Here’s an easy and practical guide to plan your move between England and India without stress in the very last hours.

When moving from England to India, preparation is your friend and the key is to treat it like a project: choose a date for your move, lock in your shipping method, secure all of the correct paperwork and then pack with Indian customs in mind. The good news is, once you follow a clear timeline, the whole move feels way less “big and scary” and more like a checklist you can actually finish.

Below is a complete, real-world guide from Deliv International Movers, including typical cost ranges, shipping timelines, and the documents required for household goods. 

Quick snapshot: cost + transit time (UK → India)

Costs and timelines change by season, city pair, and shipment size. Still, these ranges help you plan your budget early.

Option	Best for	Typical transit time (port-to-port)	Typical total timeline (door-to-door)	Cost range (guide)
Sea freight (FCL 20ft/40ft)	Full home moves	~27–32 days UK port → Nhava Sheva (example lanes)	Often ~6–10 weeks incl. packing, customs, delivery	Varies widely; use estimates below
Sea freight (LCL/shared container)	Small/medium moves	Often longer than FCL (consolidation + deconsolidation)	~8–12+ weeks (common)	Depends on volume (CBM)
Air freight	Urgent essentials	1–3 days flight time (plus handling)	~1–3 weeks door-to-door (typical handling)	Higher than sea freight

Cost examples (UK → India estimates): Movehub’s published estimates show sea shipping ranges like £4,915–£5,433 for a 1-bedroom flat, and £7,562–£8,358 for a 3-bedroom house (sea). Air can be much higher (example: £9,363–£10,348 for 1-bedroom by air). Get details on Shipping Household Goods from Toronto to India

Step-by-step timeline (what to do, and when)

8–10 weeks before you fly

First, decide your shipping style:

• FCL (Full Container Load): you book a full 20ft or 40ft container.
• LCL (Less than Container Load): you pay for the space you use (CBM).
• Air freight: you ship fewer items fast.

Next, request a proper survey (video or in-home). After that, ask for a quote that clearly shows:

• packing + materials,
• pickup + trucking to port,
• export documentation,
• ocean/air freight,
• Indian destination charges,
• customs clearance support,
• final delivery (and unpacking, if you want it),
• insurance option.

4–6 weeks before

Now you build your paperwork file and item lists.

You’ll need a packing list / inventory. It should be detailed and readable, because customs will compare your list to the cartons. Packing lists are standard shipping documents and help everyone track your cargo.

Also, confirm your destination address in India and decide where you want delivery:

• apartment (lift vs stairs),
• gated community (time slots),
• storage (if your home isn’t ready yet).

1–2 weeks before pickup

Finally, sort items into 4 piles:

1. ship by sea
2. ship by air
3. carry in luggage
4. don’t ship (sell/donate)

This step saves money because you stop paying to ship “random stuff you don’t even like”. Read on Shipping Household Goods from Ireland to India

Pickup week (UK side)

Your movers pack, label, and load your goods. Then they move the container (or cartons) to the port, and they handle export formalities.

Cost of moving from England to India (what changes the price)

People often search “cost of moving from UK to India” and expect one number. In reality, costs move up or down based on these factors:

• Volume (CBM) or container size (20ft vs 40ft)
• Pickup city (London vs Manchester vs Birmingham, etc.)
• Destination city (Mumbai vs Bengaluru vs Delhi, etc.)
• Floor access (no lift = more labour)
• Season (summer demand can cost more)
• Customs complexity (TR vs non-TR, and how clean your documents are)
• Insurance value (declared value affects premium)

Cost guide table (budget planning)

Use this as a planning range, then confirm with a proper survey and quote.

Home size / shipment style	Typical approach	Budget note
Studio / 1-bed	LCL or small FCL	Sea estimates for 1-bed published around £4,915–£5,433
2–3 bed	20ft or 40ft FCL	Sea estimates for 3-bed shown around £7,562–£8,358
“Need it fast” essentials	Air freight (boxes)	Air estimates can be significantly higher

Sea freight vs air freight: which is better for UK → India moves?

Sea freight (most popular)

Sea freight suits full household moves best because it’s more cost effective per kg than air. Plus, FCL shipments tend to be more straightforward because you can skip additional consolidation stages.

Typical sea durations on major lanes (examples):

• London Gateway → Nhava Sheva: ~27 days (FCL)
• Felixstowe → Nhava Sheva: ~31 days (FCL)

Air freight (for urgent items)

Air freight is ideal when you need:

• clothes for the first month,
• kids’ essentials,
• work equipment (allowed items only),
• small kitchen basics.

However, air shipments still need handling, paperwork, and customs release, so you should plan for days to a couple of weeks, not “tomorrow delivery”. Read on Shipping Household Goods from Canada to Chennai

Documents required for moving from England to India (full checklist)

Paperwork is where many moves get delayed. So, gather this early and keep scans ready.

UK-side shipping documents (common)

Most international shipments rely on:

• Packing List / Inventory
• Bill of Lading (sea) or Air Waybill (air) — proof the carrier received your goods
• Any required export declarations (your mover/freight partner usually guides this)

Related Articles:

» How to Ship Personal Effects from UK to India?
» How to Ship Electronic Goods from China to India?
» Air or Sea: Which Option Is Best to Ship Personal Effects from the UK to India?
» How to Ship Personal Effects & Household Goods from Canada to Any Part of India?
» How to Relocate to Netherlands from India?

India-side documents (commonly requested for household goods)

Requirements can vary by port and personal situation, but people typically prepare:

• passport copy (photo + entry/exit pages)
• visa / OCI / work permit (as applicable)
• Indian address proof (rental agreement, utility proof, etc.)
• detailed inventory in English (carton-wise is best)
• authorization letter for customs clearance (your mover provides a format)

Transfer of Residence (TR) and unaccompanied baggage timing

If your shipment travels as unaccompanied baggage / personal effects, timing rules matter. India’s official baggage rules note that unaccompanied baggage may arrive up to two months before the passenger arrives, and in some cases customs may allow a longer window (up to one year) with reasons recorded.

Also, some customs zones publish their own practical guidance. For example, Chennai Customs notes unaccompanied baggage should be dispatched within one month of arrival (or a further period as allowed).

And if you’re using TR facilities, Mumbai Customs describes TR as a facilitation measure for passengers who stayed abroad more than two years (with certain visit limits) and includes conditions around prior TR usage.

Because rules and interpretation can differ by port, confirm your exact pathway (TR / Non-TR) with your mover before you ship.

What NOT to ship (and what to ship carefully)

This part saves you customs headaches.

Avoid shipping:

• brand-new sealed items in bulk (can look commercial)
• restricted electronics or large quantities
• anything prohibited or sensitive (your mover will give a restricted list)

Ship carefully:

• food items, supplements, liquids, aerosols (often risky)
• valuables/jewellery (usually better to carry personally)
• batteries/power banks (air rules get strict)

Also, keep purchase invoices if you ship high-value electronics—customs may ask for value justification.

How customs clearance usually works in India (simple version)

Here’s what typically happens after arrival:

1. Your shipment lands at port/airport
2. Port handling + movement to bonded area
3. Document submission + assessment
4. Physical inspection (sometimes partial, sometimes detailed)
5. Duty payment if applicable
6. Release order
7. Delivery scheduling

You can speed it up by keeping your inventory accurate and your documents consistent (names, addresses, passport details—make them match).

Tips to choose the right international mover (UK → India)

When you compare movers, don’t compare price only. Instead, compare what’s included.

Choose a mover that offers:

• door-to-door international moving (not “port only” unless you want it)
• professional export packing
• clear insurance options
• India-side partner support (destination agent)
• realistic timelines (no fake “2 weeks by sea” promises)

At Deliv International Movers, we focus on a clean process: survey → packing → export docs → freight → Indian customs support → delivery scheduling. And yes, we keep it straightforward, because moving is already stressful enough. Get details on Shipping from Toronto to India

Final “no-surprises” checklist (print this)

• Get a written quote with inclusions and exclusions
• Decide FCL vs LCL vs air
• Make a carton-wise inventory
• Keep passport/visa/address scans ready
• Separate “carry with me” valuables
• Confirm unaccompanied baggage/TR pathway (if applicable)
• Buy insurance if the value justifies it
• Plan your first 2–3 weeks in India (air shipment helps)

FAQ: Moving from England to India