Yes — Jetrans Movers provides complete door-to-door relocation, freight forwarding, and container shipping between the USA and Europe (including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Switzerland). Here is everything you need to know about customs clearance, transit times, container options, and pricing before planning your move.
If you are searching for Umzugsunternehmen USA Deutschland, international movers in France, a way to ship a container to the Netherlands, a move from the USA to Spain or an expat moving company for Italy, this guide covers the process end to end.
Moving Household Goods to Europe — Everything You Need to Know
We pack in export-grade materials, build custom wooden crates for art and fragile pieces, load the container, and record each item on the inventory. Your customs declaration, packing list and Bill of Lading are generated from that single inventory. Marine insurance is available for the full declared value, and at the destination we deliver and unload at your door.
Customs clearance and duty relief for used household goods
European Union rules allow people who move their normal residence into the EU from outside it to import personal and household goods free of customs duty and import VAT, if they meet the conditions. The procedure is applied country by country. Germany’s customs service describes it clearly, and the principles are similar elsewhere.
- You must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months before moving
- Non-consumable items must have been in your possession and use for at least six months before the move
- The goods must serve the same purposes in your new home
- Clearance is normally completed within 12 months of the move, and the goods may not be sold, lent or hired out for 12 months after clearance
- Alcohol, tobacco, commercial goods and trade equipment do not qualify, and vehicles can still owe excise duty and local vehicle tax
Proof of ownership such as invoices, a detailed inventory and your residence registration help your application, and some countries ask for a specific form (Germany’s is form 0350). Weapons and ammunition, some foods, plants, soil and animal products, certain medicines and protected species products are restricted or banned, and each country adds its own rules, so we check your inventory before packing.
Jetrans prepares the Bill of Lading, the export and import inventory lists and the customs declaration in-house, then cross-checks every figure and description against the others before the container is sealed. Mismatched paperwork is the most common cause of port delays, so we treat it as part of the move, not an afterthought.
- Bill of Lading issued against the sealed container or consolidated cargo
- Room-by-room export and import inventory with the age and use of each item
- Packing list and customs declaration prepared to the destination’s format
- Copies of your passport and visa or residence documents as the destination requires
FCL vs LCL vs air freight to Europe
- 20-foot container (FCL): from about $3,800 USD to $6,500 USD (approximately €3,400–€5,820 EUR)
- 40-foot container (FCL): from about $5,500 USD to $9,500 USD (approximately €4,930–€8,510 EUR)
- Shared container (LCL): about $220–$420 USD per cubic metre (approximately €200–€380 EUR)
- Air freight for essentials: about $4–$9 USD per kg (approximately €3.60–€8), charged on the greater of actual and volumetric weight
Figures are estimates, not quotes. Converted at about 1 USD = EUR 0.896 (mid-market rate, 1 November 2026); rates move daily, and your written quote is fixed in USD.
Appliances and electronics: power differences
Europe runs on 230V and 50Hz, while the USA uses 120V and 60Hz. Phones, laptops and many chargers are dual-voltage and need only a plug adapter. Hair dryers, kitchen appliances, TVs without universal power supplies and anything with a 60Hz motor are best sold in the USA and replaced locally, since a transformer is bulky and unreliable for heavy loads.
Port fees, charges and delivery terms
Typical charges include origin and destination Terminal Handling Charges (THC), port entry and documentation fees, and any customs inspection fee. As estimates, budget about $180–$400 USD for THC per container (approximately €160–€360 EUR) and $150–$350 USD for customs documentation and broker handling (approximately €135–€315 EUR).
Our quotes are all-inclusive of the charges listed, with delivery terms stated in writing: door-to-door, with customs processing and doorstep unloading itemised before you book. Duties and taxes, where they apply, are shown separately, so there are no surprises at the destination port.
Shipping schedule for the USA to Europe
- Ocean freight to the UK and Western Europe: about 14–25 days port to port
- Ocean freight to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean: about 18–30 days
- Air freight: about 3–5 days
- Door to door including packing, export clearance and delivery: plan for 6–10 weeks
Who moves from the USA to Europe
Our European moves include expat corporate relocations, diplomatic transport and retirement moves. Delivering to historic city centres takes planning, including narrow streets, restricted access hours, permits and upper-floor walk-ups or lift hire, and we arrange these before delivery day.
Is It Worth Hiring Professional Movers from the USA to Europe?
Buying furniture again overseas is commonly estimated to cost 40–60 percent more than in the USA, so shipping your existing furniture often saves money, and it protects sentimental and high-value items. Professional movers manage customs, documents, insurance and delivery for you, and volume rates through Jetrans help keep the total down.
Why movers choose Jetrans
- A single dedicated move coordinator from first call to final delivery
- Live tracking of your shipment on our tracking page, using the ID on your booking confirmation
- All-risk marine cargo insurance available on every move
- Vetted destination port and delivery partners
- Custom wooden crating, export wrapping and sealed containers or air cases for fragile and high-value items
Ask for a written quote and we will confirm every line item in USD before you commit.
Request a free quote with your origin city, destination country and volume.