Air Waybill, Bill of Lading, packing list, ToR1 relief — everything you need to know about documentation for personal effects and household goods shipping.
Whether you are shipping personal effects by air cargo or sea freight, customs authorities at both ends require accurate documentation. Missing or incorrect paperwork is the most common cause of delays and unexpected charges at destination. Here is what you need to know.
The contract of carriage for air freight. Issued by the airline or air cargo agent. Contains shipper and consignee details, flight routing, description of goods, number of pieces, and declared value. The AWB is the key document that travels with your personal effects from origin to destination.
The contract of carriage for sea freight — and the title document for the goods. The original Bill of Lading is required to release the shipment at the destination port. It contains shipper, consignee, and notify party details, port of loading and discharge, vessel name, and a description of the goods.
A detailed list of every item in your shipment, with quantities, descriptions, and estimated replacement values. This is the most important document for customs clearance at destination — it determines whether duty and VAT are applicable, and must be accurate.
If you are importing personal effects and household goods to the UK and qualify for Transfer of Residence relief, your HMRC-approved ToR1 URN must be provided to us before shipping. We quote it on the UK import declaration under Customs Procedure Code 40 00 C01.
A copy of the biographical page of your passport is required for customs clearance in most countries — confirming your identity as the shipper and owner of the personal effects. Required for both UK export and destination import declarations.
Some destination countries require a commercial invoice for personal effects — even when the goods are not being sold. This lists the shipper, consignee, description of goods, quantity, and declared value in the required currency. We advise at booking whether your destination requires this.
All personal effects and household goods shipped from the UK require a UK export customs declaration. We prepare and submit this as part of your shipment — you do not need to do this yourself. For most personal effects shipments the UK export is straightforward; certain restricted items (antiques, cultural goods, certain electronics) may require additional export licensing.
Import customs requirements vary significantly by destination. Most countries allow reasonable quantities of personal effects and used household goods to be imported duty-free for relocating residents — but the relief conditions, documentation requirements, and duty rates differ. We advise on destination-specific requirements at the time of booking.
Certain items cannot be shipped internationally — fresh food, plants, weapons, hazardous materials, controlled substances, and items prohibited by the destination country. We provide guidance at booking on what cannot be included in your shipment for your specific destination.
We recommend transit insurance for all personal effects and household goods shipments. Rates depend on how your goods are packed:
All goods must be declared at their true replacement value — under-declaration can invalidate your insurance claim. We recommend insuring all international personal effects and household goods shipments. Ask us about transit insurance at the time of booking.
Double-walled cardboard boxes of a consistent size make collection, loading, and customs examination easier. Avoid bin bags or very large, irregular boxes.
Bubble wrap, tissue paper, and clothes used as padding protect fragile items in transit. Electronics should ideally be in original packaging or well-padded in a dedicated box.
Your name, destination address, and a brief contents description on every box. Number boxes (1 of 5, 2 of 5 etc.) and keep a master list matching box numbers to contents for your packing inventory.
Under-declaring the value of personal effects is a common mistake — it can invalidate transit insurance and cause delays at destination customs if declared value appears implausibly low.
Original passports, property deeds, irreplaceable family documents, and high-value jewellery should travel with you rather than being included in shipped personal effects.
Get a quote in minutes, or call our UK-based team on 0800 096 38 39.