Nobody sets out to ship something they should not. What happens is that a drinks cabinet, a bag of garden compost or a half used medicine cupboard goes into a box without anyone thinking about it.
We connect your enquiry with a vetted international moving company from our network, and their survey should cover this. Reading it first means the conversation is quick rather than awkward.
Rules change and this is a summary rather than advice on your shipment. Anything you are unsure about should be checked with US Customs and Border Protection before it is packed rather than after it has sailed.
some things cannot travel at all, some can travel but attract duty, and some travel legally while raising the odds of an inspection you pay for. The three categories are worth separating.
Food, alcohol and medication in a container all raise the likelihood of a customs examination, and an examination is charged to the owner of the goods. That alone is a reason to leave them behind.
The first is prohibited: things that cannot go in a household shipment at all, including flammables, aerosols, perishable food and ammunition. These are refused at packing rather than at the border.
The second is dutiable: things that can travel but will be charged. Alcohol is the clearest example, being subject to duty and to state rules as well as federal ones, and anything owned under twelve months sits here too.
The third is the category people miss: items that are perfectly legal and still make an inspection more likely. Food, medication and alcohol all fall here, and an inspection costs the owner of the goods several hundred dollars or more.
| ❗ | The drinks cabinet, packed without being declared. |
| ❗ | Half used cleaning products and aerosols under the sink. |
| ❗ | Garden tools with soil still on them, and bags of compost. |
| ❗ | Houseplants and seeds, which face agricultural checks. |
| ❗ | Prescription medication in quantity, without documentation. |
| ❗ | Paint, white spirit and anything else flammable in the garage. |
| What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Empty the obvious cupboards first | Cleaning products, aerosols, paint, garden chemicals and the drinks cabinet. That is most of this problem dealt with in an afternoon. |
| Separate anything agricultural | Plants, seeds, soil on garden tools and untreated wooden items face checks beyond ordinary customs. |
| Ask about anything unusual before packing day | Firearms, vehicles, pets and large collections all have their own routes and cannot simply go in the container. |
Flammables, aerosols, perishable food and ammunition among others. These are refused at packing stage rather than discovered at the border.
It can travel but it is dutiable and subject to state rules as well as federal ones, and it raises the chance of an examination. Most people leave it behind.
Plants, seeds and soil face agricultural checks separate from customs. Garden tools should be cleaned of soil before they are packed.
In reasonable personal quantities with documentation, generally. Larger amounts attract attention and can trigger an inspection.
Food, medication and alcohol in an inventory all raise the odds, and an examination is charged to the owner of the goods rather than the shipping company.
They have their own route and cannot simply travel in a household container. Raise it at enquiry stage so it is handled properly.
No. Vehicles are quoted, shipped and cleared separately under their own rules.
Ask before packing day. Checking takes minutes and an examination costs hundreds of dollars and days of delay.
The crew leaves it behind. That is the cheap outcome. Found at the border, it is considerably more expensive.
Send your collection address, your US destination, the move date and a note of anything unusual you want to ship. A moving company from our network advises before it is packed.
A Working Member of AGM Group. Enquiries are connected with vetted FIDI FAIM certified and BAR Overseas accredited international moving companies from the network.
We are an enquiry service and not a customs authority. This is a general summary, and anything uncertain should be confirmed with US Customs and Border Protection.
Written by Darren Benjamin, Founder.