International moving services: ocean freight, air freight, and customs
International moves combine ocean or air freight, customs clearance, and destination services. Choose a credentialed carrier and budget twice what you think — there are real surprises.
By Ryan Mitchell, Senior moving industry analyst · Reviewed by Amanda Brooks, Licensed relocation consultant · Updated April 2026
International moves are an order of magnitude more complex than domestic. You're coordinating origin packing, ocean or air freight, customs clearance in two countries, destination services, and (usually) storage on at least one end. The rules and paperwork differ for every destination country, and a single missing document can trigger weeks of warehouse holding fees.
The single most important decision is choosing a credentialed carrier. The two recognized international moving credentials are FIDI/FAIM (Belgium-based, audited every three years) and IAM (International Association of Movers, U.S.-based). Carriers without one or both are not necessarily bad, but you lose the audit-backed accountability that matters when something goes wrong on another continent.
Ocean freight: FCL vs LCL
Most international household moves go by ocean freight in either a Full Container Load (FCL — your goods alone in a 20- or 40-foot container) or Less than Container Load (LCL — your goods consolidated with other shippers' goods in a shared container). FCL is faster, more secure, and only marginally more expensive per cubic foot above ~600 cuft of household goods. LCL is the right answer for studios and 1BRs.
Air freight
Air freight runs roughly 5–10× ocean per pound, but transit is days instead of weeks. Most international moves use a small air-freight allotment for essentials (clothes for two weeks, work documents, immediate-need items) plus the bulk of household goods by ocean. Some carriers bundle this as "air-and-sea" service.
Customs and documentation
- Detailed inventory in destination-country language with valuation per item.
- Passport copies, visa or residence documentation, customs forms specific to destination.
- Restricted/prohibited items list (varies by country — alcohol, food, certain woods, electronics).
- Insurance certificate and bill of lading.
- For some destinations (Australia, NZ): biosecurity inspection and possible cleaning fees on outdoor items.
Destination services
Most international move quotes include "door-to-door" service: origin pack and load, ocean transport, destination customs, destination delivery, unload, and basic placement. What's often not included: destination unpacking, debris removal, and assembly. Confirm the destination-services scope in writing — the gap between "door-to-door" and "door-to-door with full unpack" is typically $1,500–$4,000 on a 2BR.
Real 2026 cost guide
| Scenario | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio LCL (transatlantic) | $1,800–$3,500 | Door-to-door, no air-freight allotment. |
| 1BR LCL (transatlantic) | $2,500–$5,500 | Most common scenario. |
| 2BR FCL 20-ft (transatlantic) | $6,500–$11,000 | Door-to-door, includes basic unload. |
| 3BR+ FCL 40-ft (cross-Pacific) | $12,000–$22,000 | Door-to-door, includes destination services. |
- • Permanent or long-term relocation to another country
- • Households with high-value contents that justify FCL service
- • Corporate-relocation moves with employer-paid coverage
- • Short-term assignment under 12 months (often cheaper to ship a small air-freight allotment and store the rest)
- • Destination has high import duties on used household goods (some Middle East and Asian countries)
- • Budget can't accommodate 2–3× the headline quote in customs and accessorial surprises
What to ask before you book
- Is the carrier FIDI/FAIM- or IAM-credentialed?
- Is the quote door-to-door, port-to-port, or door-to-port? (Big difference.)
- What's the destination customs and brokerage cost?
- What's the destination unpack and debris-removal scope?
- What's the storage-in-transit cost if dates slip on either end?
- What's the marine cargo insurance coverage and deductible?
- What restricted items must be removed before pickup? (Alcohol, food, certain plants, etc.)
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