Help and advice

Here we explain our no-hidden charge guarantee and offer advice on avoiding unnecessary fees.

Before packing, check this list of items prohibited from entering a particular country or region.

This jargon-busting page provides definitions of common shipping and delivery terms such as personal effects and transit times.

In these videos, we explain our services, offer packing tips and guide you through the shipping process.

Our destination-specific customs advice explains the documents you'll need to complete and the requirements you must meet when shipping belongings.

Check this page for regular updates on our international shipping company's operational statuses across the globe.

Our depots contain many hazards, like heavy equipment, industrial machinery and moving vehicles. Check this page to learn how to stay safe during your visit.

This simple guide explains how to complete your online shipping documents and the importance of an accurate inventory

Make the collection and delivery of your MoveCube® simple by following these 3 steps. 

Follow these safety precautions when loading and unloading your MoveCube® for a stress-free shipping experience.

We make shipping boxes and bags internationally simple. Read this guide to learn how to quickly arrange a shipment collection.

Accurately numbering your boxes before shipping overseas is crucial to ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of your goods — read this guide to learn more!

If you're moving possessions, read this page to learn how to label Seven Seas Worldwide shipping boxes for international shipping and removals.

Planning to study abroad? Read this quick guide to learn how to find the best student shipping company, how much international shipping costs and more.

An "expat", short for expatriate, is a person who lives outside their native country. Read this guide to learn how to become an expat and start a life overseas.

Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation or discomfort people experience when exposed to a new and unfamiliar culture. Discover examples and coping tips.

A visa is an official travel document that grants you permission to enter, stay, or leave a country during a set time. Read this to learn how to get a visa and more.

If you're considering moving to Australia, read our essential guide and learn everything from emigrating tips to finding a job and booking removals to Australia to understanding the culture.

If you're moving to Canada, read this guide for tips on emigrating to the Great White North, including how to find a job, booking removals, Canadian culture and more!

If you're moving to the UK, read this guide for tips on emigrating to Dear Ol' Blighty, including how to find a job, booking removals, British culture and more!

Moving to America? From choosing a US city to finding a job, booking US removals, to understanding the culture, read this guide for a seamless relocation.

Moving to Singapore? From emigrating tips to finding a job, booking removals to Singapore, to understanding the culture, read this guide for an easy relocation.

Moving to New Zealand promises an exciting mix of stunning landscapes, welcoming communities and a laid-back lifestyle. Discover more!

A green card (or Permanent Resident Card), is an identity document issued by USCIS that allows non-US citizens to live and work in the country. Learn more.

Discover the best countries to live and work! Covering the countries that can offer you a better career, a new adventure or a little slice of paradise.

Discover the best healthcare systems in the world in this guide! Read now to learn about world healthcare rankings, where to get free healthcare and more.

Expat communities offer a way to connect with like-minded people abroad. Read this guide to learn what is an expat, how to find expat communities and more.

Read our guide to the top countries that pay you to move there, including Switzerland, Japan, Italy, the US and more. Discover how to get paid to relocate now!

Discover why the blue zone countries Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica, and the US have the highest life expectancy and the 9 secrets to a long life.

Discover why Iceland, Denmark and Ireland are some of the safest countries in the world and where else is on the Global Peace Index.

Dual citizenship allows you to become a citizen of two countries simultaneously. Read this guide to learn what countries recognise it and how to apply.

Although British expats can still move to Europe after Brexit, there are new rules you need to know about. Read this guide to make your EU move stress-free.

The most expensive city in the world is Singapore — find out why, plus, what the most expensive cities in the US and Europe are in this guide.

The cheapest country to live in is Pakistan, according to Numbeo's Cost of Living Index. Read this guide to learn more about the cheapest places in the world.

Discover weird laws around the world, including weird laws in the US (like bouncing pickles!), weird laws in Canada, the UK, Australia, Singapore and more.

Estonia is the cleanest country in the world, according to a 2024 study by the EPI. Indicators include air quality, water sanitation and CO₂ levels. Learn more.

The best places to retire in the world are New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, due to their natural beauty, affordable living costs, and quality healthcare.

The friendliest countries in the world are Costa Rica, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, and Vietnam, according to InterNations's 2024 expat survey.

The sunniest city in the world is Yuma, Arizona, in the US, which gets around 4,015 hours of sunshine per year. Discover more sunny cities!

The cheapest island to live on is Siargao, Philippines. Read on to discover more of the best islands to live on including those in the US and across the world.

Countries that don't have taxes include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Read on to discover more tax-free destinations.

Singapore is safe — it's the fifth safest country in the world according to the Global Peace Index (GPI), offering residents a secure place to live and work.

Singapore is so expensive because it imports most items, land is limited, and it's a global financial hub, making it a beacon for wealthy investors. 

The best neighbourhoods in Singapore are Holland Village, Orchard Road, Tiong Bahru and East Coast. Discover more about life in Singapore.

To move to Australia from the UK, you must apply for an Australian visa, pick a region to live in, secure employment, and ship your belongings. 

The state with the lowest property tax in 2025 is Hawaii (0.27%), followed by Alabama (0.39%), Colorado (0.49%), and Louisiana (0.50%). 

The states with the lowest income taxes are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

The best places to live in the US in 2025 are Naples (Florida), Boise (Indiana), Colorado Springs (Colorado), and Greenville (South Carolina).

The country that has the highest taxes is the Ivory Coast, according to statistics platform Data Panda's 2025 survey. Read this guide for more high-tax countries.

The best time to move is in winter, as rental prices and removal costs often drop because fewer people relocate during the colder months. 

The best moving day tips when moving overseas include being fully organised, sticking to your plans and staying calm. Click here for your moving day checklist.

Top in-demand jobs in Australia for 2025 are healthcare assessors, lending managers and clinical assessors. Learn more about the Skilled Occupation List.

An in-depth guide for international students looking to study abroad.

A practical guide to looking after your mental health when returning home from abroad.

International shipping refers to the process of transporting items, such as personal effects or commercial cargo, from one country to another.

Visit this page to learn about transhipment and how it differs from direct shipment.

Here we discuss shipping container sizes and how the containerisation process works.

A 40-ft shipping container is 40ft (12.19m) long, 8ft (2.44m) wide and 8ft 6in (2.51m) tall, while a 20-ft container is 20ft (6.1m), 8ft (2.44m) and 8ft 6in (2.51m).

Cargo is the collective name given to goods as they are transported by boat, plane, train, or truck from one place to another. 

Destination charges for international shipping and removals explained. Read it here.

A CITES permit is a document authorising the international trade of endangered wood, plants and animals. Learn more about the CITES permit process here.

A phytosanitary certificate is a document issued by National Plant Protection Organisations certifying that a plant shipment can be imported. Learn more.

A Carnet de Passage en Douane (CPD) allows you to temporarily import vehicles into another country without paying customs taxes. Learn more in this guide.

Read our guide on how to apply for ToR1 (Transfer of Residence) for tax-free shipping to the UK and learn what ToR is, who's eligible and how long it takes.

Canada's BSF186 form is a mandatory document for those returning or moving to Canada that allows you to import personal effects tax-free. Learn more.

US custom form 3299 is a mandatory document that those returning or moving to the USA must complete to ship belongings tax-free into America. Learn more.

Australia's B534 form is a mandatory document for those returning or moving to Australia that allows you to import personal effects tax-free. Learn more.

Germany's 0350 form is a mandatory document for those returning or moving to Germany that allows you to import personal effects tax-free. Learn more.

New Zealand's NZCS 218 form is a mandatory document for those returning or moving to NZ that allows you to import personal effects tax-free. Learn more.

Japan's C-53060 form is a mandatory document for those returning or moving to Japan that allows you to import personal effects tax-free. Learn more.

Irish customs form C&E 1076 is a mandatory document that those returning or moving to Ireland from outside the EU must complete to ship belongings tax-free.

Form RD-0030E is a Norwegian customs form anyone wishing to import personal belongings into the country must complete. 

A DA304 is a mandatory customs declaration form anyone wishing to import personal belongings into South Africa must complete for tax-free importation. 

T2L and T2LF documents are customs forms used to certify goods as being of EU origin,  so they can benefit from tax exemptions when moving across borders.

An 18.44 form is a mandatory customs declaration form anyone wishing to import personal belongings into Switzerland must complete for tax-free importation. 

A TV 740.47 form is a mandatory customs declaration form anyone wishing to import personal belongings into Sweden must complete for tax-free importation. 

Importing inherited goods is a complex process governed by many regulations. Read this guide to learn how to ship inheritance goods overseas, including ivory.

To ship antiques, determine their age, worth, whether they are made of endangered materials, and the destination country's import rules. Learn more here.

A Bill of Lading (BoL) is a legal document issued by a carrier or transporter of goods to a shipper to acknowledge the receipt of cargo. Learn more here.

A Full Container Load (FCL) is a shipping container filled with only your goods. An LCL (Less than Container Load) combines your shipments with others.

A Certificate of Origin (CO) is used to identify where a product was manufactured. During shipping, customs use COs to determine where goods originate. 

The busiest port in the world is the Port of Shanghai in China, which manages over 47 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually. 

The busiest shipping lanes in the world are the English Channel, the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal. 

Shipping containers do float for a few days or even weeks if air is trapped inside, and they hold buoyant goods like plastic or styrofoam. 

A CONEX box is a shipping container developed in 1952 by the US military to move and store supplies, such as food and weapons, during the Korean War. 

Read this handy packing guide to discover which boxes are unsuitable for international shipping and which will keep your belongings safe.

Read this guide to learn how to declutter your home, including planning for a declutter, deciding what to keep and what to do with spare items and more.

Read this guide to learn how to securely pack a box of your belongings ready for international shipping or storage.

Read this guide on how to get your large items like sports equipment, bikes and guitars ready for our team to collect and transport to our depot for boxing.

Follow the steps in this helpful guide to learn how to securely load a MoveCube® ready for domestic or international shipping.

Read this article to learn how to pack a bike for sending abroad, tips for choosing a reliable international shipping company, insurance options and more.

Read this guide to learn how to pack a suitcase and ship luggage efficiently and securely. Includes space-saving packing tips, shipping costs and more.

Read this guide to learn how to prepare, pack and ship clothes overseas efficiently and securely. Includes how to roll clothes, what boxes to use and more.

During international shipping, your fragile items will pass through numerous stages, follow these packing tips to ensure their safety. Read more here.

The best way to ship a guitar is in a hard case inside a well-padded cardboard box, wrapped in protective packaging with loosened strings to reduce tension.

The best way to ship vinyl records is to clean them thoroughly, pack them into a sturdy cardboard box and send them with a trusted shipping company.

To ship golf clubs, clean and dry them, detach the heads, wrap in protective materials, and pack in a robust golf case or shipping box. 

Discover the answers to all your excess baggage questions on this page.

Learn more about our revolutionary MoveCube® removals service.

Here we use our years of experience to answer questions about student shipping.

This page provides a wealth of advice on domestic and international shipping.

These T&Cs explain your rights and responsibilities and ours as a provider of shipping services.

Our terms and conditions for the insurance packages we offer.

Please check this page for our general T&Cs and company information about Seven Seas Worldwide.