Planning an international move from NYC

An international move begins with a fairly personal question: which parts of this home belong in the next one? Before you organize boxes, decide what you will ship, what will travel with you and what you will leave behind.

That decision shapes the inventory, the shipping plan and the space you need at the destination. It also gives you a concrete list to check against the receiving country’s rules.

Decide what is worth shipping

Start with large furniture and the belongings that matter most to you. Check the dimensions against the destination property where possible. If you do not yet have a permanent home, decide whether you can choose sensibly now or need a storage stage while the housing decision is settled.

Consider condition, replacement options and sentimental value alongside transport costs. A familiar table may be worth taking even if replacing it would be easier; an unused cabinet may be an expensive way to postpone a decision. Keep the list personal to your household rather than assuming there is a universal set of things worth shipping.

Identify artwork, antiques, musical instruments and other pieces needing individual assessment. Record photographs and dimensions while everything is still accessible. Keep a separate list of anything whose inclusion depends on further advice or destination approval.

Check the destination’s official rules early

Use the destination government’s current customs or import guidance for household belongings. Look for the rules that apply to your circumstances, including any relief application, supporting evidence, restricted goods or separate requirements for particular items. Save the official links and the date you checked them in your moving records.

The requirements can be quite specific. For example, the UK government’s guidance on moving personal belongings explains that tax or duty may apply, that transfer of residence relief may be available, and that goods such as food, plants and animals have additional rules. That is a reason to check your own destination before packing, even when everything is for personal use.

Make a short unresolved-items list for the person advising on the shipment. Use precise descriptions of the goods involved so the answer can be applied to your actual belongings. Do not rely on an old moving forum post for a current customs decision.

Build one inventory with clear destinations

Give furniture and boxes identifiers you can maintain through the different stages. Describe the contents clearly enough to distinguish similar packages, and keep condition photographs attached to the relevant item record.

Separate the shipment from belongings going into storage, items being delivered elsewhere and luggage staying with you. If an item is removed from the shipment later, record the change rather than silently deleting it from every list.

Our moving and storage inventory guide explains a practical reference system. The shipping team can then tell you how your personal record relates to the formal inventory and documents required for the shipment.

Assign responsibility for each stage

Read the proposed service in stages so you can see who does what. The names and scope may differ between collection in New York, shipping and work at the destination. Record the relevant contact and the service included at each handover.

Keepsake coordinates international moves from NYC with an operating partner. The team can discuss the New York packing and pickup work and help plan the shipment. Get the responsibilities for your particular destination set out in the agreement, including anything you need to arrange separately.

Keep documents available outside the shipment

Gather the documents requested for your move and check whether originals, copies or particular formats are needed. Maintain a record of what you have supplied, to whom and when. Use the agreed secure method for sharing personal documents.

Keep the original documents needed for travel and arrival with you. Save accessible copies of the moving agreement, inventory, key correspondence and contact details. If a household member is traveling separately, decide which records each person needs rather than leaving everything with the person who packed first.

Review names, addresses and contact details across the paperwork. A temporary address should be identified as temporary, with a clear process for supplying the final delivery address.

Pack for life before the shipment arrives

Your luggage needs to cover more than the journey. Think about the first accommodation, the weather, work and the ordinary routines you will need before the rest of the household arrives.

Keep essential clothing, permitted personal necessities, work equipment and important records available. Check the carrier’s current baggage rules and any destination requirements for what you carry. Decide what can be obtained locally if the shipment is unavailable longer than hoped.

Keep that personal travel set physically separate while the movers pack. When different family members are handling tasks, make the distinction visible so an everyday laptop or document folder does not enter the shipment by mistake.

Prepare the receiving address

Once you have access details, send them to the person coordinating destination delivery. Include the rooms receiving large pieces and any known restrictions on access or timing. If you are still searching for housing, keep the coordinator updated as the plan becomes definite.

At delivery, compare the arriving belongings with the shipment record and document any concern through the agreed reporting process. Retain the records until the move is complete. Starting with a clear inventory and named responsibilities gives you something useful to work from when several parts of the move are happening in different places.