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Door to door shipping to the United Kingdom

Moving to the UK

Moving to the UK is the second-most popular overseas destination for New Zealanders.

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What kind of move are you doing?

Move type

Moving To The UK

Why choose us to move to the UK?

Moving to another country is more complicated than moving at home, but we make it easy to move to any part of the UK including London, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Channel Islands. Our international moving team works with selected partners in the UK to deliver a seamless service from pickup at home to delivery at your new one. If you’re looking for great service at a competitive price, let us help you on your journey to the United Kingdom.

How much does it cost to move to the UK?

Moving internationally from New Zealand is expensive. When moving to the United Kingdom, it’s wise to set a budget and plan your move carefully. We can provide you with a quote for your move once we know the important details. This will give you an accurate cost to move from New Zealand to your UK destination.
  • Where are you moving from in New Zealand, and where are you moving to in the UK?
  • How many belongings do you need to move, i.e. your full household or just a few items?
  • Do you have any items that require special handling, i.e. a piano?
  • When are you planning to move to the United Kingdom?
  • Do you require packing services for your furniture and boxes?
  • Are you planning to transport your car with your belongings?
  • Will you need short or long-term storage?
  • Will you want to add moving insurance for peace of mind?

Economy sea freight to the United Kingdom

We provide Economy Container Sea Freight services to the United Kingdom. This is where your goods are loaded into a shared container with other peoples goods and you only pay for the space your goods take up. With a shared container it is not always possible to advise shipping dates as they are subject to a container being filled with other peoples goods. We can provide you with an estimated door to door transit time based on historic activity. However, your shipment may arrive sooner or later depending on the level of market demand to your destination at the time.

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UK customs regulations

When moving goods to the United Kingdom, it is important to know that your goods must be cleared for entry by the HM Customs service. To do this, you will need to complete a Transfer of Residence Application.
 
You can import your used personal effects and household goods into the United Kingdom without having to pay any customs duty or tax, provided you meet the following criteria:
  • You’re moving from a country outside the European Union (EU) to the UK in order to live in the UK. You’re thereby transferring your normal place of residence to the UK.
  • You have lived outside the EU for at least the last 12 consecutive months.
  • You have used and had possession of the goods for at least the last six consecutive months.
  • You have used the goods and are going to continue using them in your new place of residence in the UK for at least the next 12 months.
  • You will import the goods within 12 months of coming to live in the UK.
  • You will not lend out, pledge, give away, hire out, or transfer the goods within the first 12 months after the date on which they were imported.
  • You can also import inherited goods without paying duty and tax, provided you can show proof that the goods have been willed or given to you as part of the estate.
If you include any alcohol, tobacco products, or goods of a commercial nature in your shipment, you will have to pay import duty and tax. There are also very tight controls around banned and restricted goods such as drugs, firearms, weapons, food and articles manufactured from wildlife. Please be aware that some goods are completely banned, while others may require special permits or licenses for importation.
 
It is important to be fully aware of the requirements, so visit HM Customs to obtain up-to-date, detailed information.

Shipping your vehicle to the United Kingdom

All motor vehicles imported in the UK are subject to payment of duty and VAT. However, they may be imported free of duty and VAT, provided that you meet the following criteria:

  • The importer is moving their normal home to the UK.
  • The importer has had their normal home outside the UK for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
  • The importer has possessed and used it for at least 6 months outside the UK before it is imported.
  • The importer did not purchase it under a duty-free or tax-free scheme.
  • The importer will retain it for personal use.
  • The importer will not sell, lend, hire out, or otherwise dispose of it in the UK within 12 months of importation.
  • The vehicle arrives no more than six months before the importer’s own arrival date.
  • The vehicle arrives no more than twelve months after the importer’s own arrival date.
All motor vehicles must meet certain compliance regulations before they can be registered on the road for use. Depending on the age of the vehicle, it will mean undergoing tests. Note that IVA tests can only be carried out at approved test facilities. In order to pass this test, it may mean that a vehicle may require certain modifications, such as the fitting of a rear fog light.
 
It is also important to know that the UK has very strict emission regulations that need to be met. Please visit the Government Services and Information website to obtain the latest information regarding the IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval), which has the locations of the inspection stations, a schedule of fees, and an application form.
All vehicles need to be registered with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) for use on the roads. It is important to note that you must have vehicle insurance before a vehicle can be registered.
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