If you are moving abroad from London, the practical side of getting your belongings from one country to another is probably the part you know least about. Most people have moved house before, but few have shipped a household internationally. This guide explains how the process works, from the first survey through to delivery at the other end.
How international removals from London work
An international move follows a fairly standard sequence, regardless of where you are going.
It starts with a survey. An international moving company visits your home or does a video call to assess the volume of goods you want to ship. They need to see what you have so they can recommend the right shipping method and give you an accurate quote.
Once you book, the company sends a packing crew to your home. They wrap and box everything, label each item, and create a detailed inventory. This inventory is important because it becomes the customs declaration document at both ends.
Your goods are collected from your London address and taken to a depot or directly to a port. From London, most shipments go through the Port of Tilbury, London Gateway, or Felixstowe depending on the route and the shipping line.
Before the container or consignment is loaded, your shipping company handles UK customs clearance. They submit an export declaration to HMRC through the Customs Declaration Service. For personal effects, this is usually straightforward. The full UK customs clearance process is explained in a separate guide.
The goods travel by sea or air to the destination country. On arrival, they go through import customs clearance at that end. If you are using a door-to-door service, the company’s local agent handles this for you. Your belongings are then delivered to your new address.
Shipping options
Most international moves from London use one of these methods.
Groupage means your goods share container space with other shipments going to the same region. This is the most affordable option for smaller moves — typically anything under about 15 cubic metres. The trade-off is that transit takes longer because the container does not leave until it is full.
A full container is the better option if you are shipping a 3-bedroom house or more. You get a 20ft or 40ft container to yourself. A 20ft container holds roughly the contents of a 2 to 3 bedroom house. A 40ft container suits a 4-bedroom house or larger. Full containers ship on a fixed schedule, so transit times are shorter than groupage.
Air freight is the fastest option and the most expensive. It makes sense for urgent items or small shipments — documents, clothing, a few boxes of essentials you need before the sea freight arrives. Most air freight from London goes through Heathrow.
Where people move to from London
London is a starting point for moves to almost anywhere, but certain routes are more common.
The Middle East accounts for a large share of international moves from London. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are all popular destinations, with regular shipping routes to Dubai and door-to-door services to Egypt available from most UK-based moving companies.
Europe is the most common destination region overall. France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and the Netherlands see steady demand. Since Brexit, customs clearance is required for EU moves, which was not the case before 2021.
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and the United States are longer-distance routes with transit times of 6 to 10 weeks by sea.
The shipping process is the same regardless of destination. What changes is the transit time, the import customs requirements at the other end, and sometimes the documentation.
Documents and customs
Every international move from the UK requires customs clearance at both ends — export from the UK and import at the destination.
On the UK side, your shipping company submits an Export Accompanying Document through the Customs Declaration Service. You need a detailed inventory and packing list, and your passport details. For most household moves, UK export clearance takes 1 to 3 working days.
At the destination, the import requirements vary by country. Some countries charge duty and VAT on personal effects. Others offer exemptions for residents who are relocating. The documents typically required include your passport, visa or residence permit, the inventory, the bill of lading, and sometimes a letter from your employer.
If you are moving to the UK from abroad, you may qualify for Transfer of Residence relief, which exempts your personal belongings from UK duty and VAT. This does not apply to outbound moves but is worth knowing if you plan to return.
Your shipping company should explain the customs requirements for your specific destination before you book. If they use a door-to-door service, customs clearance at both ends is included.
How long international moves take
Transit times from London vary by region and shipping method.
Moves to Europe by sea take roughly 1 to 3 weeks. Road freight to nearby countries like France or the Netherlands can arrive within a few days.
The Middle East takes 3 to 5 weeks by sea. Dubai and the Gulf states are at the shorter end. Egypt is typically 4 to 6 weeks.
Australia and New Zealand take 6 to 8 weeks. The US east coast takes 4 to 6 weeks; the west coast is closer to 6 to 8 weeks.
Air freight to any destination takes 5 to 10 days including handling and customs at both ends.
These are transit times only. Add time for packing and collection at the London end, UK customs clearance, and import clearance plus delivery at the destination. A realistic total timeline from packing day to delivery day is usually the transit time plus 2 to 4 weeks.
What affects the cost
The cost of an international move from London depends on several things.
Volume is the biggest factor. Shipping companies quote based on the cubic volume of your goods, not weight (unless you are using air freight). More stuff means a higher price.
The destination matters because shipping lines charge different freight rates for different routes. A move to France costs less than a move to Australia, partly because of distance and partly because of how many containers go that direction.
The shipping method makes a difference. Groupage is cheapest per cubic metre. A full container is cheaper per unit if you have enough volume to fill it. Air freight is the most expensive by a wide margin.
The level of service you choose also affects the price. Port-to-port is the cheapest option, but you arrange customs and delivery yourself at both ends. Door-to-door means the company handles everything — professional packing, collection, export customs, shipping, import customs, and delivery to your new home. Most people moving a full household choose door-to-door because the logistics at the other end are difficult to manage remotely.
Insurance, storage, and special items like pianos or vehicles add to the cost.
The only way to get an accurate price is to request a survey and quote. Costs change with fuel prices, container availability, and seasonal demand, so published price lists go out of date quickly.
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