Gerson Moving Services manages end-to-end international removals from the UK to destinations worldwide. Every move is handled by a dedicated move manager – your primary contact from the first survey through to delivery at your new front door, wherever that is.
Select your destination below for detailed information on shipping options, customs requirements, and door-to-door delivery timelines for that country. If your destination isn’t listed, get in touch. We move to destinations worldwide and your move manager can advise on any route.
Every international move follows the same four-stage structure, no matter where you are going or how much you are moving.
Step 1 - Survey
A removal specialist surveys your home in person or by video call, assessing the volume of your belongings and any specialist requirements. This is where your accurate quote is built - nothing is estimated over the phone.
Step 2 - Your move manager takes over
From the moment you accept your quote, you have a dedicated move manager. They hold your full survey file, handle the paperwork, book your sailing, and are your primary contact for everything that follows.
Step 3 - Packing and collection
A professional packing crew arrives on your chosen collection date. Every item is packed in export-grade materials, inventoried, and loaded. Your move manager has briefed the crew in advance on any specialist items.
Step 4 - Transit, customs, and delivery
Your belongings travel by sea or air freight to your destination. Your move manager coordinates with our in-country partner for customs clearance and final delivery to your new address. They keep you informed throughout - you are never left wondering where your things are.
Every move is different, but the structure is always the same: a clear process, a named person responsible, and no stage where you are left without an update. If you would like to understand exactly what happens at each step, from your first survey through to delivery at your new home, the full details are on our How We Work page.
One of the first decisions in any international removal is how your belongings will travel. There are two main options, and your move manager will recommend the right one after your survey.
Your goods share a shipping container with other customers’ shipments travelling to the same region. Groupage is cost-effective for smaller moves – typically one to two bedrooms of furniture and personal effects – because you only pay for the space your belongings occupy rather than for an entire container.
The trade-off is flexibility. Groupage sailings consolidate shipments from multiple customers, which means your departure date depends on when enough volume is ready to fill the container. Transit times can be slightly longer than a dedicated sailing, and your goods will be handled more than once at the consolidation warehouse. Everything is packed to export standard regardless – but groupage suits moves where cost matters more than a fixed departure date.
A dedicated 20ft or 40ft container is loaded exclusively with your belongings, sealed at your home or at the UK port, and travels direct to your destination port without being opened in transit. FCL suits larger moves – three bedrooms and above – and gives you several advantages groupage cannot:
For moves involving high-value items, antiques, specialist equipment, or large volumes where you need a firm delivery window at the other end, FCL is almost always the right choice.
After your survey, your move manager will calculate your volume and advise which option fits your move. For borderline volumes – where a groupage shipment would be very full, or where a 20ft container would be mostly empty – they will walk you through the cost and timing trade-offs of each so you can make the decision that fits your timeline and budget.
You can also read our guide to if you are weighing up whether to split your shipment – sending priority items by air and the bulk of your goods by sea.
Sea freight transit times vary significantly by destination. The table below shows typical door-to-door ranges – from collection at your UK home to delivery at your new address – for the destinations we move to most frequently.
These are planning estimates based on current routing. Your move manager will confirm the expected timeline for your specific route at the survey stage. Groupage shipments may sit at the slightly longer end of the range; full containers are generally at the shorter end.
A note on Australia and New Zealand: Routing to Australia and New Zealand currently takes longer than historical averages for many sailings, as a significant number of vessels are travelling via the Cape of Good Hope rather than the Suez Canal. Your move manager will give you the most current timeline at the time of booking.
For most destinations, booking 8–12 weeks before your target departure date gives enough time for the survey, quote, packing preparation, and sailing allocation. For peak periods (summer, end of year), more notice is advisable. Your move manager will work back from your target delivery date to set a realistic collection date.
| Destination | Sea freight (door to door) | Air freight (door to door) |
|---|---|---|
| France / Belgium / Netherlands | 2–4 weeks | 3–5 days |
| Germany / Austria / Switzerland | 2–4 weeks | 3–5 days |
| Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) | 3–5 weeks | 3–5 days |
| Monaco | 2–4 weeks | 3–5 days |
| South Africa | 6–8 weeks | 7–10 days |
| UAE / Dubai | 5–7 weeks | 5–7 days |
| Malaysia | 7–9 weeks | 7–10 days |
| Singapore | 7–9 weeks | 7–10 days |
| Thailand | 8–10 weeks | 7–10 days |
| Australia | 10–14 weeks | 10–14 days |
| New Zealand | 12–16 weeks | 10–14 days |
| USA — East Coast | 6–8 weeks | 5–7 days |
| USA — West Coast | 8–10 weeks | 7–10 days |
| Canada — East | 6–8 weeks | 5–7 days |
| Canada — West | 8–10 weeks | 7–10 days |
Most people are surprised to learn that in the majority of countries, your used household goods can enter duty-free when you are genuinely relocating your permanent residence. This is not automatic – it requires the right documentation – but it is standard practice for international moves, and your move manager handles the paperwork.
How the duty-free relief works
When you move your permanent home abroad, most destination countries treat your personal effects and household goods differently from commercial imports. Rather than charging standard customs duty and VAT on every item you ship, they allow genuinely used goods to enter under a personal effects or transfer of residence exemption.
The conditions vary by country, but the core requirements are broadly consistent:
Your move manager prepares the documentation your shipment needs to clear customs at the destination – the packing inventory, the Bill of Lading, and any destination-specific declaration forms. They will also brief you on what documentation you need to provide as the owner of the goods: typically proof of your previous UK residence, confirmation of your new address or visa status, and evidence of when key items were purchased if queried.
If your destination has unusual requirements – a formal import permit, mandatory customs inspection, or specific restrictions on categories of goods – your move manager will flag this before your collection date, not after your shipment has arrived at the port.
Duty-free relief covers personal effects and household goods for personal use. It does not cover: new goods purchased specifically for the move; commercial quantities of any item; vehicles (which are subject to separate import duty regimes in most countries); and items that are restricted or prohibited at the destination regardless of their personal-use status – such as certain foods, agricultural products, or controlled materials.
If you are unsure whether a specific item will clear customs without duty, ask your move manager before it goes on the inventory. It is easier to plan for it before packing than to deal with a customs query once the shipment is at the destination port.
Take a look at some of the great feedback we have received.
“From our initial enquiry through to final delivery, the service was exceptional. The team kept us informed every step of the way, handled everything with care, and made what could have been a stressful process feel remarkably straightforward.”
“We were looking for a moving company we could trust, and the experience exceeded our expectations. Communication was excellent throughout, timelines were met, and our belongings arrived safely and in perfect condition.”
“The professionalism and attention to detail were evident from day one. Every aspect of our move was carefully managed, and the team were always available to answer questions and provide updates. We wouldn’t hesitate to use their services again.”
International removal costs vary depending on your destination, the volume of your belongings, and the shipping method. As a rough guide, a part-load to Europe typically starts from £1,500–£3,000. A full container to Australia or the USA typically ranges from £4,500–£8,000 or more. The only way to get an accurate figure is through a home survey – phone estimates are almost always wrong. See our full cost guide for a detailed breakdown by destination and move size.
It depends on your destination and shipping method. Sea freight to Europe typically takes two to four weeks door to door. Moves to Australia or New Zealand take ten to fourteen weeks. Moves to the USA or Canada take six to ten weeks depending on which coast. Air freight is significantly faster but costs considerably more and is generally used for smaller volumes or urgent items. See the transit times table above for destination-by-destination guidance.
Our quotes are door-to-door. They include the pre-move survey, professional packing and export materials, container loading and UK port handling, sea or air freight, destination customs clearance coordination, and delivery to your new address. We will always be clear about what is and is not included – and about the costs that fall outside any removal company’s control, such as customs inspection charges.
Your move manager is assigned to you from the moment you accept your quote. They receive your full survey file, manage all the paperwork, book your sailing, brief the packing crew, coordinate with our in-country delivery partner, and stay in contact with you throughout transit. They are the person you call if you have a question, if something changes, or if anything unexpected happens. You will not be passed to a call centre or a different person at each stage.
Yes. We can arrange secure storage at the destination and deliver when you are ready. This is a common situation – particularly when visa processing or property completion runs longer than expected. Let your move manager know as early as possible, and they will plan around it from the start.
It depends on the volume of your belongings. A groupage (shared container) shipment is cost-effective for smaller moves – typically one to two bedrooms of furniture – and you pay only for the space your goods occupy. A full container (FCL) suits larger moves, gives you a confirmed sailing date, and means your goods travel sealed without additional handling. Your move manager will recommend the right option based on your survey volume.
In most cases, no. Most countries allow used personal effects and household goods to be imported duty-free when you are genuinely relocating your permanent residence. Conditions typically include: goods must be used and owned for at least six months, and properly declared on arrival. Your move manager handles the documentation required to support a duty-free clearance. If your destination has specific conditions or restrictions, they will flag these before your shipment departs.
Gerson Moving Services holds full accreditation from two major international removals associations, and is part of the AGM Group of companies:
We have been trusted by these industry bodies for over a decade. Accreditation means your move is carried out to a verified professional standard – and that if anything goes wrong, you have recourse through a recognised dispute process.
Our is available for every international move, providing additional protection for your belongings throughout transit.
Your move manager is available from the first call. They will assess your volume, advise on container type, confirm your transit timeline, and handle the customs paperwork – so the complexity of moving abroad stays with us, not with you.
