How long does an international move take? Inside Western Europe, count six to twelve weeks from the first quote to the last unpacked box, with the lorry on the road for one to three days on a dedicated vehicle or one to three weeks on groupage. The UK and Switzerland add a customs file that must exist before loading. Overseas, sea freight takes several weeks and air freight days. The planning takes the time, not the driving.
How long does an international move take from start to finish?
An international move by road inside Europe takes six to twelve weeks from the first quote to the last empty box. Mudinmar, a Spanish mover, puts the whole move at one to three months with an average of about six weeks; Movega in the UK gives three to eight weeks door to door; for overseas moves, Sirelo UK gives two to six months from decision to departure. The transport is the short part; the paperwork and the waiting fill the weeks.
| Destination group | Transport time | Span from quote to delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, dedicated vehicle | One to three days | Four to eight weeks |
| Same destinations on groupage | One to three weeks | Six to ten weeks |
| Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Scandinavia | Three to five days dedicated (Mudinmar), one to three weeks groupage | Six to ten weeks |
| United Kingdom and Switzerland | As above, plus customs clearance at the border | Eight to twelve weeks, customs file first |
| Overseas by sea container | Several weeks port to port; International Van Lines gives four to six weeks door to door to Europe | Three to six months |
| Overseas by air freight | Days; Gentle Giant gives eight to ten days | Two to three months |
Road figures here are industry ranges, not a promise from any one mover. Our international moving checklist turns them into a week-by-week list.
How far ahead should you book an international mover?
Book an international mover four to eight weeks ahead, and take the top of that range or longer for June to August, month-end and the weeks around Christmas. Gentle Giant and Sea & Air say at least six weeks; Mudinmar calls three weeks the minimum for arranging the service and the permits. Movega names summer, month-end, holidays and school breaks as the busy periods.
Crews and vehicles are committed in blocks of days, because a lorry that leaves Eindhoven for Lisbon on a Monday is on the road for most of the week. Early booking gives you the date you want; late booking gives you the date that is left. The Easy Move’s Easy Quote is free and without obligation, and the fixed quote follows a consultation; ask for it as soon as you know the month.
What happens between the survey and moving day?
Between the survey and moving day, two to six weeks pass in which the paperwork is done. The survey fixes the volume in cubic metres, the access at both addresses and the services you want: packing, disassembly, storage, a moving lift.
Inside the EU, the paperwork is an inventory for the insurance and, in some cities, a parking permit. For the UK, the Transfer of Residence comes first: GOV.UK says you must apply for a unique reference number with a ToR1 form before your goods are shipped, and HMRC publishes no processing time. The guide to moving to the UK covers the ToR1 and the ferry routes. For Switzerland, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) wants form 18.44 with the inventory at the customs office of importation, and a file emailed at least two working days before you cross speeds up the border. Check the current rules with HMRC and the BAZG before you fix the date.
How long does packing and loading take?
Packing a family home takes one to two weeks if you do it yourself and one to three days with a professional crew. Movega gives a few days to a week for a self-packed home and says professional packers cut that time in half; International Van Lines puts packing at one to three days when the mover does it.
Loading is the fastest part of the move: International Van Lines counts one day for the pickup once the packing is done. The time stretches when the lorry cannot park at the door, the lift is small or absent, or fragile items need custom crating. If you pack yourself on a door-to-door move, finish the non-fragile boxes a week early.
How long is the transit by route type?
Transit inside Western Europe takes one to three days on a dedicated vehicle and one to three weeks on groupage, where your goods share a lorry with other households. Neva Logistics, a Dutch mover, quotes a dedicated van at 24 to 48 hours after collection and economy groupage at two to five working days to Luxembourg, with weekly departures. Mudinmar gives three to five days by road for countries connected by land, which fits the runs to Spain and Portugal.
The UK and Switzerland add a customs stop. The lorry crosses with the ToR1 reference or the 18.44 file, and the BAZG says you must cross at the office that received the relocation file and only while that office is open, which can cost a day. Overseas, a sea container takes several weeks port to port and air freight days; the US guide explains the sea versus air choice.
How long do delivery and unpacking take?
Delivery takes one day on a road move and unpacking one to two weeks, per International Van Lines. On a dedicated vehicle, the crew that loaded in Eindhoven unloads at your new address and reassembles the furniture. On groupage, the carrier calls to agree a delivery slot once the lorry is in your region.
The timing at the other end depends on keys more than on the lorry. If the new home is not ready, the goods go into climate-controlled storage in the south of the Netherlands and come out on the day you call with the keys. Movega advises a few days of buffer on flights and accommodation, and Gentle Giant allows one to two weeks of settling in.
What delays an international move?
Paperwork delays an international move more than anything else. Movega lists incomplete or incorrect documents, customs inspections triggered by vague labels such as “stuff” or by alcohol, busy seasons, strikes and weather. For a road move from the Netherlands, the delays are local:
- Parking permits. The City of Antwerp asks for a temporary parking ban at least five working days before it starts, at a minimum of 65 euros; the Municipality of The Hague says parking space cannot be reserved in advance at all.
- Street closures and environmental zones. The City of Utrecht wants ten working days’ notice to close a street for a move and asks you to check whether the van may enter the zero-emission zone.
- Customs files. A missing ToR1 reference for the UK, or an 18.44 file sent to one Swiss customs office while the lorry arrives at another, stops the lorry at the border.
- Pets. Your Europe says a rabies vaccination must be at least 21 days old before travel; Sirelo UK advises starting four months ahead.
What does The Easy Move do to keep an international move on time?
The Easy Move, an international moving company based in Eindhoven, starts with a free Easy Quote and a consultation that leads to a fixed quote with no hidden fees. The international moving service covers door-to-door transport, custom crating, customs clearance and documentation, a partner network at origin and destination, insurance options and storage in the Netherlands and at selected international locations. Packing and unpacking and a moving lift with a trained operator can be added. Routes named on the site run from the Netherlands to Germany, Belgium, the UK, France, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, Denmark and Ireland. The transit times on this page are industry ranges, not a promise from The Easy Move; the date and the plan are fixed in the quote.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I book my international move?
Four to eight weeks ahead for a road move inside Europe, and longer for summer, month-end dates and the Christmas weeks. Oz Moving advises eight to twelve weeks for an overseas container move, and International Van Lines says visa processes should start four to six months before departure.
What’s the shortest realistic timeline?
Three weeks for a road move inside the EU, the minimum Mudinmar gives a mover to arrange the service and the permits, if a crew is free. International Van Lines puts the shortest overseas timeline at about six weeks, with the container arriving eight to sixteen weeks after you do.
Can international moves be guaranteed by date?
A dedicated vehicle can be booked for a fixed loading date and a planned delivery date. Groupage cannot be guaranteed by date, because the lorry leaves when it is full and delivers along a route. Oz Moving says the same of containers: port schedules, customs checks and weather sit outside the mover’s control.
What if I need my stuff faster than the lorry can bring it?
Split the move. A suitcase of clothes, documents, chargers and medication travels with you; a small air-freight or courier shipment follows within days; the furniture comes by road or sea. International Van Lines notes that air freight costs several times the sea rate, so keep the fast shipment small.
Should I take extra time off work for the move?
Yes. International Van Lines advises one to two weeks off before departure and one to two weeks after arrival. The days before go to the final packing and the BRP deregistration, which Government.nl says you do in person five days or fewer before leaving if you will be abroad more than eight months in a year.
