An international move is rarely just a change of address. It is a turning point – professionally, personally, often both at once. And between visa, handing over the flat and farewell dinners, there is little capacity left for the question of which customs forms the destination country requires, or whether your household goods are better off travelling by container or by air.
This is where we come in. Under the long-established KRUMPF name, HANSETRANS brings all international moving activities together under one roof: from Germany to the world and back. We take care of planning, professional packing, transport by the most suitable route, complete customs clearance and delivery to your new home.
Throughout, you have one dedicated contact person. Everyone else involved – shipping lines, customs agents, partners at the destination – we coordinate in the background.
Looking for records storage and archiving?
If your concern is not private or commercial household goods but the audit-proof storage and management of your business records, you will find the right department here: → Records logistics & archiving
Organising a relocation abroad for your employees?
For HR departments and assigned employees we have a dedicated page: → Employee relocation abroad
Almost a Century of International Moving – KRUMPF and HANSETRANS
Since 1937, the KRUMPF name has stood for worldwide moving of the highest standard. In that time our teams have handled around 25,000 international moves – from a single container to Canada to a complete household, classic car included, bound for Australia.
At HANSETRANS we continue this tradition. Since 2025 the KRUMPF name has been part of HANSETRANS, and we bring all international moving activities together under one roof. For you this means one thing above all: you benefit from the KRUMPF team’s decades of international experience and, at the same time, from the infrastructure of one of the largest moving groups in northern Germany.
Our long-standing customers value this combination of experience, reliability and modern service quality – and rely on the strength of two brands that together stand for seamless international moves.
Audited Quality – Worldwide, Not Just in Hamburg
With an overseas move, you hand over your belongings for weeks. At the destination, a team you have never met opens the container. That is precisely why trust alone is not enough – it should be verifiable.
Our memberships and certifications are not an end in themselves. They are the basis for work in Sydney or Vancouver being carried out to the same standards as the loading outside your front door:
Your Move Abroad – All Services at a Glance
You decide which building blocks you need. We put your move together modularly – from transport only to the complete all-inclusive package.
Moving Within Europe by Road – Across Borders, Without Hurdles
Within Europe, many formal borders have disappeared – the logistical ones remain. Different access rules, narrow old-town streets, varying procedures for parking permits and, in some countries, customs obligations just like an overseas move: a move within Europe can be planned, but it should not be taken for granted.
We carry out your move anywhere in Europe and know the regional particularities of the destination countries – whether your new home is in Scandinavia, southern Europe or eastern Europe.
Dedicated Truck or Part Load – Which Suits Your Move?
The biggest cost lever in a European move is not the distance but the question of whether you use the truck on your own:
| Dedicated truck | Part load ( groupage ) | |
|---|---|---|
| Process | Your goods travel door to door without reloading | Your goods use spare capacity on a journey that is already scheduled |
| Date | Fixed delivery date agreed with you | Delivery window, depending on route planning |
| Cost | Higher – you pay for the whole vehicle | Considerably cheaper – you share the transport costs |
| Ideal for | Complete households, fixed handover dates | Individual pieces of furniture, partial moves, students, second homes |
Dedicated truck
- Process
- Your goods travel door to door without reloading
- Date
- Fixed delivery date agreed with you
- Cost
- Higher – you pay for the whole vehicle
- Ideal for
- Complete households, fixed handover dates
Part load ( groupage )
- Process
- Your goods use spare capacity on a journey that is already scheduled
- Date
- Delivery window, depending on route planning
- Cost
- Considerably cheaper – you share the transport costs
- Ideal for
- Individual pieces of furniture, partial moves, students, second homes
Transit Times and Process
Within Europe your goods are usually in transit for a few days to a week – longer with a part load, because the route includes further stops. During the peak season between May and September, allow several weeks’ lead time between survey and collection. These figures are averages based on our experience; individual cases may differ.
Disclaimer: The figures given are averages. Individual cases may differ.
Note for destinations outside the EU: despite the short distance, full customs and import regulations apply to Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Norway and the Balkan states – since Brexit, also to the UK. We prepare the paperwork and declare your household goods. → More on customs clearance
Overseas Moving by Sea Freight – to Every Continent
If your destination is on another continent, sea freight is the most economical route. Your household goods travel in a removal container – either exclusively or together with other consignments. We steer your overseas move through every stage: from packing in your old home to loading at the port and delivery in the destination country.
FCL or LCL – Your Own Container or a Shared One?
Which Container Suits Your Household?
Depending on the size of your household, we select the right container type:
| Container type | Volume ( approx .) | Roughly equivalent to |
|---|---|---|
| 20-foot standard | 30 m³ | 2- to 3-room flat |
| 40-foot standard | 64 m³ | Detached house, or flat plus car |
| 40-foot high cube | 74 m³ | Large detached house, extra stacking height |
We make the exact assessment during the survey – experience from thousands of overseas moves is more reliable here than any online calculator.
How Long Does the Sea Route Take?
The pure transit time at sea depends on the destination port and the route:
Add to this the pre- and on-carriage and customs clearance in the destination country – allow an additional one to two weeks for each. With an LCL shipment, there is also the waiting time until the consolidated container is loaded. These figures are averages based on our experience; individual cases may differ. Transit times depend on the route and the shipping line and are currently subject to change at short notice. We will state the current estimate for your destination in your quote.
Disclaimer: The figures given are averages. Individual cases may differ.
Packing for the Sea Route
A container goes through temperature changes, humidity and the motion of the sea. That is why we pack to export standard: furniture protected against moisture and pressure, delicate items such as pianos, works of art or antiques in custom-made wooden crates. We build these ourselves or source them from specialist partners; crates from a previous move are gladly reused. Every package is numbered and recorded in the inventory list – the basis for customs and insurance alike.
Air Freight – the Express Solution When Time Is Short
Some things cannot spend weeks on a ship. Work clothes for the first day in the new job, the cot, the laptop, important papers, the basics for the first few weeks: if your new life has already begun while the container is still at sea, air freight is an option.
With our door-to-door service, your goods reach the destination by air in around 14 days – including collection, customs clearance and delivery to your new home. These figures are averages based on our experience; individual cases may differ.
Disclaimer: The figures given are averages. Individual cases may differ.
Air Freight or Sea Freight – Which Is the Right Choice?
| Criterion | Sea freight | Air freight |
|---|---|---|
| Duration ( door to door ) | approx . 4 to 16 weeks | approx . 14 days |
| Cost | Cheaper for large volumes | Higher per m³, efficient for small quantities |
| Pricing basis | By volume | By volumetric weight |
| Handling points | Several | Minimal |
| Suitable for | Complete household , furniture | Priority items, clothing, documents, electronics |
The durations shown are averages based on our experience; individual cases may differ.
Disclaimer: The figures given are averages. Individual cases may differ.
For most private moves, sea freight alone is sufficient. If you need specific items in the first few weeks, a compact starter package by air can bridge the time until the container arrives – for cost reasons, this is usually limited to the essentials. Your household goods travel by sea; the starter package flies ahead.
Your Timeline at a Glance
This timeline reflects averages based on our experience; individual cases may differ.
Disclaimer: The figures given are averages. Individual cases may differ.
Customs and Documents – Your Smooth Border Crossing
When moving to a country outside the EU, the paperwork decides whether your household goods are released promptly or sit in the port for weeks – with demurrage charges that quickly run into four figures. We handle complete customs clearance in the country of departure and destination and prepare your documents so that your goods are classified as household effects for a transfer of residence.
What Does „Duty-Free Household Effects“ Mean?
Most countries allow used household goods to be imported free of duty and tax if you are genuinely transferring your residence. The conditions are similar worldwide:
New purchases, vehicles and valuables are often subject to different rules. We check the specific regulations of your destination country before the first box is packed.
Which Documents Do I Need Where?
| Destination | Key documents |
|---|---|
| Switzerland | Customs declaration for household effects, confirmation of residence, tenancy or employment contract, inventory list |
| United Kingdom | ToR number (Transfer of Residence), proof of transfer of residence, inventory list |
| USA | Customs declaration for household effects, copy of passport, visa, detailed declaration of value, inventory list |
| Canada | Customs declaration for personal effects, proof of residence status, inventory list in duplicate |
| Australia | Customs declaration for unaccompanied personal effects, proof of visa, quarantine declaration, inventory list |
In every case, the inventory list is the central document – and the most common cause of delays. Collective terms such as „kitchen boxes“ are not enough; in some countries, electronics must be listed with serial numbers. We draw up the list together with you, in the language and format required. In some countries the list must also be notarised – we will point this out to you in good time.
Vehicle Shipping Worldwide – from Everyday Car to Classic
For many people, an international move does not end with the furniture. Their own vehicle is often more than a means of transport: the car they spent years working on, the classic from the garage, the car they will need from day one in the new country. We organise worldwide shipping – including all customs formalities for export and import.
Ro-Ro or Container – the Two Routes
| Ro-Ro | Container | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Cheaper | Higher |
| Protection | Vehicle deck, accessible to crew | Sealed container , no access |
| Additional load | Not permitted | Possible by arrangement |
| Roadworthiness | Required | Not required |
| Ideal for | Standard cars on main routes | Classics, high-value and non-roadworthy vehicles |
Shipping Vehicle and Household Goods Together
Combined shipping is particularly economical: your vehicle is secured in the front part of a 40-foot container, and the remaining space takes your household goods. This saves money compared with two separate transports – and ensures everything arrives at the same time. Instead of two customs clearances and two delivery dates, we coordinate a single process.
From Your Front Door to the Destination
We collect your vehicle from your home by specialist transporter, take care of port logistics, export and import permits, and deliver to your new front door. The fewer interfaces, the lower the risk – especially with vehicles whose value cannot simply be replaced.
A note on planning: import regulations for vehicles are considerably stricter than for household goods and vary significantly by country. Age limits, emissions standards and registration rules differ widely. We check in advance, from a customs perspective, whether your vehicle can be imported – ideally before you decide to take it with you.
How Your International Move Works
From the first enquiry to the assembled bedroom in your new home: our process has evolved over decades and is divided into three phases.
Your Checklist for Moving Abroad
Starting early saves money and nerves in the end. These three phases cover the most important steps:
Disclaimer: The figures given are averages. Individual cases may differ.
Frequently Asked Questions About International Moving
Let’s Talk About Your Move
No two international moves are alike – which is why every one of ours begins with a conversation, not a price calculator. Tell us where you are moving to and what should come with you. We will sort out the rest together.
Organising moves for your employees?
For HR departments – and for employees who are themselves being assigned abroad – we have a dedicated page: with a dedicated contact person, a standardised process and quotes in line with your relocation policy. → Employee relocation abroad
