Moving from the USA to Italy
From New York, California, Florida, Texas or anywhere in the US to Rome, Milan, Florence, Tuscany, the lakes or the south.
Popular areas we cover
From United States
- New York and New Jersey
- California
- Florida
- Texas
- Massachusetts
To Italy
- Rome
- Milan
- Florence and Tuscany
- the Lakes (Como, Garda)
- Puglia
- Sicily
How the United States → Italy route works
Your belongings are packed at your US home and loaded into your own container (FCL) or a shared one (LCL), from the nearest US port.
Containers usually arrive in Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno or Naples, are cleared through Italian customs and delivered to your new home.
Customs from the USA to Italy
Your used household goods enter Italy free of duty and VAT if you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months, owned your belongings for at least 6 months, and are transferring your normal residence to Italy with your residence registration under way.
The time limit can be as short as 6 months after your residence registration, depending on the customs office: plan your shipment early.
Checklist for clearance
- Valid passport and Italian visa or residence permit
- Italian tax code (codice fiscale)
- Certificate of residence, or receipt of your registration request
- EORI number
- Detailed inventory and signed declaration of transfer of residence
Transport options and transit times
Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and, where required, customs clearance.
| Mode | Typical door-to-door time |
|---|---|
| Own container (FCL) from the East Coast | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Own container (FCL) from the West Coast | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Shared container (LCL) | Add 2 to 4 weeks |
| Air freight (small volumes) | 1 to 2 weeks |
How a move to Italy works
- Free quote. Give us your departure address, your new home in Italy and a rough volume. We send an online estimate right away and a written quote within a day.
- Survey and planning. A coordinator confirms your volume and the transport mode, and reviews the customs rules that apply to your move to Italy.
- Packing and collection. Our local team packs, inventories and loads your belongings at your home in Italy.
- Transport. By road across Europe, or by sea container between continents — whichever best fits your route to Italy.
- Customs clearance (where required). Customs paperwork for Italy is prepared and filed on your behalf (Italian customs file, including EORI number).
- Delivery and set-up. We deliver at your new address and, if you asked for it on the quote, unpack boxes and reassemble furniture.
The same coordinator sees your move to Italy through, from your first email to the keys being handed over.
How the price of your move to Italy is calculated
We price every move to Italy with the same ingredients — nothing hidden, nothing improvised:
- Volume — measured in cubic metres (m³) — the main cost driver. Our online volume calculator helps you estimate it room by room.
- Distance and route — from your origin address to your new home in Italy.
- Transport mode — groupage, your own truck, shared or full container, air for urgent small shipments.
- Services — packing, furniture dismantling and reassembly, fragile item crating, storage, delivery to an island.
- Access — floors without a lift, narrow streets, long carry distances or the need for an external lift.
- Customs — clearance fees and port handling charges, where required by your route to Italy.
- Insurance — priced as a percentage of what you tell us your belongings are worth.
Typical volumes, as a guide:
| Home | Typical volume |
|---|---|
| Studio | 10 to 15 m³ |
| 1-bedroom flat | 15 to 25 m³ |
| 2-bedroom home | 25 to 40 m³ |
| 3-bedroom home | 40 to 60 m³ |
| 4-bedroom house or larger | 60 m³ and more |
European road moves get a starting price straight from the estimator; everything else — sea, air, customs — is quoted in writing within 24 hours.
Other routes from United States
Read before you move
- 20ft or 40ft container: what fits and which one you needDimensions, usable volume and what really fits in a 20-foot, 40-foot and 40-foot high cube container for an overseas move — and when a shared container is the better choice.
- How to choose the best international moving companyWhat separates the best international movers from the rest: quotes, customs, insurance, red flags and the questions to ask before you book.
- Moving to Spain: NIE, padrón, residency and shipping your homeMoving to Spain from the UK, USA or Europe: NIE and TIE, the padrón, residency routes, your driving licence and shipping your belongings.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I pay customs duties when moving from the USA to Italy?
- Not if you qualify for the transfer of residence exemption, supported by your Italian residence registration.
- Do I really need an EORI number?
- Yes. Since December 2024, Italy requires an EORI number for household goods shipments from outside the EU, including private moves.
- Which Italian port will my container arrive in?
- Usually Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno or Naples, depending on your destination.
- Should I ship my American appliances to Italy?
- Usually not large ones: Italy uses 230 V and different plugs, and appliances must carry the CE mark.
- How long does a move from the USA to Italy take?
- 6 to 10 weeks door to door from the East Coast, 8 to 12 from the West Coast, by sea container.
Explore more
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