You have a job start date, or a house sale, or a visa that will not wait. What you do not have is an address. Most people want to see a neighbourhood before signing a lease, and many landlords will not talk to you until you are in the country. So you end up with a difficult question: how do you send your belongings somewhere when you do not yet know where that is?
Quick answer: yes, you can book an international move without a permanent address. Your belongings can be collected as planned and held in storage in the UK or at the destination until you have somewhere to live. You will need an address at certain points, though, usually for customs and always for final delivery, so it is worth working out those dates early.
When do you actually need an address?
Less often than people think, but it is not never.
To book your move: you do not need one. A destination city or region is enough for a quote.
For delivery: yes, a full street address. A PO box will not work for a removal crew. Access matters too, so your move manager will want to know about parking, stairs and lifts at the new home before delivery is booked.
For customs: this varies by country, and it is the part that can set your real deadline.
- In Germany, customs asks for your address registration certificate when your belongings are cleared. You have to arrive, find somewhere and register before delivery.
- In France, you need proof of your French address alongside your long-stay visa.
- In the Netherlands, evidence of your destination address is part of the application for relief, which has to be approved before arrival.
- In several Asian destinations, customs will not release belongings until a residence or work permit is in place.
If your belongings reach the destination before you have what customs needs, they usually wait, and that waiting can be costly at a port. So the question to ask is not “when can I find a flat?” but “what does customs here need, and by when?”
What are your options?
There are three common approaches. Many people combine them.
| Option | How it works | Best when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hold in the UK | Your belongings are collected and stored at a UK depot, then shipped once you have an address | You are not sure of the city, or you may be months away from a home | Your belongings will arrive later. Add the full transit time to your plans |
| Send and hold at the destination | Your belongings travel as planned and wait in storage near your new home | You know the city and expect to find a home within a few weeks | Customs may need to clear them on arrival, so check the paperwork first |
| Essentials first | A small amount goes ahead by air freight or as baggage, and the rest follows | You need clothes and work things quickly, whichever option you choose for the rest | Air is much more expensive per kilo, so keep it small |
A fourth option is to use a temporary address. Some people use a serviced apartment or a relative’s home. That can work for customs in some countries, but check first, because a registration or a delivery there has to be genuine. Do not give an address you do not have the right to use.
What does storage cost?
Most international removal companies, including Gerson Moving Services, build a period of free storage into standard quotes, typically around two weeks at the UK end and a similar period at the destination. Most timing gaps fall within that window. If you need longer, storage is charged by size and duration, and your move manager will tell you the rate up front.
The honest warning is about unplanned storage. A delay caused by a missing document or a customs hold can lead to daily fees at a port, and those can build quickly. They are not always something a removal company controls. Planned storage in a depot is a very different thing. It is one more reason to raise this at the start.
Your belongings stay packed as they were on collection day, and your inventory stays with them, so nothing needs to be re-listed when storage ends. Check with your move manager how MoveProtect applies during storage, particularly if it runs for a while.
Moving Before You Have A Home To Go To?
Tell your move manager where you are heading and what you know so far. They will show you the dates customs needs, what storage would cost, and how to keep your options open.
How do you plan the gap?
Work backwards from three dates:
- The date you have to leave your UK home. This sets your collection date.
- The earliest date you could realistically have an address. Be cautious. Finding a rental from scratch can take longer than expected, especially in cities like Sydney, Dublin or Zurich.
- The date customs needs your paperwork. This depends on the country.
Then allow for transit time. Sea freight can take from about 4 to 14 weeks depending on the destination, so a home you find soon after landing may be ready well before your belongings are. In that case the gap solves itself: sailing time gives you time to look.
That is often the best answer. If you are moving to Australia, with 8 to 12 weeks door to door, you could leave your belongings to sail while you fly out, look for a home, and give your move manager the address while the container is at sea. Many people do this without ever paying for extra storage.
Road moves within Europe are much quicker, so you will have less of this natural buffer. Holding in the UK or at the destination tends to be more useful there.
Raise it early, even as a maybe. A gap spotted three weeks before collection is a simple adjustment. Your move manager builds it into the schedule and tells you what, if anything, it will cost. The same gap found on the day is a scramble.
How does your move manager help?
Your move starts with a survey by a removal specialist, who passes the file to your dedicated move manager, your primary contact throughout. They will set out the customs deadlines for your country, suggest which option fits, and keep your belongings moving, or waiting, in the right place. If it helps, our home search service can also support you in finding somewhere to live.
Not knowing where you will live is an unsettling part of moving abroad. It does not have to hold up the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship my belongings abroad without a delivery address?
You can start the move without one. Your belongings can be collected and stored in the UK or at the destination until you have an address. A full street address is needed before final delivery, and sometimes earlier for customs.
Can I use a PO box for an international removal?
No, not for delivery. A removal crew needs a street address they can reach, with details of access. A PO box may work for your own post, but not for your belongings.
How long can my belongings stay in storage at the destination?
It depends on the destination, the depot and customs rules. A free period of around two weeks is typically included in our quotes, and longer periods are charged by size and duration. Your move manager will confirm the limits for your destination.
Do I need to be in the country when my belongings arrive?
Often, yes, or at least you need your documents in order. Many destinations need your passport, visa and sometimes a signature for clearance, and arrangements differ by country. Your move manager will tell you whether you need to be there in person.
Can I change my delivery address after my belongings have shipped?
Usually, yes, particularly within the same city or region. Tell your move manager as early as you can, because it may change delivery costs and customs paperwork that named the original address.
What should I bring with me if my belongings arrive later?
Pack as if you will be without your things for the full transit time, plus a few weeks. That means documents, medication, work items, children’s essentials and clothes for the season. For more, a small air freight or baggage consignment can bridge the gap.
Related Topics
- Storage in transit
- Sea freight or air freight?
- How long does an international move take?
- What to do if your belongings are held at customs
You do not need all the answers yet
Tell your move manager what you know, including what you do not know yet. They will show you the dates that matter, what each option costs, and which decisions can wait.
