Everyone has had questions about what is involved in executing an International move of all your life and possessions during a global pandemic.
Here are my insights, hints and costs.
My international relocation was from Seattle, WA, USA to Darwin, NT, Australia. That is 12277km as the crow flies.
Options
There are three major shipping options when moving yourself. Each will have pros and cons and how much I paid in November 2020.
| Option | Time to Deliver | Pros | Cons | Cost ($USD) |
| By Sea | 3-4 Months | * Large capacity: 20 ft container up to 6000 lbs; * Included packing/unpacking + loading/unloading; and * Easily fits a two bedroom apartment. | * Send things you don’t want to see for a while; * Insurance is a must. Usually 2.5% of value; * Have to set up a Sole Prop business and hand over power of attorney to moving company; and *Going with cheap movers is a bad idea because of so many companies being involved in the journey. | $12.5K |
| By Air | 3-4 Weeks | * Gets to destination fast; and * Allows you to travel light. | *Expensive/Overpriced. Quote for 8 boxes was $4.5K; * Customs can still charge you for items they randomly decide you are profiting on; and * A lot of restrictions on what can be sent. Forget sending hair products and aerosols . | $500 I didn’t opt to do this via a company but instead used Amazon’s DHL shipping which saved me thousands. |
| In Luggage | Travels with you | * You have your possessions instantly and in quarantine; *Less restrictions on what you can take so it is better than air freight in that way. | * Once you exceed luggage limits, you are paying for extra bags, Still cheaper than quoted air freight; * Declare anything that you are worried Customs might challenge. Fines can end up costing you more than anticipated. | $0 |
Recommendations
Keep in mind that you don’t want to choose the lowest quote when moving internationally. This will cause you heartache. I got quotes from the top five US international movers and opted for one that had the best communication but was the second most expensive. Their ability to answer my questions and the quality of the packers and movers made it worth the premium. I will write an update when things arrive to confirm the end-to-end service.
Ship things you will need soon but do it via DHL or some other package service. Don’t opt for the Air Freight option with your movers. It will always be too expensive.
Give yourself at least a month to move. Less than that is a rush considering all the paperwork and effort involved.
I travelled home on a business class flight so I had a lot of luggage capacity. That meant I could take a lot of stuff with me. My QANTAS Frequent Flyer status meant that I got all the extra luggage I needed free.
Let me know if you need more information or have any questions. I am happy to update this to add more detail.
Damana Madden 
You did well to navigate that maze Damana.