How Can I Send My Belongings Abroad?

When moving abroad, whether it is for the first time or the 100th time, a good overseas shipping service can make or break your move. If you are wondering how to send your belongings abroad and how to make the move overseas seamless, our guide to sending your belongings overseas and all things overseas shipping is here to help.

How Do I Send My Belongings Overseas?

When sending your belongings overseas there are three main methods of international removals. These include international air freight, international sea freight and international land freight. Which one of these you choose will depend on a number of factors including how much you are willing to spend, how quickly you need your belongings to be sent abroad and where you are moving to overseas.

Air, Sea and Land Freight? What do They Mean?

Whilst you may realise that air freight is sending your belongings overseas by air, seas freight is shipping your belongings overseas by water and land freight is sending your belongings by truck or another over-land method, it isn’t always clear what these actually entail. So what is the difference when shipping overseas by air or sea?

Well, the main differences are the time and cost of moving abroad. Sea Freight, although arguably one of the most time-consuming methods of international delivery is also usually the cheapest so is a great option for those looking to move abroad on a budget. The cost of sea freight for sending belongings abroad is usually calculated on the volume or amount that you are sending abroad. Similar to this, land freight can also be a good option when moving your belongings abroad, particularly if you are moving to mainland Europe.

Last but not least, air freight is one of the most time-effective methods of sending belongings abroad. Fast, secure air freight services can get your items to your new home faster than any other method of shipping belongings abroad so are worth considering if you need to move abroad in a hurry perhaps because of a new job abroad. However, moving abroad using air freight can work out as one of the most expensive options because of this so this is worth considering if you are on a tight budget.

One thing to consider when choosing how you send your belongings abroad is that the cheapest international shipping companies may not include all of the costs involved with your move so be sure to work out exactly what you are getting for your international shipping rate and look for an all-inclusive international shipping quote to avoid being caught out.

Is it Worth Shipping my Furniture Overseas?

The short answer to this is that it depends. When working out whether it is worth shipping your furniture overseas there are a few different things to consider. Firstly, Does your furniture hold any sentimental value? Are you particularly attached to any specific items of furniture or have anything that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else? If so, then it is worth paying for these items of furniture to be shipped overseas. The second thing you should be asking yourself, once your personal attachment has been decided is how much it would cost you to replace all of your furniture overseas if you didn’t send it abroad? If the item would cost a lot, then it is worth comparing this to how much it would cost to ship these items internationally. You may be surprised about the cost of sending your belongings abroad as sometimes this can be a lot lower than you think.

How Long Does it Take to Move Internationally?

Again, the length of tie it takes to move internationally will depend on the type of international shipping you have chosen. It will also depend on where you have chosen to move to. Our average time to send items abroad via air freight, for example, is around seven to ten days, whilst the average time to send abroad using sea freight for our customers is around six to eight weeks due to the longer amount of time it takes to physically move belongings abroad using this service. However, a number of our international moves take less time than this. We help our customers move all over the world from Australia to China, Malta and more so each destination will take a different amount of time to move to. For more country-specific information on how long it will take to move your belongings abroad, get in touch with our team to discuss your international moving options.

How do I Prepare for an International Move?

When preparing for an international move there are a few things you can do. Firstly, make sure that you have a home to move into in your chosen destination. Whether you are renting or buying a home abroad, there is nothing worse than finally getting to your chosen destination only to have nowhere to put all of your belongings because your house is not ready yet.  If you are moving abroad, you should also ensure that you have the correct finances to support yourself or that you already have a position secured to allow you to work abroad.

If you are moving abroad with a family, it is important to make sure there are appropriate schools available for children moving abroad, if your destination country does not speak English as a first language, it may be worth considering looking for a bi-lingual or English-speaking school. If you are moving abroad with pets, you should look at any vaccinations they will need, any paperwork you will need to complete for them and choosing a pet transportation service to move them to your new home overseas.

Preparing Your Belongings for an International Move

Finally, you should prepare all of your belongings for moving overseas. It is a good idea at this point to check what belongings you will actually be keeping and which belongings you will not need when living overseas. If you don’t need some of your belongings then these can add extra weight to your shipment as well as extra hassle the other side finding them a home. If you are not willing to part with some of your belongings but won’t need them in your new home abroad, it may be worth considering long-term storage options to keep them safe until you need them.

When preparing belongings for a move overseas, you should do a quick check to note any damage or scuffs that may already exist on your belongings and decide if you will be transporting them whole or will need help to disassemble them and reassemble them when moving your furniture abroad. When you are ready to pack for your international move, check to see if your international shipping company provides their own packaging and if needed, whether they offer a packing service for you. This can be a hood option when moving to countries with strict customs regulations as you international mover can verify the goods packed within the shipments saving time on arrival.

Looking for an international removals specialist to help you move abroad? Here at Anglo Pacific World Movers we offer a wealth of services and move countless happy customers internationally every year. For more information, take a look at our international moving page here or our international baggage service page here. Alternatively, contact us online or on 0800 633 5445 now to talk to one of our international removals experts.