International Removals
What are you moving?
Move Your Entire Household Overseas with Anglo Pacific
When you are relocating your whole home, you need more than a shipping service. You need a team that surveys your belongings, packs everything professionally, handles customs paperwork in both countries, and delivers to the rooms you choose in your new home. That is what international removals means, and Anglo Pacific has been doing it for over 40 years.
We move households from the UK to more than 200 destinations worldwide, with BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee protection, FIDI-affiliated partner agents at your destination, and Amica transit insurance covering your belongings from door to door.
Your removal travels in one of two ways:
Dedicated Container
A dedicated container is reserved exclusively for your household. A standard 20ft container holds the contents of a typical two to three bedroom home. A 40ft container suits larger properties. Your belongings are packed, loaded, and sealed at your UK home, and the container is not opened again until it reaches your overseas address. This gives you full control over timing and security.
Shared Container (Groupage)
A shared container means your belongings travel alongside other customers’ shipments heading to the same destination port. Your items are professionally wrapped, inventoried, and separated within the container. Groupage is more cost-effective than a dedicated container for smaller households, single rooms of furniture, or partial moves where you are shipping some belongings ahead and bringing the rest later.
What Is Included In Your Removal?
Every international removal from Anglo Pacific follows the same full-service process, whether you are moving to a studio flat or a five bedroom house. Here is what is included as standard:
- Pre-move survey. A surveyor visits your home, either in person or by video call, and assesses every item you plan to take. The survey determines the volume of your shipment, the packing materials required, and the container size. Your quote is based on this survey, so there are no surprises on moving day.
- Professional packing. Our team arrives on packing day with all materials: boxes, tissue paper, bubble wrap, furniture blankets, wardrobe cartons, and custom crating for fragile or valuable items. Every item is wrapped individually and packed to industry standards.
- Loading and sealing. Once packed, your belongings are loaded into your container at your UK address. For dedicated containers, the container is sealed at your door. For shared containers, items are transported to our warehouse and consolidated with other shipments heading to the same port.
- Export customs documentation. We prepare all UK export paperwork, including the customs declaration and any required certificates.
- Freight and tracking. Your container ships from a UK port to your destination port. We provide tracking throughout the voyage and keep you updated at each stage.
- Import customs clearance. Our partner agents at your destination handle import customs clearance, including personal effects declarations, biosecurity inspections where required, and any duty exemptions you qualify for.
- Delivery and unpacking. Your belongings are delivered to your new home and placed in the rooms you specify. Unpacking is included: we remove all packing materials and take away the waste, leaving your home ready to live in.
How International Removals Work?
An international removal from the UK follows five stages. We manage the entire process so you can focus on settling into your new country.
- Survey your home. Book a free pre-move survey. Our surveyor assesses your belongings either in person or by video call and provides a detailed quote based on the actual volume of your move. No estimates, no guesswork.
- Confirm and schedule. Once you accept your quote, we agree a packing date and a loading date. We confirm your container type, your shipping route, and your expected delivery window at the destination.
- Pack, wrap, and load. Our packing team arrives at your home with all materials. Every item is wrapped individually, packed into boxes or crates, and loaded into your container. The container is sealed and collected for transport to the port.
- Ship and clear customs. Your container sails from the UK to your destination port. We handle UK export paperwork before departure. Our partner agents at the destination handle import customs clearance, biosecurity inspections, and any Transfer of Residence or duty exemption applications.
- Deliver and unpack. Your belongings arrive at your new home. Our destination team unloads, places furniture in your chosen rooms, unpacks boxes, and removes all packing materials. You move into a home that is ready to live in.
Transit Times by Destination
Sea freight transit times for international removals vary by destination. The figures below are approximate warehouse-to-door delivery times, including port handling and inland transport at the destination end. Packing and loading at your UK home typically takes one to three days depending on the size of the property, followed by transport to the UK port.
- Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore: 6 to 10 weeks.
- Canada (Toronto), Malaysia (Port Kelang): 7 to 11 weeks.
- USA (New York): 7 to 11 weeks.
- USA (Miami, Los Angeles): 7 to 12 weeks.
- South Africa (Cape Town, Durban): 8 to 12 weeks.
- Australia (all ports), New Zealand, Thailand: 10 to 14 weeks.
- Canada (Vancouver): 10 to 14 weeks.
These are sea freight times. If you need essential items before your main shipment arrives, we can send a smaller air freight consignment that delivers within 7 to 10 days. Many customers use a combination: air freight for immediate essentials and sea freight for the full household.
Get a free online removals quote in a few easy steps
Why Choose Anglo Pacific for Your Removal
Anglo Pacific has been moving households internationally since 1982. We handle over 20,000 consignments every year from our offices in London, Manchester, and Glasgow, and we are one of the UK’s most established international removal companies.
- BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee. We are members of the British Association of Removers. Your payments are protected by the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee scheme from the moment you book, giving you financial security throughout your move.
- FIDI affiliated. We are affiliated with FIDI Global Alliance, the international network of quality-certified moving companies. This means trusted, vetted partner agents handle your delivery and unpacking at your destination.
- Pre-move survey included. Every removal starts with a professional survey of your home. We assess every room and provide a quote based on the actual volume, so there are no surprises on moving day.
- Full-service packing. Our trained packing team wraps and packs every item using industry-standard materials. Fragile items, artwork, and antiques receive custom crating. You do not need to pack anything yourself.
- Amica transit insurance. Every removal can be covered by Amica transit insurance, underwritten specifically for international household moves. You choose the level of cover based on the declared value of your belongings.
- Door-to-door, room-to-room. We collect from your UK home and deliver to the rooms you choose in your new home overseas. Unpacking and packing waste removal are included.
- Both directions. We handle removals from the UK to over 200 destinations and coordinate return removals back to the UK through our FIDI partner network.
How Removal Pricing Works
International removal costs are based on a pre-move survey of your home, not on a standard price list. Every household is different, and the survey ensures your quote accurately reflects what you are moving.
What determines the cost
- Volume. The total cubic metres of your household contents is the primary cost driver. A one bedroom flat produces roughly 5 to 10 cubic metres. A three bedroom family home produces roughly 20 to 30 cubic metres. A larger property can exceed 40 cubic metres.
- Destination. Transit distance, port charges, customs complexity, and local delivery costs vary by country. European destinations are generally less expensive than long-haul routes to Australia, New Zealand, or the Americas.
- Container type. A dedicated container costs more than shared container space but gives you control over timing. Shared containers are more cost-effective for smaller volumes.
- Access and logistics. Narrow streets, stairs, long carries from your front door to the lorry, and parking restrictions can affect the time required on packing and loading day.
- Packing complexity. Standard household items are included in the base price. Items requiring custom crating, such as artwork, antiques, pianos, or chandeliers, add to the cost.
How to get a quote
Book a free pre-move survey, either in person at your home or by video call. Our surveyor will assess every room, note any items requiring special handling, and provide a detailed written quote within 48 hours. The quote is fixed once accepted and covers everything from packing through to delivery and unpacking at your destination.
Duty and tax relief
If you are relocating permanently, you may qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief from customs duty and import taxes at your destination. Rules vary by country, but most require that you have owned and used the items for a minimum period (typically 6 to 12 months) before your move. We advise on eligibility and help prepare the application as part of your removal.
What You Can Add to Your Removal
Included as standard
- Pre-move survey. In-person or video survey of your home.
- All packing materials. Boxes, tissue, bubble wrap, blankets, wardrobe cartons, tape.
- Professional packing and wrapping. Every item packed by our trained team.
- Loading and container sealing. At your UK address for dedicated containers.
- Export and import customs. Full documentation handled in both countries.
- Delivery, unpacking, and waste removal. Room-to-room placement and all materials taken away.
- Shipment tracking. Updates at every stage from collection to delivery.
Optional extras
- Transit insurance. Amica transit insurance at a cover level you choose based on declared value.
- Storage in the UK. Short-term or long-term storage at our UK warehouse if your move dates do not align or you need time to find a property at your destination.
- Storage at destination. Our partner agents offer storage at the destination end if your new home is not ready on arrival.
- Custom crating. Bespoke wooden crates for artwork, antiques, sculptures, pianos, and other high-value or fragile items.
- Vehicle shipping. Ship your car or motorbike alongside your household removal, either in the same container or as a separate consignment. [Link: Learn more about vehicle shipping.]
- Pet relocation guidance. We do not transport pets directly, but we can recommend trusted DEFRA-approved pet relocation specialists who coordinate alongside your removal timeline.
Currency transfers. Our longstanding partner Halo Financial (since 2004) provides competitive exchange rates for international money transfers related to your move, including property purchases and ongoing living costs
Popular international removal destinations
With bases in London, Manchester and Glasgow, shipping container removals from mainland UK have never been easier.
As one of the premier international removal companies in the UK, no destination is too far. We handle 20,000 worldwide shipments every year, with popular European and international destinations including:
Check out our country guides
Interested in anything else?
Reviews
Call us to arrange your video survey.
A video survey allows us to virtually assess the volume of your move. Using your phone or laptop as the camera, you can guide us from room to room showing the objects you wish to move. It allows us to see anything fragile, so we can arrange appropriate packing for you, and check things like access to your property to avoid changes to your quotation at a later date.
Our Anglo Pacific app offers cyber security and is GDPR compliant. It’s really easy to set up, call us and we’ll agree a suitable appointment time for your online meeting. It’s as simple as that!
- Book a remote video survey
- Show us your items
- Get your quote
The cost depends on the volume of your household, your destination, your container type, and any items requiring special handling. Every quote is based on a pre-move survey of your home, not a standard price list. Book a free survey, either in person or by video call, and we will provide a detailed written quote within 48 hours.
Packing and loading at your UK home typically takes one to three days. Sea freight transit then takes 6 to 14 weeks depending on destination. Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore are at the shorter end. Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand are at the longer end. Delivery and unpacking at your destination typically takes one day.
A full-service international removal from Anglo Pacific includes a pre-move survey, all packing materials, professional packing of every item, loading into your container, UK export customs documentation, sea freight, import customs clearance at your destination, delivery to your new home, room-to-room placement, unpacking, and removal of all packing waste.
A dedicated container is reserved exclusively for your household. It is packed and sealed at your UK home and not opened until it reaches your overseas address. Groupage means your belongings share container space with other customers’ shipments heading to the same destination port. Dedicated containers give you more control over timing and are suited to larger households. Groupage is more cost-effective for smaller volumes, single rooms, or partial moves.
No. Our professional packing team handles everything. They arrive at your home on packing day with all materials and wrap every item individually. If you prefer to pack some items yourself, you can, but our team will check and repack anything that does not meet transit standards.
Some items are prohibited or restricted depending on your destination. Most countries ban hazardous materials, flammable substances, and perishable food. Countries such as Australia and New Zealand have strict biosecurity rules covering soil, seeds, plants, and used outdoor equipment. We review your inventory during the survey and flag anything that cannot travel. For items you choose not to take, we can recommend disposal or donation services.
Yes. Your vehicle can travel in the same container as your household belongings or as a separate consignment. Each destination has its own import regulations covering vehicle age, emissions, and roadworthiness. We handle the UK export paperwork and provide guidance on the import requirements for your destination.
Most countries offer some form of duty exemption for personal household effects when you are relocating permanently. In the UK, this is called Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief. Rules vary by destination, but most require that you have owned and used the items for a minimum period, typically 6 to 12 months, before your move. We advise on eligibility and help prepare the application as part of your removal.
Yes. We coordinate return removals from over 197+ destinations back to the UK through our FIDI partner network. Our agents at the origin survey, pack, and load your belongings, and we handle UK customs clearance and delivery to your UK home. Returning UK residents may qualify for Transfer of Residence relief from UK customs duty and VAT.
International removals is a full-service household move. A surveyor assesses your home, a professional team packs everything, and your belongings are shipped in a dedicated or shared container with door-to-door, room-to-room delivery and unpacking at the destination. International shipping covers the transport of specific items such as boxes, furniture, or vehicles. You can pack your own items or use our packing service. If you are moving your whole household, removals are the right service. If you are shipping specific belongings, international shipping is a better fit.
Baggage shipping is for personal items such as suitcases, boxes of clothing, and small personal effects. You pack your own items and we collect, ship, and deliver them. International removals is a full household move with professional packing, survey, and room-to-room delivery. If you are sending a few bags or boxes, baggage shipping is faster and more affordable. If you are moving the contents of an entire home, international removals are the right choice.