Moving or Shipping Overseas?
So, the time has come for you to change shores. You know where you are going, what items you will be taking with you on the flight and what you will ship later. But, what about the other aspects of your move or shipment? Yes there are numerous things to consider when moving overseas, we will look at 5 in this article.
Here are 5 things that you need to consider:
1. How far away from the closest seaport is your destination?
Some destinations are landlocked, i.e. they are great distances from a seaport. In such cases, the time and cost to have the shipment transported to such a destination will be far greater than shipments to port or near-port destinations. Some vessels might not have direct sailings between some ports. This means that the vessel might have one or more stops at other ports before it gets to your destination port. If the container holding your items have to be transferred to another vessel or to rail or truck before it gets to your destination port (transshipment or multimodal shipment), then this can also be a bit costlier than a straight shipment.
2. What status are you relocating under?
Returning resident, immigrant, visitor, student, contracted employee, refugee, etc., are some of the statuses under which people enter territories. Your status helps to determine your allowances, concessions, documentation and other import requirements. Ensure that your agent is clear about your status. This can help to avoid some very unpleasant surprises in terms of whether or not you will be able to get your items, and if you will be required to pay additional customs fees.
3. Will you be taking your pets?
Some countries will allow pets to enter without all of their shots, while others require these shots, especially rabies shots, before they will allow entry. It is best to find out these allowances well ahead of time so that you can arrange for the shots or arrange for a home for your pets if you cannot take them. The fee for transporting pets will vary depending on the size, type and weight of the pet. Regardless of the country or territory, it is best to prepare your pet for the journey by taking them for long drives confined in a pet carrier. You should also be prepared for destination quarantine periods of up to one month.
4. Are you prepared to pay assessed duties/fees?
It is always best to allow for at 25% over the assessed shipping costs. Even the very best shipping agent will not be able to account for every eventuality. However, you can be somewhat prepared if you keep in mind that there can be unforeseen situations and unexpected costs, and take that into consideration when budgeting.
5. What will you do if there are delays?
Many exporters might believe that their items will be shipped off within a few days after they have been placed into the hands of the shipping agent. In reality, there is a preparatory period for your items in order to have properly documented, packaged and declared before being shipped. Unfortunately, there can also be delays due to weather, vessel problems, situations at the local or destination port, regulation changes, civil unrest, internal or external threats, etc. It is therefore advisable to put in place a contingency plan, in the event that there are delays.
Moving by itself can be tedious. But when you add a different territory it then becomes quite a task. If you have questions or need help with your local or international move or shipment, contact us. We would be happy to assist you.