Frequently Asked Questions

Start by selecting your destination country and reading our comprehensive guides. Here's our recommended timeline:

• 12+ months before: Research visa requirements and begin application process
• 6-9 months before: Start job searching and securing employment
• 3-6 months before: Arrange housing, schools, and begin moving preparations
• 1-3 months before: Finalize moving companies, close accounts, and handle documentation

We currently provide comprehensive guides for:

• From Europe to: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA
• Popular routes: EU → Australia, UK → Australia, Germany → Canada, France → USA, Spain → Mexico
• Expanding coverage: We're continuously adding new routes based on user demand

Don't see your route? Let us know and we'll prioritize creating that guide.

Our guides are written by people who have personally made each specific move. This means:

• Real experience: Practical tips from someone who's lived through the process
• Route-specific advice: Tailored information for your exact relocation path
• Current information: Regularly updated based on recent experiences
• Honest insights: Both challenges and opportunities, not just promotional content

We update our content regularly:

• Immigration law changes: Updated as changes occur
• Cost information: Reviewed quarterly
• User feedback: Incorporated within 30 days
• Major updates: Comprehensive review annually

We provide comprehensive information about visa processes, but:

• What we do: Explain different visa types, requirements, and general processes
• What we don't do: Fill out applications, provide legal advice, or guarantee outcomes
• We recommend: Consulting qualified immigration professionals for your specific situation

Processing times vary significantly by country and visa type:

• Australia: 4-12 months for skilled migration visas
• Canada: 6-18 months for Express Entry system
• USA: Varies widely, H1B can take 6+ months
• UK: 3-8 weeks for most skilled worker visas

This depends on the visa type and country:

• Job offer required: H1B (USA), most UK skilled worker visas
• Job offer helpful but not required: Express Entry (Canada), some Australian skilled visas
• No job offer needed: Some investor visas, family reunion visas

Our country-specific guides detail which visa types require job offers and strategies for securing employment.

Common documents for most visa applications include:

• Personal: Passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate
• Educational: Degrees, transcripts, professional certifications
• Professional: CV/resume, reference letters, skills assessments
• Financial: Bank statements, tax returns, proof of funds
• Medical/Character: Health examinations, police clearances

Specific requirements vary by country. Our guides provide detailed checklists for each destination.

Costs vary dramatically based on multiple factors:

• Moving distance: €2,000-15,000+ for household goods
• Visa and legal fees: €1,000-5,000+
• Travel expenses: €500-3,000 for flights
• Initial setup: €5,000-20,000 for first 3 months
• Total typical range: €15,000-50,000+ for a family

The largest expenses typically include:

• Initial housing costs: Deposits, rent, furnishing (often 30-40% of total)
• Shipping household goods: Especially for full container shipments (20-30%)
• Lost income: Time between jobs, currency conversion losses (20-25%)
• Visa and professional fees: Applications, lawyers, skills assessments (10-15%)

Our cost guides help you budget accurately and find savings opportunities.

Plan for 12-18 months minimum from decision to relocation:

• Research and planning: 2-3 months
• Visa application process: 6-12 months
• Job searching (if needed): 3-9 months (can overlap with visa)
• Final preparations: 2-3 months

Some countries or visa types may be faster, but planning for longer timeframes reduces stress and improves outcomes.

Our guides include numerous cost-saving strategies:

• Timing: Off-peak moving seasons, currency exchange timing
• Shipping: Shared containers, air freight vs. sea freight decisions
• Housing: Temporary vs. permanent housing strategies
• Professional services: When DIY is possible vs. when experts are essential

We also connect you with vetted service providers who often offer competitive rates.

This depends on several factors:

• Ship when: High-value items, sentimental items, professional equipment
• Buy new when: Old/worn items, different electrical standards, bulky/low-value items
• Consider shipping costs: Full container vs. shared vs. air freight
• Customs restrictions: Some items prohibited or heavily taxed

Our guides include detailed decision frameworks and cost comparison tools for each route.

When selecting a moving company, verify:

• Licensing: Proper international moving licenses and insurance
• Experience: Specific experience with your route
• References: Recent customer testimonials and reviews
• Services: Full-service vs. partial service options
• Pricing: Detailed quotes with all fees included

We can connect you with up to 5 pre-vetted moving companies for competitive quotes.

Commonly prohibited items include:

• Hazardous materials: Chemicals, batteries, flammable items
• Food and plants: Most countries restrict biological materials
• Firearms and weapons: Heavily regulated or prohibited
• Valuable documents: Keep originals with you when traveling
• Country-specific restrictions: Varies by destination

Each country has specific customs regulations. Our guides detail restrictions for each destination.

Shipping timeframes depend on method and route:

• Air freight: 1-2 weeks (expensive, small items)
• Sea freight (LCL): 4-8 weeks (shared container)
• Sea freight (FCL): 4-6 weeks (full container)
• Express services: 3-10 days (very expensive, urgent items)

Add 1-2 weeks for customs clearance and local delivery. Plan accordingly for essential items.

International Moving Guides offers:

• Comprehensive relocation guides: Step-by-step guides for specific routes
• Moving company connections: Vetted provider matching and quotes
• Educational content: Visa, cost, and cultural information
• Community support: Connect with others making similar moves
• Regular updates: Newsletter with changing regulations and tips

Most of our services are free:

• Free: All guide content, basic moving company connections, newsletter
• Premium services: Detailed personal consultations (rates vary)
• Partner services: Moving companies and other service providers set their own rates

We may earn referral fees from partner services, but this never affects our recommendations or your costs.

Our vetting process includes:

• License verification: Valid international moving licenses
• Insurance confirmation: Adequate coverage for international moves
• Experience assessment: Minimum 3 years international experience
• Customer feedback: Review of recent customer testimonials
• Service standards: Professional communication and service delivery

We regularly review our partners and remove companies that don't maintain standards.

While we carefully vet our partners:

• Our role: Connect you with qualified providers
• Your responsibility: Due diligence, contract review, direct relationship management
• Dispute resolution: Handle directly with service providers
• Feedback: We welcome reports on partner performance

See our Terms of Service and Disclaimer for full details.

You can subscribe to our newsletter:

• Homepage signup: Use the newsletter form on our main page
• Contact page: Email us requesting subscription
• Moving quote request: Option to subscribe when requesting quotes

Newsletter includes: regulation changes, new guides, moving tips, and partner updates. You can unsubscribe anytime.

We take privacy seriously and implement multiple protections:

• Data encryption: SSL/TLS for all data transmission
• Limited access: Staff access on need-to-know basis only
• Secure storage: Encrypted databases and secure servers
• Regular audits: Security reviews and updates
• Compliance: GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy law adherence

Full details in our Privacy Policy.

Absolutely! We prioritize new content based on user demand:

• How to request: Email us at content@internationalmovingguides.com
• What to include: Specific route, timeline, particular topics of interest
• Research process: We find experts who've made that exact move
• Timeline: New guides typically published within 2-3 months

Popular recent requests: pet relocation, tax implications, specific industry job markets.

We appreciate feedback on outdated information:

• Contact method: Email content@internationalmovingguides.com
• Include details: Specific page, outdated information, current correct information if known
• Sources: Official government sources preferred for verification
• Response time: We aim to verify and update within 48 hours

Your feedback helps keep our guides accurate and valuable for everyone.