USA to Europe
Moving your household from the USA to Europe requires more than arranging overseas transportation. Your shipment needs to be packed for international transit, prepared for customs, transported by sea or air, and coordinated for delivery at your European destination. International Sea & Air Shipping provides full-service international moving solutions for individuals and families relocating from the USA to countries throughout Europe.
From smaller shipments using shared container space to full household moves using a dedicated 20- or 40-foot container, we can help you choose a shipping method around your belongings, timeline, and budget.
Ocean or air
For most household relocations, ocean freight is a practical way to transport furniture, personal belongings, and large quantities of household goods overseas. Your shipment can be moved through a shared container arrangement or in a container dedicated to your household.
Shared container shipping is useful when your belongings do not require an entire container. Your goods share container space with other shipments, allowing transportation costs to be allocated according to the space used. Groupage can be particularly useful for smaller household shipments, although consolidation can add time to the overall schedule.
20- and 40-foot containers provide dedicated space for larger household shipments. The appropriate container depends on the volume of your belongings, the type of goods being shipped, and your destination requirements.
Air freight provides a faster alternative when certain belongings need to arrive sooner. It can also work well for smaller or time-sensitive shipments, while the remainder of a household can travel by ocean freight.
Cost
Your international moving cost depends on the amount you are shipping, the origin and destination, the transportation method, packing requirements, container type, storage, customs-related charges, and the services required at destination.
For example, a smaller shipment may be appropriate for shared container or groupage service, while a larger household may require a dedicated container. Air freight generally carries a higher transportation cost than ocean freight but can make sense when speed is more important.
Your quote may also need to account for:
Planning a move to Europe? Request a personalized international moving quote based on your shipment size, origin, destination, and required services.
Ports and routes
The port used for your move depends on your U.S. origin, destination, available sailing schedules, and the transportation plan selected for your shipment. We operate from our main office in Elmont, New York, with an operational warehouse in North Bergen, New Jersey, close to Port Newark.
For ocean moves, your household goods are transported from the appropriate U.S. departure point toward a European port serving your destination region. Northern European gateways can support onward transportation into countries across the continent, while Mediterranean ports may be used for destinations in southern Europe.
The port is only one stage of the move. After arrival, your shipment may require:
For landlocked European destinations, a shipment may enter through a neighboring country’s port before continuing overland. For example, in Switzerland, surface shipments can arrive through European ports such as Antwerp or Rotterdam before being moved in bond to Switzerland for customs clearance.
Where we move
We provide international moving services from the USA to all European countries, with transportation and destination coordination tailored to the requirements of each country. Our major European destinations include:
We also serve other European countries and can arrange international transportation and destination services based on your specific relocation requirements.
Destination guides
Select your destination below for more information about shipping household goods, customs requirements, documentation, transportation options, and destination considerations:
If your destination is not listed above, view the full destination guide or contact us about moving to another European country. Our international moving network supports relocations throughout the continent, with more than 600 agents worldwide helping coordinate destination-side services.
Specialty items
We handle more than just standard household furniture and boxes. Depending on destination requirements, your relocation can include:
Fragile or high-value belongings can receive professional wrapping, custom crating, and specialized handling. Vehicles can be coordinated through international car shipping services, while pianos and fine art can be prepared according to their specific handling requirements.
Certain goods such as alcohol, tobacco, food, or commercial quantities of goods may be restricted or prohibited from entering individual European countries, so your inventory should be carefully reviewed by a customs expert before packing and shipping.
Customs support
European customs requirements are not identical across every country. Documentation, duty exemptions, inspections, restricted goods, and import procedures can vary according to the destination and your circumstances.
We help coordinate the customs documentation associated with your international move and work with destination-side partners to support the clearance process. Our network includes more than 600 global agents, allowing us to coordinate destination services after your shipment leaves the USA.
Full service
A European relocation can involve several separate stages, but you do not have to arrange each one independently. At International Sea & Air Shipping, we can coordinate professional packing, wrapping, crating, household goods shipping, ocean freight, air freight, storage, customs support, specialty moving, and destination delivery.
Our U.S. operations include an Elmont, New York office and a North Bergen, New Jersey warehouse, while our international agent network supports destination-side coordination around the world. We are licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission as an NVOCC, hold FMCSA credentials, and are a member of the International Association of Movers and EUROMOVERS, with BBB accreditation.
Free Europe moving quote
Ready to plan your move to Europe? Contact International Sea & Air Shipping for a quote tailored to your origin, European destination, shipment size, moving date, and required services.
Helpful answers
For most full household relocations, ocean freight is the practical option because it accommodates larger volumes of furniture and personal belongings. Depending on your shipment size, you can use a dedicated 20- or 40-foot container or shared container/groupage service. Air freight can be used when a smaller quantity of belongings needs to arrive sooner.
Yes. Customs procedures are not identical across Europe. The documents, duty exemptions, residency conditions, and import requirements can vary by country. For example, Germany has specific conditions for duty-free household goods when someone is transferring their residence, while other destinations have their own documentation and eligibility requirements. We review the requirements for your specific destination as part of the international moving process.
A European port is normally one stage of the international transportation process rather than the final destination. After your shipment arrives, it may need customs clearance and inland transportation before reaching your residence. We can coordinate door-to-door moving service, including destination transportation and delivery, so your belongings can continue from the arrival port to the address specified for your move.
Your belongings can enter Europe through a port in another country and then continue by land to your final destination. For example, shipments to Switzerland may arrive through European ports such as Antwerp or Rotterdam before continuing to Switzerland for customs clearance and delivery. The appropriate routing depends on your destination and the shipping arrangements for your move.
Yes. International car shipping can be included as part of an international relocation, but it is handled separately from standard household goods because European countries can have additional vehicle import, customs, registration, and compliance requirements. We can coordinate international car shipping alongside your household move and account for the vehicle requirements applicable to your destination.
Yes. You can use different transportation methods for different parts of your shipment. For example, larger household goods can travel by ocean freight while essential belongings that need to arrive sooner can be shipped by air.
