What You Need to Know When Shipping Belongings Overseas

Shipping your belongings overseas can feel like a mammoth undertaking, whether you’re relocating for employment, shifting to become an overseas student, or moving to be closer to family members in another country. However, information is power, and it may make things feel easier and simpler if you learn more about what is involved in successfully shipping your belongings overseas.

Depending on the location you are moving to, the urgency of having your international shipping arrive to meet you and the budget you are working with, there are a few different approaches to a streamlined international shipping experience that we have collated here for you so you can understand better what might be available and preferable to you.

Read on as we unravel some of the complexities of international shipping and help you make smart choices that will enable you to relax when it comes to your big move. Our first hot tip? Leave it to the experts! 

Choosing an Exclusive Shipping Container 

This is a good way to access fast transit times, and it functions as a direct service from door to door—if that’s what you prefer. For those people with fewer budget constraints or concerns about fragile or valuable items, your own 20 or 40-foot shipping container can be a great way to increase peace of mind. The container will be delivered to your current address, and you or your moving company will pack the required items inside before it is hauled back to the port for international shipping.

• Sharing a Container

This is often called an LCL (Less than Container Load) or a ‘groupage’, and this can be a good option if you have a smaller load to ship. It is generally a bit more cost-effective as you only need to pay for the space you utilise in the container. Every effort is made to ensure that all your items are properly catalogued and separated into house lots and that you can have your items delivered to your new address upon arrival. While your transit time for international shipping with a shared container could be longer, they are still despatched fairly quickly.

• Marine Insurance

While you should ensure you have transit insurance no matter what method you choose, it is highly recommended that clients who decide that marine shipping is the best option take out a comprehensive marine insurance policy to protect their household items while they are in transit.

Air Freight Options

If you want your belongings to arrive quickly, you should opt for airfreight. This is a great option for families who want to turn up with a portion of their items at their new destination. Many people take a smaller load via air freight and send the larger volume of items by sea. While airfreight is more expensive than sea freight, the convenience may sway the decision for some people. Be sure to include insurance when you are costing out your move – no matter which form of international shipping you choose.

• Packing for an Overseas Move

International shipping is a whole different ball game to shipping between suburbs, cities, regions – or even from the north to the south within New Zealand. You may need to ship vehicles, boats, and large household items such as pianos, and you may have fragile or awkwardly shaped items that will need special attention when it comes to packing for a long journey via sea or air. You may even have a beloved pet that needs to be carefully moved from New Zealand to an international destination.

• Choose a Packing & Shipping Expert

If you want the best possible outcome for your international shipping, you should engage an expert to get the job done to the highest standard. Carrier standards must be adhered to when you embark on international shipping, and it makes sense to have professional packing help for a smooth experience. On top of excellent packing, the right moving company will also supply you with a detailed, clear inventory list of everything being loaded for international shipping, so when you arrive at your destination, you will have a precise view of what should be unloaded.

Documentation for an Overseas Relocation

Attempting to take care of all the logistics involved in shifting your house lot, your family, your pets, and your vehicles overseas may soon leave you feeling completely overwhelmed. Alongside the move itself, there will be all the utilities that will need to be sorted out, starting a new job or school, signing up for local healthcare services, opening bank accounts, and connecting with new people in your new neighbourhood.

International shipping comes with a swathe of complex paperwork that needs to be properly taken care of if your belongings are going to show up where they need to be – it’s better not to risk trying to sort out customs documents, import restrictions and a myriad list of other complexities that may get in the way of a smooth transition.

The Moving Company are International Shipping Experts

If you are ready to start planning your overseas relocation, we can help make the experience stress-free. We work with you to schedule your international shipping, including a buffer if possible to ensure that any potential delays can be offset and you have everything you need for the best start to your exciting new life! The Moving Company pack everything up – including your pets – and we work with the FIDI Global Alliance to offer you professional clearance and delivery services at your target destination.

Get in Touch

If you are ready to make your international move simple and streamlined, get in touch with the expert team at The Moving Company now; let’s get you packed and on the move.