Moving to the United States, handled from door to door

Where we move clients to United States from

Other origins we cover

• France → United States
• Belgium → United States
• Netherlands → United States
• Luxembourg → United States
• Germany → United States
• Austria → United States
• Switzerland → United States
• Ireland → United States
• United Kingdom → United States
• Spain → United States
• Portugal → United States
• Italy → United States

Customs & paperwork into United States

Duty-free household goods

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) treats everyone the same way, whether you move from France, Germany, the UK or anywhere else: there is no special regime for moves from Europe.

Used household effects — furniture, dishes, linens, books, artwork and similar items — can enter free of duty if they have been used abroad for at least one year by you or your family. Personal effects such as clothing follow similar rules.

Items used for less than a year, new purchases and goods intended for sale are subject to duty.

How clearance works

Duty-free entry is claimed on CBP Form 3299, the declaration for free entry of unaccompanied articles, which we prepare with you. In practice:

• the declaration covers returning US residents and new residents alike;
• your goods must have been used abroad for at least one year to qualify;
• for sea shipments, an Importer Security Filing (ISF) must be submitted before the container is loaded at origin;
• you or an authorised representative must be available for clearance when the shipment arrives.

Clearance usually takes place at the port of arrival, such as New York/New Jersey, Baltimore, Savannah, Houston or Los Angeles, depending on your destination.

The US Department of Agriculture inspects shipments for soil, plant and animal material: garden furniture, tools and bicycles must be thoroughly cleaned before packing.

Documents usually required for customs clearance

• Valid passport, and visa or green card for non-US citizens
• CBP Form 3299 and its supplemental declaration
• A detailed inventory of your belongings
• Bill of lading or air waybill (we provide it)
• Information for the Importer Security Filing, provided before loading
• Your delivery address in the United States

Allow a few days for customs and port procedures once the shipment arrives. Random inspections can add time.

Vehicles and restricted items

• Vehicles Vehicles must meet US safety (DOT) and emissions (EPA) standards. Most European cars do not unless they are at least 25 years old. Check eligibility before shipping — non-compliant vehicles can be refused entry.
• Alcohol Alcohol is dutiable and subject to the rules of your destination state, some of which restrict or prohibit personal imports.
• Food, plants and soil Most fresh food, plants, seeds and anything with soil are prohibited or restricted by the USDA.
• Pets Pets travel separately from household goods. Requirements depend on the species and the country of origin, with specific rules for dogs set by the CDC.

How a move to United States works

1. Free quote. Tell us your origin, destination in United States and approximate volume. You receive an online estimate and a detailed quote within 24 hours.
2. Survey and planning. We validate the volume with you, pick the transport mode and go through the customs rules that apply on this route to United States.
3. Packing and collection. We bring the packing materials to your home, inventory each piece and load everything on moving day.
4. Transport. By road across Europe, or by sea container between continents — whichever best fits your route to United States.
5. Customs clearance (where required). Customs paperwork for United States is prepared and filed on your behalf (CBP Form 3299 and Importer Security Filing).
6. Delivery and set-up. Final-mile delivery to your door; unpacking and reassembly are added when your quote includes them.

One coordinator follows your move to United States from the first call to the final delivery.

How your belongings travel — mode by mode

Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and, where required, customs clearance.

Door-to-door times include packing, export formalities, ocean transit, US customs clearance and delivery. They are indicative and depend on the season, sailing schedules and your destination.

A 20-foot container suits most 1- to 2-bedroom homes; a 40-foot container suits larger houses.

How the price of your move to United States is calculated

Your price to United States is built from a handful of concrete variables, the same for every international mover:

• Volume — the single biggest lever on the price, in m³. The online calculator walks you through it one room at a time.
• Distance and route — the actual door-to-door distance to United States, not a bird-flight shortcut.
• Transport mode — shared road load, a truck booked only for you, FCL or LCL by sea, or air for very small cargo.
• Services — packing, taking furniture apart and reassembling it, crating fragile pieces, storage, island delivery.
• Access — floors without a lift, narrow streets, long carry distances or the need for an external lift.
• Customs — brokerage, declaration and port handling charges on routes to United States that cross a customs border.
• Insurance — priced as a percentage of what you tell us your belongings are worth.

Typical volumes, as a guide:

Our online estimator gives you a starting price for road moves within Europe in two minutes. For sea and air freight, and for any move with customs, you receive a detailed written quote — reply within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay duty on my household goods when moving to the USA?

Not on household effects that you or your family have used abroad for at least one year. New items and goods used for less than a year are dutiable.

What is CBP Form 3299?

It is the US customs declaration used to claim free entry of household and personal effects shipped separately from you. We prepare it with you before your shipment arrives.

I am an American returning home. Do the same rules apply?

Yes. Returning residents also claim free entry on Form 3299. Household effects acquired abroad qualify if used for at least one year.

Can I ship my European car to the United States?

Usually only if it meets US safety and emissions standards or is at least 25 years old. Most recent European models do not qualify, so check before shipping.

Why must garden furniture and bicycles be cleaned?

US agricultural inspectors reject items with soil or plant residue. Unclean items can delay your whole shipment or be destroyed.

How long does a move from Europe to the USA take?

By sea container, allow six to ten weeks door to door to the East Coast and eight to twelve weeks to the West Coast. Air freight takes one to two weeks for small volumes.