How to Pack Your Belongings for an Overseas Move

By International Sea and Air Shipping / August 04, 2025

But packing for a move overseas is an entirely different beast. Everything matters when you pack for a move overseas — size, weight, durability and compliance with customs rules.

With lengthy shipping times and subsequent transfers between numerous facilities, your assets need to be carefully prepared from beginning to end of the journey. International movers can also provide recommendations on the necessary materials, packing and documentation according to the destination.

Steps For Planning Before You Pack

To make an international move a smooth and effortless one, it is vital that you have done your homework and have a lot of preparation work to do beforehand. This involves several key steps:

Consider the Customs Regulations

Before you pack for a move overseas, you want to be clear on what’s allowed.

• Go to the customs website of Im going to my next destination is okayed and restricted.
• Find the items for which you’ll need permits or documentation, like certain electronics, alcohol, drugs, plants and animal products.
• Check the supply limits on products like tobacco, food and alcohol to avoid punishment.
• Draw up a minute inventory to include the name, description and weight or quantity of article for customs valuation.
• Compare your inventory against the destination’s customs rules before taping things up, though.
• Scrounge up any needed papers like receipts, import permits or fumigations statements.
• Label your boxes clearly to facilitate inspection by customs.
• I would suggest to use experienced staffing of international shipping company who will arrange everything for you Line Permits, Delivery to your home country’s freight warehouses, Paper Work etc.
• Have it cleared and inspected by a licensed customs broker who will also deal with the relevant authorities.

Declutter Your Possessions

By not taking everything, you can cut costs by quite a bit. Before you pack up for a move abroad, check off this list:

• Go room to room and examine every possession.
• Make three piles: ship, sell, donate.
• Only pack your basic essentials and keep them for daily use in your new place.
• You also might consider selling off valuable-but-inessential articles to help defray the cost of shipping.
• Donate Reuse goods to reduce your load and help others.
• Examine customs duties to find out what is prohibited or subject to high taxes.
• Calculate the cost of shipping large or heavy items before choosing to ship them.
• Don’t send duplicates or things you can easily replace while overseas.
• Re-evaluate sentimental objects — are they worth the cost to ship?
• Check your fleet to finalize a list of items with your moving company to determine shipping weight and costs.

Create Your Inventory

A complete list is important in order to clear customs without any problems when dealing with international moving companies. Before your freight departs, please make sure you:

A detailed inventory is essential for smooth customs clearance when working with international moving companies. Before your shipment leaves, make sure you:

• Write down each item that you will be shipping, both large furniture and small personal items.
• List each item with clear descriptions; brands, models and or material if applicable.
• Please Fill In With The Correct Values For Insurance & Customs Declarations.
• Number boxes and link them to inventory for easy retrieval.
• Take photos of valuable or fragile items to document the condition prior to shipping.
• Identify how breakable, oversized or dangerous items should be handled.
• Identify restricted or high-duty goods and establish if they meet destination rules.
• Keep your inventory digitally to avoid the risk of losing it.
• Store a digital copy of your inventory to prevent loss of records.
• Share the completed list with your movers and customs broker.
• Update details if you add or remove items before finalizing the shipment.

Packing Strategies and Supplies for International moving

Gather Good-Quality Packing Supplies

Professional packing services can save time for overseas shipping, but if you’re doing some or all of the preparations yourself, high-quality materials are a must. The proper packing materials help you keep your things safe during long transit times, multiple handlings and exposure to elements. Here’s what to pack for moving overseas in the most stress-free way:

• Durable moving boxes in a variety of sizes for different types of items.
• 100% recyclable boxes that close completely and provides extra strength for heavy, fragile items.
• Bundling paper or bubble wrap to use as filler and stop contents from shifting.
• Good tape to seal the boxes securely against international handling.
• Permanent markers and labels so you can easily view contents and destination rooms.
• Blank newsprint, bubble wrap, or foam popcorn to fill empty spaces and cushion the contents.

Tips for Packing Kitchenware

Protective Packaging To safely transport kitchenware during an international move, follow these packing tips from expert overseas movers: sturdy boxes, packing protection, clear labeling.

• Use bubble-wrap to encase any kitchenware made of ceramic products and fragile bone china.
• Cushion with additional packaging when wrapping sharp knives and glass bottles.
• In between any bowls, plates and cups you want them to be kept in a packed space such that they don’t break and crack inside.
• Wrap your crystal pieces, vases or wine glasses in packing paper and bubble wrap.
• Bundle the utensils and cutlery together, bubble wrap them, then place in moving boxes.

Tips to Pack Electronic Items

To prevent damage during transit, pack electronic items securely using sturdy boxes, cushioning materials, and anti-static wraps.

• Unplug all the electronic devices before you pack them.
• Unplug the refrigerator at least 24 hours before loading them as any excess water or ice will be drained from the appliance.
• Tape the table inside a microwave oven, otherwise, it may move during transit and damage the glass door.
• Read the manual of any electronic appliances to check if any special instructions are provided or not.
• Use glass screens to double-pack electronics and make sure they don’t break.

Tips to Pack Small Furniture

To protect smaller pieces of furniture, take apart what you can wrap and pack each component securely with padding to prevent nicks and scratches.

• All edges must be completely padded to avoid looked for, chips and dents.
• Wrap the surfaces in blankets or sheets to prevent scratches.
• Reinforce at corners with foam or cardboard protectors for added durability.
• When applicable, break down items for easier and safer packing.
• Prevent drawers and doors from opening during transport with plastic wrap or moving blankets.
• Carefully double stack in the moving truck or container using moving pads between items to protect surfaces.
• Do not put heavy or sharp items directly on top of fragile items as this may cause them to collapse or warp.
• Mark down fragile or high-value furniture for special attention.

Tips to Pack Other Miscellaneous Items

Sort assorted things for an international relocation by type, carry them in heavy-duty containers and cushion fragile items so nothing dinted or scratched.

• Opt for sturdy cardboard cartons when boxing books, but never fill your bigger boxes so that they weigh too much; pack heavier books in many smaller sized cases.
• Put clothing and shoes in durable international size moving bags to use up all the space you can.
• Ask your movers if they can provide wardrobe boxes with hangers so that you won’t have to worry about your clothes getting wrinkled in the move.
• Use packing paper between photo frames, so no scrapes and cracks on glass occur.
• Place packing paper between photo frames to avoid scratches and breakage of the glass.
• Ask your moving company for special piano, fine-art and musical instruments packing methods.
• Custom crates or enclosure may be used for fragile and high value items.
• Clear mark all boxes with item content and handling directions.
• Fill any gaps in boxes with soft packing material to prevent shifting.

Pack Your Valuables Separately

If you need abroad packing tips, remember there are certain valuable items that will have to be carried on the plane with you.

• Crucial papers — marriage certificates, birth certificates, school records, medical records and insurance policies.
• Heirlooms, jewelry and valuables.
• Phone, laptop, camera chargers etc and an mp3 players.
• Medicines
• Cash, credit cards, wallet and checkbook.
• Passport, visa and other important documents.

Also, consider packing in your luggage

• Apparel according to the weather and shoes you will use once you reach at your new house. It takes time for your shipment to get there at your new destination so it’s best to schedule things ahead of time.
• Toys and other products for your kids.
• School essentials, backpacks, and books.
• Air bed

Choose Between Sea Freight and Air Freight

Compare sea freight versus air freight by cost, transit time and the type of goods you are shipping.

• Transit time: You’ll be able to get your air freight goods within weeks, whereas sea freight can take a few months.
• Cost differences: One significant reason is that while air freight is quicker, it is also more expensive compared to sea freight.
• Type of items: For essentials like cookware, bedding and clothing that you’ll need immediately, send by air freight.
• Bulk shipments: For larger items like furniture, appliances and bulk stock you can save money on your shipping by sending by sea freight.
• Combination approach: Also part air, part marine Combining strategy – Send time sensitive goods by air and less urgent shipments by sea.
• Customs processing times: Remember that clearance through customs for air shipments is typically quicker than with sea freight.
• Weight and size limits: Air freight is more strict on volume and weight compared with sea.

Buy Moving Insurance

When you move abroad, your cargo will be taken through quite a few handling points, ports and customs checks that put it at risk of being lost or damaged. According to the World Shipping Council, an average of 1,382 containers are lost at sea every year, with transit damage claims contributing to about 20% of all international moving disputes.

Without proper insurance coverage, carriers are usually responsible for as little as $0.60 per pound as part of their standard terms, so a 5-pound laptop worth $1,000 would result in just a $3 payout if it’s damaged.

Full-value protection or comprehensive insurance coverage for your move can refund the full replacement or repair value of all items against bumps and bruises, mishandling, theft or damage caused by water. Premiums typically run from 1 percent to 5 percent of the shipment’s declared value, so insuring $50,000 worth of goods could cost between $500 and $2,500.

You can go through your mover or a third-party insurer, but policies ought to spell out what’s not covered, when you need to file a claim and what type of documentation is required so there are no disputes.

Tips: For high-value items like antiques or art, it’s worth having them appraised in advance and knowing their true value.

How to Pack for an Overseas Move?

Be sure to double-check each of those steps before your shipment is sent off to avoid expensive mistakes.

• When preparing to move oversea, verify that each item matches in your inventory and complies with the import regulations of the receiving country.
• Put contents into solid boxes with quality packing materials and proper labeling which you order during handling and shipping.
• Send important things by faster shipping if you need to, and let bulk goods go by sea to save money.
• Check the limits of your insurance to make sure that the value you declared matches the value of your things.
• Talk to your moving company about valuables, oversized, and restricted items, and duplicate any paperwork in digital form as well as the original.
• Final Check before Loading, We do not want to miss anything and incur vas delays, fines on damage when your belonging reach its final destination/payment on completion.

FAQ’s