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Quick answer: start planning an international move from Kenya three to six months ahead. Decide what to ship, sell or store, get a home survey and a written quote from an international mover, and choose between road freight (within East Africa), sea freight (cheaper, for full households) and air freight (faster, for smaller or urgent shipments). Prepare your passport, visa, KRA PIN and a full inventory for customs, and check your destination country’s import rules before you pack. The timeline and checklist below cover each step.
Nairobi Movers handles relocations across East Africa and overseas, including to the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, South Africa and the Middle East. This guide brings together what families, expatriates and businesses most often ask us before a move abroad.
Choose how your belongings travel
| Option | Best for | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Road freight | Moves within East Africa: Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi | Door to door by truck, with customs clearance at the border |
| Sea freight (shared or full container) | Full households and large shipments overseas | The most cost-effective option per cubic metre, but the slowest |
| Air freight | Urgent, smaller or high-value shipments | Fastest, but priced by weight and volume, so best for essentials |
Many families combine them: a small air shipment of essentials so they can live normally on arrival, and the rest of the household by sea. Your mover should recommend the right mix after surveying your home.
International moving timeline
3 to 6 months before
- Confirm your visa, work permit or residence status and your arrival date.
- Research your destination: housing, schools, cost of living and climate.
- Check the destination’s customs rules for household goods, vehicles, alcohol, medication and pets.
- Decide what to ship, sell, donate or put into storage in Nairobi.
- Ask two or three international movers for a home survey and an itemised written quote.
2 months before
- Book your mover and agree the shipping method, dates and what the price includes.
- Ask what insurance cover is offered for the shipment, and what it pays out on.
- Give notice to your landlord, school and employer.
- If you are moving pets, start the vaccination, microchip and health certificate process early.
1 month before
- Collect and copy your documents (see the list below), and keep originals with you.
- Arrange to close or transfer utilities, internet and subscriptions.
- Tell your bank, KRA, SHA and other institutions about the move.
- Book flights and temporary accommodation for your first weeks abroad.
Packing week
- The movers pack with export-grade materials, crate fragile or valuable items, and make a numbered inventory.
- Check the inventory carefully before you sign it: it is the main customs document for your goods.
- Pack a suitcase with clothes, documents, medication and essentials for the weeks before your shipment arrives.
On arrival
- Your destination agent clears customs, delivers and, if booked, unpacks and sets up furniture.
- Check items against the inventory and report any damage straight away.
- Register with your embassy or consulate, and sort out local ID, banking and a phone line.
Documents you will need
- Valid passport and visa or residence permit for the destination
- KRA PIN and, where needed, a tax compliance certificate
- A detailed, signed inventory of the goods being shipped
- Proof of residence or employment in the destination country, if required for duty-free import of household goods
- Vehicle logbook and import documents, if you are shipping a car
- Pet health certificates, vaccination records and import permits, if you are moving pets
Rules differ by country and change from time to time, so your mover and the destination embassy should confirm the exact list before you ship.
Customs: what to expect
Every shipment is cleared through customs at export in Kenya and again at import in the destination country. Clear, honest declarations are what keep a shipment moving. Most countries allow used household goods in duty-free or at reduced duty if you are taking up residence, while new items, vehicles, alcohol and tobacco are often taxed. Restricted items, such as certain foods, plants, medication and weapons, need permits or cannot be shipped at all. A good international mover prepares your paperwork, works with clearing agents at both ends and tells you in advance about any duties to budget for.
Packing for an international move
- Use export-grade boxes, wrapping and wooden crates for glass, art and antiques: shipments are handled many times on the way.
- Do not pack liquids, flammables, batteries or aerosols in your shipment.
- Photograph valuable items and electronics, and note their serial numbers.
- Keep jewellery, cash, documents and laptops in your hand luggage, not in the shipment.
Many of the steps for the Nairobi end of the move are the same as a local move. Our house moving checklist covers decluttering and packing room by room.
Moving within East Africa
We move households and businesses by road between Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Cross-border moves are door to door: we pack in Nairobi, prepare the customs paperwork, clear at the border and deliver to your new home in Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Kigali or elsewhere in the region.
Settling in abroad: tips for Kenyans moving overseas
- Expect a different way of doing things. Moving practices, building rules, working hours and even how furniture is delivered may differ from Nairobi. Ask local movers and neighbours how things are done.
- Join a community. Kenyan diaspora groups, churches and online forums in your new city are a quick way to get practical advice and support.
- Learn the basics of the language if it is not an English-speaking country, even a few phrases before you go.
- Budget for the first months. Deposits, furniture, transport and school fees often cost more than expected while you settle in.
- Stay connected to home. Keep a Kenyan line for M-Pesa and banking, and keep your KRA and other records up to date.
What affects the cost of an international move
- The volume and weight of your shipment
- The destination and the shipping method: road, sea or air
- Packing, crating and export materials
- Customs clearance, duties and taxes at the destination
- Destination services such as delivery, unpacking and storage
- Insurance for the shipment
Because so much depends on the destination and volume, international moves are quoted after a home survey. Our guide on how to choose movers in Nairobi explains what a proper quote should include.
Frequently asked questions
Start three to six months before you move. Book your mover at least six to eight weeks ahead, and earlier if you are moving pets or a vehicle.
Sea freight is the most cost-effective option for a full household. Air freight is faster and suits smaller or urgent shipments. Many families send essentials by air and the rest by sea.
Usually your passport, visa or residence permit, KRA PIN, a signed inventory and, for some countries, proof of residence or employment. Vehicles and pets need extra paperwork.
Many countries let you import used household goods duty-free or at reduced duty when you take up residence. New items, vehicles and alcohol are often taxed. Check the rules for your destination with your mover before you ship.
Yes. We move households and offices by road across East Africa, including customs clearance at the border and delivery to your new home.
Do not pack liquids, flammables, aerosols, batteries, perishable food, plants, cash, jewellery or important documents. Carry valuables and documents with you.
Planning a move abroad?
Nairobi Movers handles international moving from Nairobi to East Africa and overseas: home survey, export packing and crating, customs paperwork, shipping by road, sea or air, and secure storage for anything you leave behind. Call 0724 225 178 or WhatsApp us to book a free survey.
