Start an overseas household move about 16 weeks before pickup when you can. The extra time is for destination rules, mover surveys, customs documents, visas, housing, and the belongings you will need while the main shipment is at sea. If you have less time, keep the same order and shorten the intervals.
The 16-week overview
| Time before pickup | Main result | Key work |
|---|---|---|
| 16–13 weeks | Move is legally and financially possible | Immigration, housing, destination rules, budget, surveys |
| 12–9 weeks | Mover and shipping method selected | Quotes, provider checks, ship-or-sell decisions, travel |
| 8–5 weeks | Documents and item list ready | Customs forms, insurance, pets, vehicles, schools, health care |
| 4–2 weeks | Home and shipment ready | Packing, access, final item list, destination delivery |
| Final week | Family can travel without the shipment | Documents, essentials, handoff, condition records |
Weeks 16–13: prove the plan works
- Confirm visas, passports, residence requirements, work or study permissions, and planned entry dates.
- Research what household goods may enter, which qualify for duty relief, and what must be declared.
- Arrange virtual or in-home surveys with international movers serving the exact country and city.
- Build a budget for the shipment, travel, deposits, temporary housing, storage, duties, and a delayed delivery.
- Decide whether pets, vehicles, wine, plants, medication, or specialist items need separate providers.
For a shipment leaving the United States by ocean, review the Federal Maritime Commission’s consumer guidance and verify the company offering ocean transportation.
Weeks 12–9: choose the mover and what will travel
Compare written door-to-door prices using the same item list, pickup and delivery addresses, dates, access, packing, storage, and protection. Ask who packs, who carries the shipment to port, who books ocean or air space, and which company handles customs and delivery at the destination.
Choose among shared ocean space, a sole-use container, air freight, and excess baggage based on volume, time, and budget. Then decide what to ship, sell, donate, store, or carry. Large low-value furniture can cost more to ship than to replace; irreplaceable documents and daily essentials should stay with you.
Weeks 8–5: finish the documents
- Complete the destination customs forms using current official instructions.
- Gather passports, visas, residence evidence, employment or school documents, leases, and travel bookings.
- Create a detailed item list with values, serial numbers, and photographs for important belongings.
- Confirm restricted or prohibited items with the mover and destination authority.
- Finalize pet, vehicle, medical, and insurance arrangements.
- Ask how the shipment will be tracked and which document identifies it at each stage.
Keep digital and paper copies securely, but do not put the only copy of any essential document inside the shipment.
Weeks 4–2: prepare both homes
Confirm packing and pickup dates, elevator reservations, truck access, parking, and building insurance requirements. Dispose of prohibited liquids, aerosols, fuel, food, plants, and other items according to the mover’s current list. Back up computers and photograph high-value belongings before packing.
At the destination, confirm the complete address, phone number, building access, delivery hours, elevator, street restrictions, and whether a smaller delivery vehicle is required. Ask what happens if the shipment arrives before the home is ready or the home is ready before customs releases the shipment.
The final week: protect normal life
Pack a travel shipment for the period without household goods: documents, medication, chargers, work and school items, several changes of clothing, children’s needs, pet supplies, and basic kitchen and bedding items. Add extra time for a reasonable customs or transport delay.
Review the final item list and mover documents before signing. Record carton counts and existing condition. Keep the mover, destination agent, customs contact, insurer, landlord, and emergency contacts available offline.
Pickup day
- Keep passports, keys, valuables, medication, tickets, and travel bags in a locked or supervised area.
- Walk through every room, closet, cabinet, garage, attic, and outdoor space.
- Check that every carton and item appears on the packing list.
- Photograph packed high-value items, carton numbers, seals, and the empty home.
- Obtain signed copies of the item list, transport document, protection terms, and contact details.
Arrival and delivery
Respond promptly to customs or destination-agent requests and keep receipts for charges. Before delivery, reconfirm access and the amount and method of any lawful payment due. At the home, count items, note missing or damaged cartons on the delivery record, photograph concerns, and follow the written claim process.
A long international timeline becomes manageable when every week produces one visible result. Use Moveline’s complete moving checklist for the household tasks and the mover interview guide for provider checks.