When moving abroad, there is so much to keep in mind. It is not nearly as easy as moving to a new neighbourhood across the city. When you are planning an international move, there are a few basic pieces of information that will help keep you on the right track as you prepare for your big journey.
Deciding Between Air and Ocean Freight
If you have never moved overseas, the options of air and ocean transportation have likely seldom entered your thoughts. The biggest factors when choosing between air and ocean freight are both your timeline, and the volume of goods you are looking to have shipped. If you need your goods shortly after your arrival to your destination, air freight is likely the best option for you. However, if you have a large volume of items and time is not an important factor, ocean freight is the ideal fit for your international move. Though it may be slower, ocean freight is likely to save you money when shipping a large volume of goods.
What Are You Able to Ship?
Before your move, it’s important to know how and what you are allowed to ship to your destination.
For example, shipping a vehicle from Canada to America is fairly straightforward and only requires paperwork. Shipping a vehicle from Canada to Australia, on the other hand, requires paperwork along with an inspection and a strict quarantine process upon arrival. Proof of ownership or documentation regarding the transfer of ownership is required, regardless of the country it’s coming from. the importing country.
The vehicle must also be prepared to comply with the rules and regulations of your destination. The owner of the vehicle also needs to consider where they will store the vehicle immediately upon its arrival into the destination country.
These are just a few of the general considerations for vehicles, but the list of goods allowed into countries is extensive and diverse, depending on the destination.
How to Properly Pack and Prepare Your Goods
When moving internationally, you can ship just about any of your household goods. This can include but is not limited to artwork, furniture, appliances, vehicles, woodworking tools, and even the first tooth you lost if you really want! Regardless of the goods you are shipping, items of a similar type, size, weight, and fragility should be packed together to avoid damaging your precious belongings.
All boxes should be labelled prior to shipping in order to minimize the risk of damaged goods. For the best and most reliable results, we recommend professionals pack your goods for you, as they have the most up to date technology and materials to ensure that your belongings arrive safely.
Be Aware of Whether or Not You Are Shipping Dangerous Goods
Something that may seem benign in Canada, such as aerosols, may be considered a dangerous good when shipping internationally. It is important to ensure you are following the correct process for transporting dangerous goods overseas.
Contact us for a list of dangerous goods and the protocol and documentation to properly import them into your destination country.
Ensure You are Insured
For the majority of people, relocating overseas is an important step they are taking in their life journey. It can be stressful for someone to pack up everything they own and take it with them to a whole new country. In order to alleviate some of the stress, be sure to purchase adequate insurance so the worst-case scenario of misplaced, lost, or damaged goods isn’t the life-altering event it could have been. Also be sure to determine the value of the goods that you are shipping in order to purchase adequate insurance coverage.
For any further questions on international moving and all things relating, please feel free to contact Huli Shipping, one of Canada’s reputed international shipping companies. We will help you navigate through the journey that you have embarked on, making it more efficient and far less stressful.