International Moving Timeline: How Long Does It Really Take?
Important Disclaimer: Transit times, processing times, and timeline estimates in this article are based on typical scenarios as of early 2025 and are subject to significant variation. Actual timelines depend on numerous factors including origin/destination, season, shipping route, customs clearance, weather, port congestion, and unforeseen delays. Times quoted are estimates only, not guarantees. Visa processing times vary by country and individual circumstances. Always plan with substantial buffer time and verify processing times with relevant authorities. International Van Lines provides estimated timelines based on experience but cannot guarantee specific delivery dates due to factors outside our control.
When Christina accepted a job in Singapore starting March 1st, she booked her flight for February 25th and contacted a moving company in early February. She figured that gave her three weeks to pack and ship her belongings, which seemed like plenty of time.
The moving company told her ocean freight to Singapore takes 6-8 weeks in transit, plus 2-3 weeks for packing, pickup, and port processing on each end. Her stuff wouldn’t arrive in Singapore until mid-to-late April at the earliest—nearly two months after she arrived.
Christina wasn’t prepared for that reality. She thought she’d live without her belongings for maybe a week or two, not two full months. She hadn’t brought enough clothes in her luggage. She’d shipped her work laptop in the container instead of carrying it. The surprise timeline created stress she could have avoided with better planning.
Let’s walk through realistic timelines for international moves so you can plan properly.
The Overall Timeline: 3-6 Months
From initial decision to having your belongings delivered in your new home, plan for 3-6 months minimum. Longer for complicated moves to difficult destinations.
That seems like a lot, but here’s what actually happens during that time.
Months 3-4 Before Move: Planning and Preparation
Week 1-2: Initial Research and Decision Making
Deciding to move is just the start. You need to research your destination, understand visa requirements, calculate costs, and confirm this move makes financial and personal sense.
Tasks:
- Research destination city and country
- Understand job offer or reason for moving
- Calculate cost of living and financial implications
- Begin learning about visa requirements
- Discuss with family and get everyone on board
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Week 3-4: Visa and Immigration Process Begins
Visa applications take time. Work permits might process in 6-8 weeks for straightforward cases or 3-6 months for complex applications.
Tasks:
- Gather required documents (birth certificates, diplomas, etc.)
- Get FBI background check (takes 2-4 weeks)
- Submit visa application
- Schedule visa appointment if required
- Track visa processing
Timeline: Ongoing, but start immediately. Some visa processes take 3-6 months.
Week 5-8: Home Finding and School Research
You need to know where you’re living and where kids will attend school.
Tasks:
- Book home-finding trip if possible
- Research neighborhoods in destination city
- Connect with real estate agents or relocation consultants
- Research schools if you have children
- Begin school application processes
- Understand housing market and realistic options
Timeline: 3-4 weeks for research. School applications might take months and should start early.
Month 2-3 Before Move: Logistics Coordination
Week 8-10: Choose Moving Company
Comparing movers takes time. Get multiple quotes, check reviews, ask questions, and make informed decisions.
Tasks:
- Request quotes from 3-5 international moving companies
- Check reviews and credentials
- Compare services, insurance, and costs
- Ask questions about the process
- Make final selection
- Review and sign moving contract
Timeline: 2-3 weeks
Week 10-12: Begin Decluttering
You can’t ship everything. Deciding what goes and what stays takes longer than you think.
Tasks:
- Go through every room deciding what ships and what doesn’t
- Sell items you’re not taking (list on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.)
- Donate items to charities
- Arrange storage for items you’re keeping but not shipping
- Begin consuming pantry items and freezer food
- Use up or give away items you can’t ship
Timeline: 2-4 weeks (ongoing throughout this period)
Week 12-14: US Administrative Tasks
Wrapping up your US life requires handling numerous administrative details.
Tasks:
- Notify employer of departure if applicable
- Give notice to landlord or list house for sale
- Transfer utilities to end service
- Notify banks and credit card companies of move
- Update mailing address (set up forwarding or mail service)
- Arrange medical records transfer
- Schedule final doctor and dentist appointments
- Get prescriptions refilled
- Cancel gym memberships and local subscriptions
Timeline: 2-3 weeks
Month 1 Before Move: Final Preparation
Week 14-15: Finalize Shipping Details
Confirm all moving logistics and schedule final dates.
Tasks:
- Confirm pack and pickup dates with moving company
- Reserve elevator/loading dock if required
- Arrange parking for moving truck
- Complete detailed inventory of what’s shipping
- Purchase additional insurance if needed
- Finalize customs documentation
- Create list of high-value items for insurance
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Week 15-16: International Preparations
Handle tasks specific to your destination country.
Tasks:
- Book flights
- Arrange temporary housing for first 30-60 days
- Research destination banking options
- Understand healthcare enrollment
- Plan what you’ll carry in luggage
- Prepare kids for transition
- Say goodbyes to friends and family
- Attend farewell gatherings
Timeline: 2 weeks
Week 16-17: Pack and Ship
Moving week finally arrives.
Tasks:
- Movers pack your belongings (1-3 days depending on volume)
- Movers load container and transport to port (1 day)
- Final house walkthrough
- Clean if required
- Hand over keys to landlord or new owners
- Finish consuming perishables
- Pack personal luggage
- Arrange for anything left behind
Timeline: 1 week for packing, pickup, and wrapping up
After Departure: Container in Transit
Week 17-24+: Ocean Freight
Your belongings are on a cargo ship crossing the ocean. Nothing you can do but wait.
Transit times by route:
- US East Coast to Europe: 10-14 days sailing, 6-8 weeks total
- US West Coast to Asia: 14-21 days sailing, 8-10 weeks total
- US to Australia: 21-28 days sailing, 10-14 weeks total
- US to South America: 7-21 days depending on destination, 6-10 weeks total
Remember these are just sailing times. Add time for:
- Container waiting at origin port for ship (1-2 weeks)
- Port processing at origin (1 week)
- Customs clearance at destination (1-4 weeks depending on country)
- Port processing at destination (1 week)
- Ground transport to final delivery address (3-7 days)
Timeline: Highly variable but expect 8-16 weeks from pickup to delivery.
After Arrival: Settling In
Week 1-2: Initial Settling
Your first weeks in your new country are busy even without your belongings.
Tasks:
- Arrive and check into temporary housing
- Handle jet lag
- Begin exploring your new city
- Start the apartment/house search if not completed
- Register with local authorities if required
- Apply for local ID numbers (social security equivalent)
- Open bank accounts
- Buy essentials you need immediately
- Get local SIM card or phone plan
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Week 2-8: Waiting for Container
You’re living in temporary housing waiting for your stuff to arrive. This period tests patience.
Tasks:
- Track container progress
- Prepare for customs clearance
- Communicate with moving company about delivery
- Handle work obligations
- Continue settling into temporary routine
- Sign lease on permanent housing
- School enrollment if you have kids
- Healthcare enrollment
Timeline: 4-6 weeks typically
Container Arrival Week: Delivery and Unpacking
Finally, your belongings arrive.
Tasks:
- Confirm delivery date and location
- Ensure you’re available for delivery
- Inspect items for damage upon delivery
- Note any damage on delivery receipt
- Sign for delivery
- Unpack essentials immediately
- Unpack systematically over coming days
- File damage claims if necessary
- Dispose of packing materials
Timeline: 1-2 weeks to fully unpack and organize
Month 2-3 Post-Arrival: Full Integration
Now you’re really settling in long-term.
Tasks:
- Register children in schools
- Establish routines in new home
- Make friends and build social network
- Learn your new city
- Navigate local systems and culture
- Handle ongoing administrative tasks
- Adjust to new job and workplace culture
- Achieve comfortable level of functionality
Timeline: 2-3 months to feel fully settled
Common Timeline Mistakes
Understanding where people go wrong helps you avoid these pitfalls.
Underestimating Container Transit Time
People think “shipping takes 2-3 weeks” when reality is 8-16 weeks door-to-door. Plan for longer than quoted times. Delays happen.
Solution: Add buffer time. If your company says 8 weeks, plan for 10-12 weeks.
Starting Visa Process Too Late
Visa processing takes months. Starting 4 weeks before your desired move date won’t work.
Solution: Begin visa processes 4-6 months before your planned move, even earlier for complicated visas.
Not Booking Home-Finding Trips Early
Want to visit your destination city in May? Book travel in March. Airlines, hotels, and relocation consultants book up.
Solution: Schedule home-finding trips 2-3 months in advance.
Scheduling Important Events Too Close to Container Arrival
“My container arrives December 20th so we’ll be settled for Christmas.” Except customs delays mean it arrives January 5th and you spend holidays with no decorations, cooking equipment, or belongings.
Solution: Don’t schedule important events around estimated container arrival. Give yourself weeks of buffer.
Trying to Move Too Fast
Thinking you can decide to move internationally and be settled in your new country in 4 weeks.
Solution: International moves take minimum 3 months, realistically 4-6 months for proper planning.
Not Giving Enough Time in Temporary Housing
Booking 2 weeks of temporary housing when you really need 4-6 weeks.
Solution: Book 60+ days of temporary housing initially. You can always move out early if you find permanent housing quickly.
Underestimating Customs Clearance Time
Assuming customs clearance takes 2-3 days when it actually takes 2-3 weeks, or longer with complications.
Solution: Plan for 2-4 weeks of customs clearance, longer for countries with strict requirements (Australia, New Zealand, Japan).
Creating Your Personal Timeline
Use this framework to build your realistic timeline.
Step 1: Identify Your Must-Have Move Date
When must you arrive in your new country? Job start date? School enrollment deadlines? Visa requirements?
Step 2: Work Backward for Container Timing
From your arrival date, subtract 8-16 weeks (depending on destination) to get when your container needs to ship.
Step 3: Schedule Pack/Pickup
Schedule packing and pickup 1-2 weeks before your container needs to ship.
Step 4: Plan Preparation Period
Allow 8-12 weeks before pack/pickup for all planning, research, decluttering, and preparation.
Step 5: Start Visa Process Immediately
Begin visa applications as soon as you decide to move. This runs in parallel with other planning.
Step 6: Add Buffer Throughout
Build slack into every stage. Delays are normal. Tight timelines create stress when inevitable delays occur.
Timeline for Different Situations
Timelines vary based on circumstances.
Corporate Relocation with Full Support
Timeline: 3-4 months Companies handle many logistics. Relocation services coordinate. Processing is faster because companies have established procedures.
Self-Arranged Move
Timeline: 4-6 months You’re handling everything yourself. Research, coordination, and problem-solving take longer without professional support.
Move with Children
Timeline: 5-6 months School applications, tours, and coordination add time. Starting school mid-year is disruptive, so timing around academic calendars matters.
First International Move
Timeline: 5-6 months Your first international move involves learning curves. Experienced international movers complete subsequent moves faster.
Move to Complicated Destination
Timeline: 6+ months Countries with strict entry requirements (Australia, China, certain Middle East nations) require longer planning.
Making Your Timeline Work
When you’re planning your international move, understanding realistic timelines prevents stress and disappointment.
Work with experienced international moving companies who can give you honest time estimates and help you plan appropriately. They’ve done thousands of moves and know what actually happens versus what people hope happens.
Get Your International Moving Timeline Quote
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I expedite my container shipment?
Air freight is faster (2-3 weeks total) but costs 3-5 times more and is only practical for small shipments. Full container air freight is prohibitively expensive. Ocean freight has standard timelines that can’t be rushed much.
What if I need my stuff faster than 8-12 weeks?
Ship a small unaccompanied baggage shipment via air freight with essentials, and send the rest via ocean container. Or bring extra luggage on your flight. But full household goods take time—that’s unavoidable.
How much does rushing everything cost?
Rush shipping, last-minute booking fees, and expedited services add 20-50% to moving costs. Better to plan properly and save money.
What’s the shortest realistic timeline?
6 weeks from final decision to departure if you don’t have complicated visa requirements. But your container won’t arrive for another 8-16 weeks after you do.
What if something delays my timeline?
Build buffer. Don’t book non-refundable arrangements until visas are approved. Keep temporary housing flexible. Most timeline issues are manageable with buffer time.
Should I take extra time off work for the move?
Yes. Moving is stressful and time-consuming. Taking 1-2 weeks before departure and 1-2 weeks after arrival helps you manage the chaos without work obligations adding pressure.
