International moving companies in Australia

If you’re relocating for work, to study, or for any other reason, you’ll need to get to grips with what international moving companies can offer, what they cost and how you choose one. This guide is for you.

Moving overseas is exciting, but can also be stressful. Use this guide to start your research into the best international moving company for your specific relocation.

Learn more about the
Wise Account and card

What to look for in an international moving company

Before you pick a moving company, it’s worth considering the following:

• Does the moving company offer an end to end service, including any extras you might need like storage or pet relocation?
• What customer feedback can you find about your preferred provider on sites like Google or Trustpilot?
• What is the insurance cover offered to protect your goods in transit?
• Does the mover have experience with customs clearance in your destination country?
• Is the provider a member of global associations of movers such as FIDI or IAM?

Different international moving companies work in different ways, with varying services available. The only way to pick the right moving provider for you is to do some research and get quotes from different providers to see which best fits your unique situation.

How much does it cost to move internationally

So, how much do international moving companies charge?

Unfortunately, that’s not an essay question to answer. The cost of moving internationally can vary enormously with some online estimates running from $7,000 AUD right up to $30,000 AUD or more. The reason there’s such a wide range of costs is because every move will be different. How much stuff you need to relocate, where you’re going, whether you need help with packing and unpacking and other factors all come together to create the final cost of any given move.

Sea freight costs will make up the bulk of your moving cost, and depend on the volume of the items being shipped and the destination. To give a sense of the pricing, moving the contents of a 3 bedroom home from Australia to New Zealand might cost $900 AUD to $1300 AUD, while shipping the same to the UK is going to set you back over $5,000 AUD. On top of this there are other costs to consider, such as:

• Packing and unpacking
• Disassembling and remaking furniture items
• Insurance cover
• Specialist item costs - moving a piano or a car for example
• Any applicable customs charges

You’ll be able to get estimates for your specific move online from removals companies. You may still need an in person visit to discuss specific items which need to be moved, but this will give you a good idea of the costs you’re working with.

Popular moving companies in Australia

Many moving companies in Australia offer international moves through their overseas partnerships. This means that a local team can come to help you with the packing, before handing your goods over to a partner in the destination country which offers unpacking services.

Not all movers can support international relocations to all destinations, so you’ll need to shop around a little to find the right one for your needs. Here are a few international household moving companies you may want to look into.

Conroy Removals

Conroy Removals has been in business for over 40 years, offering international moves from Australia to many locations globally.¹ Conroy works with local partners in many destinations to deliver an end to end removal service which is safe and efficient. You can get a quote online based on your specific needs, and add in all the services you might need such as packing, support with moving your pets, transporting valuables or a vehicle for example.

Conroy doesn’t have a claimed profile on Trustpilot, so getting some feedback from people you know who have used the service before is a smart way to get a feel for how they operate.

Crown Removals

Crown Removals has facilities in 50+ countries and offers door to door international moving services.² Crown offers air and sea freight, with extra options including pet relocation and storage where needed. Your goods can be covered by extended warranties while they’re being moved, and you’ll be able to track your shipment as it makes its way to your new home.

Checking out Google and Trustpilot reviews before you pick a removal company can be handy if you don’t have any word of mouth recommendations. On Trustpilot, Crown gets an Excellent 4.6 star rating from 5, with just over 500 reviews listed online at the time of research³.

Allied Removals

Allied Removals has a base in Australia, as part of a network of 600 locations globally.⁴ This means that Allied can support international moves to more or less anywhere in the world, with experienced removalists and local teams and partners in the destination country.

On Trustpilot, Allied doesn’t have a huge number of reviews, clocking a 3.4 Average rating from under 400 customer reviews listed⁵. Allied quotes their own feedback online which states they get 4.5 stars out of 5 on average - they’ve also won many industry awards for service.

Grace Removals

Grace Removals has been offering removal services for 100 years already, and covers every aspect of an international move.⁶ Grace can help with shipping advice, packing, sea or air freight, and unpacking at the destination, and also has specialist services such as pet relocation where needed.

On Trustpilot, Grace gets an Excellent 4.7 star rating from 5, with over 1,700 reviews listed online at the time of research⁷.

How to prepare for international moves. A checklist

All good international household moving companies will be able to help you with your move preparation, including talking you through the things you’ll need to do in advance of the move. Exactly how your move works will depend on the services you pick, but some helpful preparation steps can include:

• Gather any important legal and medical documents which you should keep in hand luggage
• Pack the personal items, clothing and anything else you’ll need while your shipment is at sea
• Document and photograph any high value items which may be in the shipment - you’ll need to talk to the movers about expensive items in case special arrangements are required
• Set aside items which can not be shipped - these can include foods, liquids or anything not allowed because of customs rules
• Clearly mark items which should not be shipped for the packers and movers
• Have a good supply of drinks and snacks on hand for move day - it’s hard work!

Wrapping up

Moving abroad is exciting and can open up a whole new set of opportunities - but arranging relocation can be pretty complicated and stressful. Having the best international moving company for your needs will go a long way to alleviate the hassle, and let you get back to planning your life in your new country. Use this guide to start your research and find the right international household moving company for your upcoming relocation.

The Wise Account and Debit Card

With a Wise Account you can hold money in 40+ currencies and spend it in 160+ countries. You can also order local account details in popular world currencies like AUD, NZD, USD, EUR, GBP to receive local and/or international payments like a local.

Whenever you exchange currencies it’s done using the mid-market rate with a conversion fee shown upfront.

To make everyday spending easier you can order a Wise Debit card for your Wise Account and generate virtual cards as needed. If you have the local currency in your Wise Account the Wise card will use it and charge no fees. If you don’t, it uses smart technology to auto-convert your money at the mid-market rate, for a conversion fee.

The Wise card may suit you better if you’re to spend money that you’ve stored in different currencies within an existing Wise Account, and benefit from 2 or less free cash withdrawals under $350 AU, or foreign equivalent, per month (keep in mind that ATM providers may charge their own fees). You can see our full fee breakdown for ATM withdrawals here.

Join over 16 million customers currently using Wise. It’ll only take a few minutes to register and see what’s inside.

Register your Wise account
in minutes

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Sources: