Overseas Moving Services for Families and Businesses
Licensed FMC mover serving all 50 states with door-to-door service worldwide.
Moving your life or business across borders is a big story. In your story, you are the hero, taking a bold step toward a new chapter. Our role is to be your experienced guide, the team that knows the terrain and clears the path so you can focus on what matters. SDC International Shipping is a licensed door-to-door moving company serving all 50 states, a licensed Federal Maritime Commission NVOCC based in Los Angeles, specializing in door-to-door relocations to destinations worldwide. Families and corporations choose us for professional packing and crating, secure storage on both sides of the move, expert customs documentation support, and flexible air or sea freight options that fit timelines and budgets.
A Guide for Families and Businesses
When we assign your dedicated move coordinator, you gain a single point of contact who translates your goals into a step-by-step plan, typically starting with an in-home or virtual survey, continuing through professional packing with export-grade materials, and ending with delivery at your new residence or office overseas. Your coordinator keeps you informed at every milestone so you are never guessing about next steps.
What Makes Our Approach Different
What sets us apart from a local mover is not the truck or the boxes, it is the global logistics behind the scenes. Your timeline, customs paperwork, insurance coverage, and transport method all have to click together. Our global network, vetted destination partners, and compliance processes are built to keep your shipment moving smoothly from door to door.
A Real-World Example
Consider a family moving from Chicago to Barcelona with heirloom furniture, kids’ bikes, and a small piano. We recommended a consolidated sea shipment for most household goods, paired with a small air freight carton for the first week’s essentials. Their piano was crated on site by our specialty team, their inventory was documented in detail for customs, and their belongings sat in climate-controlled storage until the vessel sailed, a move that balanced speed, price, and peace of mind.
Choosing Air Freight, Sea Freight, or Both
Because every move has different priorities, we design around your constraints. If you need the fastest arrival for a few critical items, air freight is ideal. If you are moving a full home or office, sea freight offers excellent value with full container or shared container options. For many clients, the most efficient approach is a hybrid: urgent items by air, the bulk of the shipment by sea. See our full breakdown of air freight vs. ocean freight for transit times and cost tradeoffs.
The Details You Do Not See
Trust also comes from the details you do not see: sourcing the right packing materials to protect wood items from humidity, building custom crates for artwork and fragile pieces, coordinating with vetted destination agents who know local building access and elevator rules, and assembling a compliant inventory so your shipment clears customs without unnecessary delays. If your plans change, storage on either side keeps your move flexible.
Professional Packing and Crating
When your belongings cross oceans and borders, the difference between a smooth arrival and a stressful claim is almost always the quality of the packing. We use export-grade cartons, moisture barriers, and custom wooden crates (built from ISPM 15-compliant lumber and stamped for international acceptance) for fragile and high-value pieces. Owner-packed cartons can complicate both customs inspection and insurance coverage, so for anything you cannot easily replace, we recommend our crews handle it. Full detail on materials, crating, and what to expect on packing day is on our packing services page.
International Moving Insurance
SDC offers two coverage paths for most moves: All Risk, which protects against loss or damage to listed items from door to door and pairs naturally with our professional packing, and Total Loss, a budget-friendly option that protects you if the entire shipment is lost or destroyed. Your move coordinator will walk you through valuation and help you choose the right fit for your shipment and budget. Full coverage details, claim examples, and a side-by-side comparison are on our International Moving Insurance page.
Secure Storage, Before and After Your Move
International moves rarely follow a perfect timeline; ships sail on fixed schedules, customs inspections can add days, and landlords overseas often release keys later than expected. We offer climate-controlled storage on both origin and destination sides, coordinated by your move coordinator so you are not juggling extra vendors. See our storage services page for options and typical durations.
Vehicle Shipping With Your Household Goods
SDC is not a car-only shipper; we ship vehicles when they are containerized alongside your household goods, keeping logistics simple under one coordinator and one customs file. Your vehicle is inspected, photographed, and secured inside the container with wheel chocks and blocking and bracing, and customs clearance and delivery are coordinated together with the rest of your shipment. Full detail on container layouts, RoRo versus container, and documentation is on our International Car Shipping page.
Specialty Shipping: Pianos, Artwork, and Antiques
Some belongings need a level of care beyond standard packing. Pianos are surveyed, disassembled where needed, and crated or skidded with the action locked and casters protected. Artwork and collectibles get case-by-case treatment: glass skin protection, corner armor, and floating mounts inside rigid crates. Antiques receive soft wraps, moisture barriers, and stabilized doors and drawers. See our dedicated pages for International Piano Movers and Overseas Artwork Shipping for methods and real examples.
Customs Clearance and Documentation
Your move coordinator builds a document timeline the day you book, confirming passport and visa status, destination address, and any duty relief you may qualify for, such as Transfer of Residence in parts of Europe and the UK. A clear, numbered inventory is the backbone of a smooth clearance, and our destination partners pre-alert customs and attend inspections on your behalf when needed. For the full picture of requirements by country, start with our International Customs Regulations guide.
Why Families and Corporations Trust SDC
SDC International Shipping is a licensed, experienced mover serving all 50 states and destinations worldwide. From the day you book, you have one coordinator who learns your priorities, builds your timeline, and keeps you informed from survey through delivery, and one set of vetted destination partners who understand local buildings, elevator time slots, and delivery norms. Companies choose us for repeatable processes, consistent employee experience, and budget control across multi-employee relocation programs. Learn more about our philosophy and proof points on Why Choose SDC International Shipping.
| What You Get | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Dedicated coordinator | One plan, one contact, fewer handoffs |
| Export-grade packing and crating | Reduced risk of in-transit damage |
| Vetted destination partners | Delivery that respects building rules and schedules |
| Transparent schedules and updates | Fewer surprises at port and at home |
| Integrated storage options | Flexibility when keys or flights shift |
| Documentation and customs support | Smoother clearance, better-supported insurance outcomes |
Request Your Free Overseas Moving Quote
Every move begins with a clear plan. We start with a brief virtual or in-home survey to understand your household or office scope, align your timeline and preferred mode (air, sea, or a hybrid) and discuss storage needs if dates are still shifting. From there, we present a clear written proposal with transit-window ranges and service options you can select or adjust. For a closer look at how estimates are built and what to compare between movers, see our guide to comparing international moving quotes, or request your free quote directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book an international move?
Most families and businesses book 6 to 10 weeks before packing so we can secure survey time, building access, sailing or flight schedules, and any storage needed. Tighter timelines can often be compressed, especially for small air shipments.
What is the difference between full container load and groupage?
Full container load dedicates a 20 or 40-foot container to your shipment and tends to move fastest once packed. Groupage, or less than container load, places your liftvans in a shared container for better value, usually with added time for consolidation and deconsolidation.
Can I ship a car or motorcycle with my household goods?
Yes. We are not a car-only shipper, but we routinely ship vehicles when they are containerized with household goods. Your coordinator will confirm container layout, securing methods, and destination rules.
Can I pack some boxes myself?
You can pack personal items yourself, though many insurers limit coverage on owner-packed cartons. For the best protection and smoother customs, we recommend professional export packing for fragile items, electronics, and anything valuable.
How do I start the process today?
Begin with a quick survey and a conversation about timing and priorities. Then request your quote and we will build a plan that fits your move.
