International Removals
to China
What are you moving?
International Removals to China
Moving from the UK to China involves careful preparation, particularly around customs documentation and residency requirements. Whether you are relocating to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or another Chinese city, Anglo Pacific manages the full removal: professional packing at your UK home, sea freight to the appropriate Chinese port, customs clearance with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), and door-to-door delivery to your address.
We have been managing international removals for over 40 years and are members of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and FIDI FAIM accredited. Our team has experience with the documentation requirements and customs procedures specific to China, ensuring your removal is handled compliantly at every stage.
Shipping Options for Your Move to China
We offer Groupage, FCL, and air freight for UK to China removals. The right choice depends on the volume of your goods, your destination city, and your timeline.
Groupage
Groupage consolidates your belongings with those of other customers moving to the same Chinese port. You pay only for the space your consignment occupies, making it the most cost-effective option for smaller moves, furniture shipments, and partial household relocations. Your goods are packed, inventoried, and consolidated at our UK warehouse before the container is sealed and shipped.
FCL (Full Container Load)
An FCL gives you sole use of a 20ft or 40ft container. It departs as soon as loading is complete, without waiting for consolidation, and transit times are approximately 2 weeks shorter than Groupage for the same destination. FCL suits larger household moves and customers who need a confirmed departure date.
Air Freight
Air freight to China takes up to 10 days and is available for priority items or smaller consignments. Due to the higher cost per kilogram, air freight is best reserved for essential or high-value items needed at your Chinese address before the main shipment arrives.
Chinese Customs Clearance for UK Removals
All household goods and personal effects entering China must be declared to and cleared by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Importing household goods duty-free into China as personal effects requires that you hold a valid Chinese Residence Permit for Foreigners (or equivalent approved residency documentation). Without valid residency status in China, duty-free import of household goods may not be available and customs duty may apply.
The customs declaration for imported personal effects in China requires a complete, itemised list of all goods in the shipment. Used household goods that form your personal effects and have been owned prior to your arrival may qualify for duty-free treatment subject to GACC conditions. New items purchased for the move and commercial goods are generally not covered by the personal effects concession and will attract import duty and VAT.
Anglo Pacific prepares your GACC customs documentation as part of the removal service and advises on what to declare before packing begins. Accurate and complete documentation is particularly important for China, where customs procedures are detailed and incomplete paperwork can cause significant delays at port.
Items That Cannot Be Shipped to China
China restricts or prohibits the import of certain categories of goods. The following items must not be included in your shipment:
- Firearms, weapons, and ammunition of any type
- Narcotics and controlled substances
- Publications and media considered politically sensitive under Chinese law
- Gambling devices and lottery equipment
- Counterfeit goods
- Certain plant material, seeds, and soil (subject to Chinese biosecurity inspection)
- Animal products and untreated natural materials subject to biosecurity review
Your account manager will review your inventory at the pre-move survey and advise on any items that require special handling or cannot be shipped. Providing a complete and honest inventory before packing begins is essential for compliant clearance.
Anglo Pacific provides an end-to-end removal service. This means we handle every stage of your move, from packing at your UK home through to final delivery and unpacking at your China address.
- Professional packing at your UK home with specialist materials and a full itemised inventory
- Collection from anywhere in the UK, including Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- Sea freight to the most appropriate Chinese port for your delivery city
- GACC customs clearance documentation and guidance on your goods declaration
- Port handling and inland road delivery to your Chinese address where required
- Delivery, unpacking, and removal of packing materials at your new home
Anglo Pacific handles removals from China to the UK as well as the outbound journey. Whether you are a British national returning from China, a Chinese national relocating to the UK, or completing a work assignment, we manage collection from your Chinese address, sea freight, UK customs clearance, and delivery to your UK home.
Transfer of Residence Relief for UK Returns
If you are returning to the UK after living abroad for at least 12 consecutive months, you may be entitled to Transfer of Residence (ToR) Relief from HMRC, allowing you to import personal belongings to the UK free of customs duty and VAT, subject to eligibility. We advise on the documentation required as part of your removal booking.
Over 40 Years of International Removals Experience
Anglo Pacific has been managing long-haul international removals for over four decades. China is one of the more documentation-intensive destinations we serve, and our team has the experience to manage GACC customs requirements, Chinese port procedures, and the practicalities of moving goods reliably on this route.
BAR and FIDI FAIM Accredited
We hold BAR membership and FIDI FAIM accreditation, the international quality standard for the global moving industry. As a BAR member, your advance payments are protected by the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee.
Transparent, Competitive Pricing
We provide itemised, transparent quotes with no hidden charges. For furniture shipments and smaller moves, our Groupage service means you pay only for the space your consignment occupies. Request a free online quote or call our team to discuss pricing for your specific volume and destination.
UK-Wide Collection
We collect from homes across the whole of the UK. Whether you are based in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, or Belfast, we carry out a pre-move survey and arrange a collection to fit your timeline.
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Anglo Pacific handles the full range of household goods and personal effects for removals to China, subject to GACC customs regulations and China’s import restrictions. Our pre-move survey allows us to identify any items of concern before packing begins.
Household Furniture and Effects
Sofas, beds, wardrobes, dining furniture, kitchen appliances, and white goods that form part of your personal effects can be shipped by Groupage or FCL. We use specialist packing materials for fragile items and timber crates where additional protection is required for the sea voyage.
Furniture Shipments and Smaller Moves
Our Groupage service is well suited to furniture-only shipments and partial household moves to China. Whether you are shipping a dining set, bedroom furniture, or a selection of personal effects, you pay only for the space your consignment occupies. We regularly consolidate furniture and personal effect shipments to Chinese ports as part of our Groupage service.
Personal Effects
Personal effects must be declared accurately to GACC on import. Your account manager will review your inventory at the pre-move survey and advise on any items that may require special handling or documentation. A complete and honest inventory is essential for compliant clearance into China.
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Reviews
International removals from the UK to China have never been as reliable as with Anglo Pacific. We have experience, commitment and the success to match, but don’t just take our word for it, see if our customers agree to in our removals to China reviews.
To receive your free online removals to China estimate, book your remote video survey where a specialist removals team member will assess your shipment and provide you with a no-obligation quote, online.
- Book a remote video survey
- Show us your items
- Get your quote
Yes. Importing household goods as personal effects duty-free into China requires that you hold a valid Chinese Residence Permit for Foreigners or equivalent approved residency documentation. If you are relocating to China for work, your employer will typically assist in securing your work permit and residence permit, which are required for customs clearance of your personal effects. Without valid residency status, duty may apply to your imported household goods. Our team advises on the documentation requirements at the pre-move survey, and we recommend confirming your residency status with your employer or a qualified Chinese immigration adviser before your shipment is packed.
Sea freight transit times from the UK to China are confirmed at your pre-move survey once your destination port is established. FCL transit times are approximately 2 weeks shorter than Groupage for the same destination. Air freight to China takes up to 10 days. Beijing, as an inland city, adds a further 7 to 21 days for road delivery from Tianjin port. Your account manager will confirm the full door-to-door timeline for your specific origin and delivery addresses.
China restricts the import of firearms and ammunition, narcotics, politically sensitive publications and media under Chinese law, gambling devices, counterfeit goods, and certain biosecurity-regulated plant and animal material. Items not declared accurately on the GACC customs declaration can cause significant delays at port and may result in confiscation or additional charges. Our team reviews your inventory at the pre-move survey and advises on any items that cannot be shipped or require special handling.
The cost depends on the volume of your belongings, whether you choose Groupage or FCL, your collection address in the UK, and your destination city in China. Furniture shipments and smaller moves are well served by Groupage. Larger households suit FCL. Inland cities such as Beijing involve additional road haulage from Tianjin port, which is factored into your quote. We provide itemised, transparent quotes following a pre-move survey with no hidden charges. Request a free quote online or call our China removals team.
Yes. Our Groupage service is well suited to furniture shipments and partial household moves to China. Whether you are moving a dining set, bedroom furniture, or a selection of personal effects, you pay only for the space your consignment occupies in the container. We regularly consolidate furniture and personal effect shipments to Chinese ports including Shanghai and Guangzhou as part of our Groupage service.
We deliver to all major Chinese cities. Shanghai is served by Shanghai International Port (SIPG), China’s largest container port. Beijing is an inland city served by Tianjin port with road delivery completing the journey. Guangzhou and the wider Pearl River Delta are served by Guangzhou Nansha port. Shenzhen is served by Shenzhen Yantian port. Other cities across China are served by the nearest major port and inland road haulage. Your account manager will confirm the full routing for your specific delivery address.
Yes. Anglo Pacific provides removals from China to the UK. We arrange collection from your Chinese address, sea freight, UK customs clearance, and delivery to your UK home. If you are returning to the UK after living abroad for at least 12 consecutive months, you may be entitled to HMRC Transfer of Residence (ToR) Relief, allowing you to import personal belongings free of UK customs duty and VAT subject to eligibility criteria.
Furniture that forms part of your used personal effects and has been owned prior to your arrival in China can generally be shipped subject to GACC conditions. New furniture purchased specifically for the move is not covered by the personal effects concession and may attract import duty. Furniture containing wooden components may be subject to biosecurity inspection. Your account manager will advise on any furniture-specific requirements at the pre-move survey and will ensure your packing documentation accurately describes each item in your shipment.