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International Moving Guide

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We are here to help you get to where you are going safely and smoothly. Upon confirming your services with us, NOR-CAL Moving Services in partnership with Allied International will assign you an International Relocation Coordinator to guide you step by step as you prepare for your international relocation. Our expertise and professional service will help guide you for an international move that is seamless.

Restricted Items for International Move

We are committed to helping provide a successful international move for you. Part of this process includes providing information on certain restricted items that should not be included within your shipment to avoid the danger of harming others or your goods. This also helps to clear customs quickly and reduce expenses at the destination.

Please note that some countries may apply restrictions on certain items.

Hazardous Goods
  • Aerosol spray cans of any kind
  • Ammunition
  • Acids or Solvents
  • Bleaches
  • Batteries
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Fireworks
  • Flares
  • Gasoline
  • Insecticides and Poisons
  • Kerosene
  • Lighter fluids
  • Oil
  • Paints and Paint thinners
  • Perishable foods
  • Propane tanks

Restricted Items

  • Automobiles
  • Boats
  • Building materials
  • Carry-On luggage with
  • Lithium batteries
  • Consumable products (toiletries)
  • Drugs and Medications
  • Engines
  • Firewood or Raw wood products
  • Firearms and Guns
  • Food items
  • Hoverboards
  • Ivory products
  • Live plants
  • Lawnmowers
  • Military Uniforms and/or memorabilia
  • Motorcycles
  • Pornography
  • Religious statues and
  • Religious ornaments
  • Trailers
  • Weapons (knives, swords, etc.)
  • Wine, Alcohol, Liquor
  • All items on the Endangered Species List

Preparing for a Smooth International Move

  • Separate and set aside items that you’ll need or are not to be packed with regular household items such as valuables, passports and travel documents, clothing and personal items you’ll need for traveling, mortgage, insurance and automobile documents you may need after the move, house keys and other items to ship separately such as Air Freight items, Storage items, and Items not to move.
  • Separate items you’d like to donate.
  • Provide all documentation for customs clearance.
  • Provide a completed insurance form, as applicable, for each part of your shipment (ocean, air, storage) with the replacement value of your belongings at your destination.
  • Plan to have all valuables such as jewelry, cash, stocks, bonds, coin and stamp collections and important documents to be transported with you personally.
  • Have items that have been fixed to the wall or ceiling (chandeliers, lighting or cabinets) professionally removed and ready for packing.
  • Consult manuals for all electronics so you can properly prepare them for transportation. All electronic items must be move-ready before our arrival on move day. Make sure your electronics are compatible in your new location as these may vary in some locations.
  • Computer equipment must be ready for transport, including removing all printer ink cartridges and backing up your computer hard drive onto media you can carry separately or upload to a cloud-based storage. Pack only new, sealed ink cartridges opened or used cartridges may leak.
  • Defrost, disconnect, and dry all freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers or washers at least 24 hours prior to move day. Disconnect all stoves, cookers, or ovens unless otherwise included in the quote.
  • If you have a front-loading washing machine, please have the custom blocking device supplied by the manufacturer ready for our crew to install for moving. This device is required to protect the machine from damage during movement, as noted in the manual. If the blocking device is not provided and installed, we will not be responsible if damage occurs.
  • Remove all items from any attic or loft spaces without a fully boarded floor. This is to save you from any legal liability. Similarly, these areas should have a secure, stable ladder or stairway access.
  • Clean all mowers and garden equipment and drain all gas, oil, and fluids.
  • Gather and dispose of items that cannot be shipped. Refer to the restricted item list above.

Allied International Packing Requirements

Our goal is to safely move your belongings and to clear customs quickly. Because of this, we have set our international packing requirements to include having our crew pack for our customers who are moving internationally. The reasons are:

  1. We must declare and verify that no hazardous items are included in the shipment. The only way to ensure this is to have our crews pack our customer’s belongings safely and securely.
  2. Packing lists that we compile are the same documents used by customs officials at the destination country to permit entry of our customer’s household goods. Customs authorities require a full descriptive inventory, including the content of cartons and boxes. We are not permitted to have descriptions such as “Packed by Owner” or “Miscellaneous.”
  3. Complications and consequences for both our customer and our company as a result of including restricted or prohibited items are significant. Depending upon the destination, obvious items such as firearms, alcohol and pornography to less obvious items like religious artifacts, DVDs and certain foods can create problems. We have a strong obligation and commitment to maintaining control of what is packed for compliance of all shipments.
  4. Many countries require the make, model and serial numbers for all electronic appliances, regardless of size or purpose. Part of our packing process is to clearly identify these crucial numbers to avoid extensive examination and additional charges for our customer at the destination.
  5. The Allied International Transit Protection policy will not cover your goods for loss or damage if we do not pack your household goods and personal effects.

For more information on how we can help with your international move, contact us today.

About Us

One of the Top-Rated Moving Companies in the San Francisco Bay Area

Established in 1982, NOR-CAL Moving Services started as an office mover and has grown to become one of the largest full-service moving companies in the Western U.S. What started as a very simple business idea of providing San Francisco Bay Area businesses with superior moving and storage services has become the pillar to the company’s success and have earned NOR-CAL Moving Services multiple awards from Allied Van Lines.

Today, our team of expert movers continues to provide world-class moving services to every individual and organization based on their relocation or storage needs as seamlessly as possible. Moving quotes can be complicated, but not with the professional movers at NOR-CAL Moving Services.

Get A Free Quote

Call us today!

(510) 269-4905

More than half a Million Moves in 40 years

around SF Bay Area and worldwide

2,500 Active Clients

trust NOR-CAL Moving Services

98% Client Retention

who value quality movers

300 Professionals

helping achieve a stress-free move

NOR-CAL Moving Services Hayward, CA Reviews

Very kind people and they put together a team of individuals who care and make sure you are taken care of. I will definitely use them again on any move I make! Great to work with from every one of their team players! Great Teamwork! Thank you!!!!
Jarred S.
Jarred S.
Nor-Cal did a GREAT job with my recent move from the CA Bay Area to Denver CO. It wasn't a simple move: I moved first into storage for several months, and then once I had a place in Denver, Nor-Cal arranged for two drop-offs, once at my condo and another at my son's house for some items that I decided not to keep. At every stage, Nor-Cal and their pickup and delivery teams were great. They kept me informed, did an excellent job packing and delivering, and were flexible and very professional. I would have no hesitation in using them again and in recommending them to others.
Bobbi B.
Bobbi B.
This is a top notch organization. Expensive and valuable antiques to be moved along with art work. Everything was done to perfection.
Cary T.
Cary T.
I can’t recommend this moving company enough. For my international move from California to the UK they handled everything so smoothly; it was hassle free and really helped with my stress levels at such a difficult time. For cost they came out most competitive compared to two other good companies, and I liked the way they were so flexible on volume. They really worked to help me feel comfortable on everything and felt like a very personal service. On moving day at both ends the teams were polite, efficient and did an excellent job of packing and handling my property. I didn’t really have to lift a finger or deal with any logistical arrangements on the day or leading up to it. Would definitely use again 100%.
Nicola O.
Nicola O.
From start to finish amazing communication, work and team. Pre-check of our home was quick and Matt was super friendly, patient to answer any questions we had about moving across an ocean. Both containers made it to our home in about 3 months from San Francisco, CA to the Netherlands. They took care of all the paperwork, sending us a clear checklist of what we needed to supply. We moved our home and 2 cars in shipping containers over sea and it was smooth sailing. Would 10/10 recommend and partner again should we relocate again in the future.Thank you to the team for the amazing care you all took to pack up our belongings and make sure they made it safely to their destination. We are beyond grateful for how smooth this move has been and it couldn’t have been so without you all. Thank you again for everything!
Kirsten A.
Kirsten A.
I hired NOR-CAL Moving to move a lot of furniture and boxes - not across town or across the country, but within my own house! I had some storage built in my attic so I could clear out my garage and various closets. The NOR-CAL movers were FABULOUS! They were very professional, neat and clean, super nice to work with, fast and strong. They listened attentively to instructions and followed through. Everything was carefully carried up two flights of stairs to my attic without nicking any walls or doors (that was hard to do). I also had two very large Persian area rugs which they laid out on their blankets, vacuumed the rugs, and carefully rolled them up in acid-free Tyvek for storage. NOR-CAL also packed and moved all of my household items 8 years ago, stored them temporarily in their warehouse, and then delivered everything to my new house. There were three gigantic flat-bed trucks of "stuff" and not a single item was lost or broken. NOR-CAL Moving is reliable, honest, careful, and reasonably priced. I highly recommend NOR-CAL Moving for all of your moving needs.
Pamela M.
Pamela M.
Ricardo and the Northern Cali. team was amazing, and Angelo and the Southern Cali. team was just as impressive. Moving is stressful, and they made it much better and easier. They were careful with our belongings, padded the entire home to avoid scratches/damages, and were super friendly, organized, and efficient. We will definitely use them again if we move and highly recommend them to anyone who's moving.
Alapaki Y.
Alapaki Y.
We moved from the Bay Area to Oregon and had to store our stuff for 6 months. Best moving experience I’ve ever had. Communication was great and everyone I dealt with very professional. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them!
Mariann S.
Mariann S.
I just relocated to North Carolina from California and I was lucky enough to choose Allied. Chris, Earseleanne and their team were fabulous. They were with me EVERY step of the way. From the price quote, to the move preparation, Mike the truck driver who led the packing team as well as the unloading crew, they ALL set the GOLD standard in executing a cross- country move that anyone would envy and everyone deserves. Efficient, on-time, friendly and packaging expertise that only comes with training and experience. Mike’s excellent inventory system was flawless. I would recommend Allied to everyone with a move in their future, you will be in excellent hands who really care about you and your move.
Sharon S.
Sharon S.
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Question & Answer

Do I need an estimate?

Yes. We offer free, no-obligation estimates. You can choose between in-person or virtual live video surveys. We try our very best to work and handle all kinds of moving scenarios.

Please note: We do NOT offer ball-park estimates over the phone.

Do you provide packing services?

Yes! We offer partial and full-service packing. We use high-quality materials to protect your items during transit.

Ask our Relocation Consultants in the Office, Industrial/Commercial, or Household Goods division.

Can you disassemble and reassemble furniture?

Absolutely. Our movers are trained to safely disassemble and reassemble beds, desks, tables, and more.

Please inquire in advance for pre-planning and logistics coordination.

Why should I hire professional movers?

Hiring professionals ensures efficiency, safety, and peace of mind. We bring the tools, labor, and experience to make your move stress-free.

Why should I choose NOR-CAL Moving Services?

Since 1982, we’ve been serving the Bay Area and are the go-to mover for top companies. Whether you’re moving a household or a global HQ, we tailor every move to your budget, timeline, and needs. We offer local, domestic, international, and office and industrial moving and storage/warehouse services. Call us for more information! We’ll develop a custom relocation plan to minimize business disruption and ensure a smooth transition. We provide clear, detailed estimates with no hidden fees, and our 5-star reviews and industry certifications back our reputation.

Customer satisfaction isn’t just a goal — it’s our standard.

Are you a moving broker or freight forwarder?

No, we are a licensed, professional moving company — not a broker or freight forwarder.

Here’s why that matters:

Brokers don’t own trucks or movers. They act as middlemen, often outsourcing your move to third parties with very little to no oversight.

Freight forwarders manage shipping logistics but don’t actually perform your move.

Choosing a direct mover like us means:

  • Full accountability and service continuity
  • No surprise carriers
  • Personalized customer care

Tip: Ask for a mover’s USDOT number and verify it at: FMCSA’s website.

Do you guarantee delivery or pickup dates?

For long-distance moves, we offer delivery windows and do our best to meet specific target dates.

Can you handle specialty or sensitive equipment?

Yes. Our team is trained to move electronics, servers, lab/medical equipment, and confidential files safely and securely.

Call us today!

(510) 780-2700

We are committed to helping our customers have a stress-free move

Get A Free Quote