recommend using our professional packing services for fragile items and most furniture items. Find further advice on our .

We recommend using marine insurance cover when shipping your belongings overseas. We take great care in protecting your goods; however, due to the distance travelled and the need for other parties to handle your goods, we always recommend taking out our for peace of mind. You can also find our .

The cheapest way to move internationally is via sea freight. More specifically, groupage (or shared container) shipping. This ensures that you only pay for the space that your household goods or personal effects have taken up inside the container. Using a palletised system of shipping means your move can be measured exactly, allows for safer loading and shipping, and is a cheaper way to ship.

This ensures that you only pay for the space that your household goods or personal effects have taken up inside the container. Using a palletised system of shipping means your move can be measured exactly, allows for safer loading and shipping, and is a cheaper way to ship.

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You can get a , including shared container services, here.

  1. Research Multiple Companies: Begin by researching several international moving companies.
  2. Check Memberships: Ensure the companies are members of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and the British International Freight Association.
  3. Evaluate Standards and Compliance: Look for companies that adhere to professional standards and compliance inspections, as required by BAR.
  4. Consider Experience and Expertise: Choose a company with a proven track record in international moves.

We are proud to be members of the British Association of Removers (BAR). The BAR is the UK’s leading trade association for removal companies, upholding professional standards through compliance inspections and requiring all members to adhere to their strict Code of Practice. As BAR members for over 20 years, we have met their stringent criteria in areas like staff training, insurance, safe storage and handling of household goods, trade practices, and compliance with international moving regulations. Our BAR membership demonstrates our commitment to ethical, high-quality service in the removals industry. Feel confident choosing a BAR member like us for your next overseas move.

Check out our article on for more detailed advice on choosing an international removals company that is right for you.

You can take all manner of personal effects and household goods, such as furniture, electronics, artwork, and clothes. In fact, you can take almost any of your personal effects as long as you are the owner.

There are some items that are prohibited from overseas shipping, such as perishable goods, plants, tobacco, alcohol, etc. Please check our for more information and a full list of all prohibited items.

Yes, you can ship furniture overseas. If you can, you should avoid shipping older, larger furniture items, as these will increase the volume of your move and ultimately the cost. If you ship new furniture still in the original boxes, then customs may charge you import duty and taxes. Check out our .

Our airfreight department can arrange to fly important items to arrive within a few days rather than wait for your shipment to arrive. Here are some items you may want to send by air freight when moving overseas.
  • Jewellery, important documents, photos or mementos, and other small irreplaceable items.
  • Basic clothes and toiletries, enough to get for a week or two until your main shipment arrives.
  • PC or small home office items to get you working and online quickly.
  • Children's comfort items, special toys, books, blankets, Xbox, or Playstation.
    These items will help ease kids' transitions in to their new country.
  • Medical records for registering with doctors or hospitals in your new country.
  • Specialty items, anything required for pets, infants, medical conditions, or your profession.
Airfreight can be expensive. The goal is to only air freight essentials for the first 1-2 weeks that would be difficult to go without or replace.

Our overseas removals services cover the whole of the UK. We provide nationwide collections from all major UK towns and cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Leicester, Coventry, Southampton, Plymouth, Exeter and many more.

Whether you are moving from London to New York, or from Liverpool to Sydney, we’ve got you covered.

Your Pallets Packed - Posted Live on Facebook

Your life, carefully wrapped, beautifully packed, and protected for the journey ahead.

We are extremely proud of our unique packing process. We are one of the only international movers in the UK that uses this tried and tested method to ship your treasured personal possessions overseas.

This is our craft - lives packed with care and attention for their journey overseas. Visit our Facebook page to find a snapshot of each shipment captured as the final pallet is wrapped.

We're proud to post these images, showcasing our removals team's passion and skill. Your personal effects are in the very best hands and are now destined for new adventures abroad.

Come and have a look.

Our Happy Customers