Accreditations, Memberships & Partners
Choosing an international removals company is a question of trust. Your personal belongings are being packed, handled, documented, shipped overseas and delivered through international partners, so it is important to know that the company you choose is properly established, professionally accredited and independently regulated.
1st Move International has been helping customers move overseas since 1997. We are members of leading UK and international moving associations, including the British Association of Removers (BAR), the International Association of Movers (IAM) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA).
These memberships are more than logos on a website. They reflect the standards we work to across our business, from staff training, premises and operating procedures to customer care, financial responsibility, international shipping knowledge and overseas partner selection and coordination.
For our customers, this provides added confidence that their move is being handled by an experienced, properly accredited international removals company with the systems, people and protections needed to manage an overseas move professionally.
Trusted. Accredited. Protected.
When you move overseas with 1st Move International, you benefit from:
- Established UK company since 1997
- BAR member for professional removals standards
- IAM member for international moving standards and global partner reach
- Advance Payment Guarantee protection
- CTSI Approved Code protection through BAR
- BIFA membership supporting our international shipping and customs knowledge
International Association of Movers (IAM)
1st Move International is a member of the International Association of Movers, one of the world's leading associations for international moving companies.
IAM membership is especially relevant for overseas removals because international moves depend on more than UK collection and packing. They also require reliable overseas agents, accurate documentation, customs knowledge and professional coordination at your destination country.
Our IAM membership supports our ability to work within a recognised international moving network and reinforces our commitment to professional standards, ethical conduct and reliable service for customers moving abroad.
British Association of Removers (BAR)
1st Move International has been a long-standing member of the British Association of Removers.
BAR membership is one of the most important trust signals for UK customers choosing a removals company. BAR members are inspected against membership criteria covering areas such as premises, staff, vehicles, operational procedures, insurance arrangements and customer service standards.
As a BAR member, we follow the BAR Code of Practice and are part of a regulated removals framework designed to protect customers and raise standards across the moving industry.
Advance Payment Guarantee
Moving overseas usually means paying for your removal before the move is completed. That makes payment protection an important part of choosing the right international removals company.
Through our BAR membership, qualifying customers can benefit from Advance Payment Guarantee protection. This helps protect advance payments if a member company was unable to fulfil the contracted move due to financial failure.
For customers arranging an international move, this provides an additional layer of reassurance before their belongings leave the UK.
CTSI Approved Code
The BAR Code of Practice is approved and monitored under the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Approved Code Scheme.
This gives customers further reassurance that BAR members operate within a recognised consumer protection framework. The Code covers important areas such as service standards, advertising, customer communication, complaints handling and what should happen if something goes wrong.
For customers, this means you are choosing a mover that is not only experienced, but also working to a recognised and independently monitored code of practice.
Independent Dispute Resolution
In the unlikely event that a complaint cannot be resolved directly, BAR customers have access to independent dispute resolution through the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman.
This provides an impartial route for handling unresolved disputes and gives customers additional confidence when choosing a professional, accredited international mover.
British International Freight Association (BIFA)
1st Move International is also a member of the British International Freight Association.
While BAR and IAM are the most customer-facing accreditations for international removals, our BIFA membership supports the shipping and documentation side of our service. International removals involve export documentation, shipping arrangements, customs procedures and coordination with carriers and overseas agents. Our BIFA membership reflects the additional shipping knowledge required to move personal effects safely and efficiently overseas.
Established in 1997
1st Move International Limited was incorporated in 1997 and has been helping customers move their belongings overseas for almost three decades.
Customers can verify our company registration through Companies House.
1st Move International Limited
Company Registration Number: 03468184
Established: 1997
Why These Accreditations Matter
International removals are more complex than a standard UK move. Your belongings need to be packed for export, measured accurately, documented correctly, shipped safely and cleared through customs at destination.
Our accreditations and memberships help demonstrate that we are:
- A properly established UK company
- Experienced in international removals
- Part of recognised UK and global moving networks
- Working to professional industry standards
- Able to provide customer protection through recognised schemes
- Experienced in shipping, customs documentation and overseas coordination
Move Overseas with Confidence
Whether you are moving to the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, South Africa or another overseas destination, 1st Move International provides a professional door-to-door removals service from the UK.
From your first quote to final delivery overseas, our team will help with packing, documentation, shipping, customs support and delivery through our trusted international partners.
Our Happy Customers
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 moving 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.
