International Removals to South Africa

International Removals UK to South Africa

Moving from the UK to South Africa and looking for international removals services and costs? Here at 1st Move International our moving to South Africa service includes guaranteed weekly shipping, the safest packing and shipping in the industry, and smarter and more accurate billing.

Get a quick quote for your overseas move to South Africa here or continue below to find out everything you need to know about moving to the USA with us. From instant cost estimates, shipping times, and answers to questions we've got you covered.

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Everything You Need To Know About International Removals To South Africa

Costs, Transit Times, Our Services, and Frequently Asked Questions

On this page you will find comprehensive information on moving from the UK to South Africa. We have included information on shipping costs, our various available services, information on our unique packing, and answers to many common questions including: "How long does international removals to South Africa take?" and more.

How Much Does it Cost?

International Removals Costs from the UK to South Africa?

Short Answer: International moving costs from the UK to South Africa can range from £992 to £2500. The exact cost will ultimately depend on how much you are shipping, your chosen service (shared or dedicated container) and your final destination in South Africa.

UK to South Africa Moving Costs

Destination Shared Container 20ft Container 40ft Container
Cape Town, South Africa From £992 £1,550 £2,450
Durban, South Africa From £992 £1,550 £2,450

* Our costs table should be used as a guide only. As we do not know your collection or destination address, or how much you plan to ship.

For a slightly more accurate and instant online cost estimate, without having to use your email address or name, check out our instant online international removals cost calculator

Finally, for a fully accurate and bespoke quote for shipping to South Africa, use our removals quote form or contact a member of our team for more information.

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What Are My Shipping Options?

Your Shipping Options for Removals to South Africa

Sea freight container shipping is typically the most popular and efficient UK to South Africa international removals method and in this section we detail the differences between the two container shipping services we offer.

Loading a Shared Container with 1st Move Pallets

Shared Container Shipping to South Africa

Thinking of moving a small houseful of belongings from the UK to South Africa? Then palletised shipping in a shared container might be your best option. It's a budget-friendly international moving service that's perfect for 1-3 bedroom homes. Plus, it's easier to unload at your new place in South Africa.

What makes our shared container service so cost-effective? Your belongings are collected directly from your home, professionally packed by us, and then secured and shrink-wrapped to a personal pallet using our unique protective packing process. You pay only for the space your goods have taken up inside the shipping container and our unique process allows us to measure this with great precision.

That same packing process allows us to ship your belongings alongside commercial goods which are filled and shipped on a strict weekly schedule without delay. This means that, unlike other international removals companies, we never have to wait for a container to be full before release. Once packed, your shipment will go out on the next available weekly shipment to South Africa.

More About Shared Container Shipping
Loading a Full Container with 1st Move Pallets

Full Container Shipping to South Africa

Moving a bigger household to South Africa? A full container may be the better solution for you. While you might not be paying for the exact size of your move if you fill your container the cost-effectiveness for the space you get exceeds shared services. We offer 20ft and 40ft sizes, so there's enough room for everything you have in your 3 or 4 bedroom home.

We can load your container at your doorstep (if there's access) or we can collect your belongings first, professionally pack them at our facilities and then securely load them in to your container at a later date. Once packed and loaded, your personal container heads straight to the port and sets sail to South Africa that week.

Once it's loaded, it heads straight to the port and catches the next ship to South Africa. After getting cleared through customs, our team will take care of everything and deliver the container to your new home and unload it for you.

More About Full Container Shipping
Our Packing

Packing For Your International Move to South Africa

We are the only international removals company to employ this system of packing, and we have been doing so for the last 25 years. Our palletised shrink-wrap packing is proven to:

  • Give your belongings unparalled protection in transit to Canada
  • Drastically reduce handling of individual items
  • Speed up customs clearance
  • Provide a Safer method of shipping your goods overseas
Before After
Cape Town, South Africa - International Removals to South Africa

135,000+

Happy Customers

9,240,000+

Cubic Feet Shipped

25+

Years' Experience
Benefits

Benefits of 1st Move International

International Removals to South Africa with 1st Move International

At 1st Move International we have over 25 years of experience safely shipping the personal effects of thousands of customers to South Africa. Our membership in the British Association of Removers (BAR) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA) assures you of our adherence to the highest industry standards, providing peace of mind throughout your move.

On booking your move you will be assigned your own dedicated move manager. They will be your point of contact and guide throughout the process of moving to South Africa. They will address any concerns and answer any questions you may have while expertly handling all of the necessary documentation and customs formalities on your behalf.

We offer free storage from collection until the point of departure and you can track your shipment online 24/7 using our free container tracking tool.

If you still have a question or would like to find our more about our services, you can talk to one of our moving experts live on our website here, contact us or give us a call on 0117 982 8123 and we'll be happy to help.

Alternatively, simply request a free, no-obligation quote and we will email you within the next 24 hours with everything you need to know and a full cost estimate for your move.

Our International Removals South Africa Service Includes:

  • Professional, Unbeatable Packing
  • Dedicated Move Manager
  • Full Door-to-door Service
  • Nationwide Collections From Anywhere in the UK
  • Guaranteed Weekly Shipping
  • Moving Insurance Cover
  • Customs Clearance & Help With Documentation
  • Advice on Import Rules & Regulations
  • Free Storage
  • Regular, Up-to-date Sailing Schedules
Our Packing

International Removals to South Africa The "1st Move Way"

Our Service

A UK to South Africa Relocation Service Like No Other

Since our inception in 1997, 1st Move International has been a leader in international removals from the UK to South Africa. With over two decades of experience, our expert team has refined its expertise and knowledge in the industry, helping countless businesses and individuals in their move abroad. Tailored to meet your specific needs, our careful and methodical approach ensures a smooth moving experience. Rely on us for an effortless and professionally coordinated international removals from the UK to South Africa.

Dedicated Move Manager

Place your move under the guidance of one of our Dedicated Move Managers, committed to making your international move easy and stress-free. Experts in international moving, they will oversee every detail, from handling customs procedures to managing documentation. Acting as your primary contact, they'll respond to all your inquiries and ensure the safe transport of your belongings to South Africa.

Meet Our Team

Moving Insurance Cover

Select comprehensive insurance coverage for your items with our extensive shipping insurance options. Our plans provide protection against loss or damage during both transit and storage, tailored to various needs, ensuring your peace of mind during the shipping process.

Our Insurance Options

Customs Clearance

Utilise our comprehensive customs knowledge for an efficient move to South Africa. As accredited customs brokers, we handle all essential documentation and comply with relevant regulations, ensuring a rapid customs clearance process and timely delivery of your belongings to your new home in South Africa.

About Customs Clearance
Costs

How Much Does it Cost to Move to South Africa?

Short Answer: The cost of international removals from the UK to South Africa starts from £992 for a shared container service, £1,550 for a 3 bed house and £2,450 for a 4 or 5 bed house. The UK to South Africa port-to-port shipping charge will ultimately depend on your move size and final location in South Africa.

UK to South Africa Moving Costs

Destination Shared Container 20ft Container 40ft Container
Cape Town, South Africa From £992 £1,550 £2,450
Durban, South Africa From £992 £1,550 £2,450

* Our costs table should be used as a guide only. As we do not know your collection or destination address, or how much you plan to ship, these costs do not include the following charges: UK collection, onward delivery from the port in South Africa to your new home, professional packing and loading costs.

For a bespoke quote for shipping to South Africa, use our removals quote form or contact a member of our team for more information.

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Testimonials

Our Happy Customers

Frequently Asked Questions

UK to South Africa Removals FAQ

Once we have collected your belongings they will be packed and ready for shipping in 2-4 working days. We then schedule your shipment onto the next available weekly sailing.

The transit time from the UK to South Africa varies depending on the exact destination. The transit time to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) is roughly 28 days, to Durban it is 28 days and to Cape Town the transit time is roughly 42 days.

For more detailed information on our weekly South Africa shipping schedule and transit times to major cities/states, please visit our South Africa Sailing Schedule page.

The final price of your move to South Africa will depend on factors such as how much you are shipping, the value of your belongings (for insurance purposes) and your collection and delivery address.

To receive an accurate estimate that is tailored to your move, please ask us for a free quote.

As a rough idea, the shipping cost for a small move starts at £992 and the cost for a full 20ft container shipment starts at £1,550. These shipping costs do not account for collection, insurance, packing etc. We advice to allocate an additional £1,000-£2,000 for these services to give you a very rough idea of the cost.

  • Safer Packing: Our packing is the best in the business and is proven to reduce insurance claims. We offer the best protection for your belongings when shipping to South Africa.
  • Faster Shipping: Thanks to how we pack, we're able to share container space with commercial exporters. This allows us to ship out from the UK every week. No waiting around.
  • Smarter Billing: Our packing also allows us to accurately measure your shipment, allowing us to charge you for the exact volume that you require.
  • Experienced Move Managers: Our dedicated and experienced move managers will be on hand at every step of the process to ensure a smooth move.
  • Streamlined Customs Process: We are registered customs brokers and experts on South African customs and import regulations. We'll handle all of the customs paperwork on your behalf.

Our removals services cover all towns and cities in South Africa, including but not limited to:

  • Johannesburg
  • Cape Town
  • Durban
  • Pretoria
  • Port Elizabeth
  • Bloemfontein
  • Nelspruit
  • Kimberley
  • Polokwane
  • Pietermaritzburg
  • East London
  • Welkom
  • Rustenburg
  • George
  • Knysna
  • Paarl
  • Stellenbosch
  • Franschhoek

Wherever you are moving to in South Africa, we've got you covered.

It only takes 60 seconds to fill out the quick quote form here on our website. Once submitted, we'll send you quote within 1-2 working days that contains all of the costs and information you need to know about removals from the UK to South Africa.

Certain items are prohibited or restricted from import into South Africa. Our Move Managers will advise based on your submitted inventory.

Please see the latest list of prohibited and restricted items on the official South African customs website.

Yes, as a registered customs broker we can handle all of the customs paperwork and formalities on your behalf.

Yes, you can track your shipment as soon as it leaves the UK for South Africa via our container tracking page.

Resources

Useful South Africa Information Resources and Guides

Shipping Personal Effects to South Africa Customs Guide

We cover all the legalities of shipping household goods from the UK to South Africa.

South Africa Moving Guides

Whether you're looking for basic moving tips, city info, or full visa and immigration guides we've got you covered.

Car Shipping to South Africa

We ship cars too. Get more information on our car shipping service.

Container Shipping Costs UK to South Africa

Get the latest information on UK to South Africa container shipping costs and American container ports.

South Africa Container Shipping Schedules

We post up-to-date sailing schedule information and as part of our weekly shipping promise we'll tell you in advance what ship we can get your personal effects on.

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 the only international removals company in the UK that uses this tried and tested method to ship your treasured personal possessions overseas.

Visit our Facebook page to find a snapshot of each shipment captured as the final pallet is wrapped.