Moving from United States to Switzerland is a container sea-freight corridor with a typical door-to-door transit of 3–5 weeks. A two-bedroom household of roughly 18–22 m³ usually lands between $7,700 and $9,800 on a full-service basis, calculated from route distance, regional handling costs and shipment volume.
On arrival, Switzerland applies Übersiedlungsgut / effets de déménagement declaration (Form 18.44) under Swiss national customs framework. Import VAT in Switzerland is 8.1%, and relief is what keeps your household goods out of that charge. Shipments normally arrive through Rotterdam (transit) or Antwerp (transit).
This page covers what actually changes on the United States → Switzerland route: what you will pay, how long the shipment is at sea, the paperwork Switzerland customs expects from a departure in United States, and what to do about pets, a vehicle and somewhere to live when you land.
Departures from United States normally load at New York / New Jersey, Savannah, Houston. Household goods leaving the US move under an ocean carrier booking filed with US Customs at least 24 hours before loading. Personal effects shipments are normally filed by your forwarder; you sign a power of attorney authorising them to act. Video or in-home surveys are widely available across the continental US; crews are typically scheduled 2–4 weeks ahead. The corridor covers roughly 4,303 nautical miles.
| Home size | Estimated volume | Typical method | Door-to-door range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Few Items | 3–5 m³ | LCL groupage (shared container) | $3,100–$4,000 |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | 8–12 m³ | LCL groupage (shared container) | $4,900–$6,300 |
| 2-Bedroom Home | 18–22 m³ | 20-foot container (sole-use FCL) | $7,700–$9,800 |
| 3-Bedroom Home | 28–32 m³ | 20-foot container (sole-use FCL) | $8,300–$10,500 |
| 4+ Bedroom Home | 45–60 m³ | 40-foot high-cube container (FCL) | $11,500–$14,500 |
Ranges are calculated from route distance, shipment volume and regional handling costs. This is an estimated relocation cost for planning purposes, not a binding quote. Final pricing is confirmed by a vetted international moving partner after a survey.
Booking & packing lead time
4–6 weeks in peak season (May–September), 2–3 weeks off-peak
Port-to-port sailing
3–5 weeks
Clearance & delivery
4–6 weeks typical clearance window in Switzerland
Shipments from United States are treated as an import from outside Switzerland's customs territory. The requirements below apply, and the supporting evidence customs will ask for — proof of address, residence history, ownership records — must be documents issued in United States.
Übersiedlungsgut / effets de déménagement declaration (Form 18.44) — Swiss national customs framework
Switzerland is outside the EU customs union. Household effects can be imported free of duty and VAT when declared as removal goods, with the declaration made to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security.
Conditions
Documents from United States
Rules vary by destination and may also depend on your country of origin, immigration status and circumstances. This guide is educational and is not legal, tax or customs advice.
Open the full customs guideSwitzerland sits outside the EU customs union, so your shipment clears under Swiss federal rules: Form 18.44 presented at the border with a precisely valued inventory secures duty-free entry of household effects.
Find furnished temporary housing through our AltoVita partnership.
MyExpatGo helps connect you with temporary housing options. Availability is subject to AltoVita and provider inventory — MyExpatGo does not guarantee or book accommodation.
Switzerland is a standard-complexity pet destination, regulated by Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO). Allow 1–2 months of preparation before departure from United States. Quarantine: 0 days.
Switzerland pet import requirementsForm 13.20A at the border, then cantonal Strassenverkehrsamt inspection within one year. Duty is assessed by vehicle weight rather than value when relief does not apply. A vehicle registered in United States may need conformity, lighting or emissions work before it can be road-legal in Switzerland.
Vehicle import guide
Nobel Relocation
Family-run, FAIM-certified US mover with East Coast hubs in Miami, Atlanta and Maryland.
Orphee Beinoglou
Greece's leading specialist in relocation, fine art and exhibition logistics — trusted since 1923.
Atlas International Movers
Dutch-Swiss international removals group with 40+ years of door-to-door household, corporate and office relocation experience.
Argo Mobility
Boutique Romanian mover offering single-point-of-contact door-to-door household, vehicle and office relocations.
Asian Tigers
Asia's leading relocation group with 14 country offices across the region's primary commercial centres.
Partners do not pay to be part of the matched network. How we vet partners.
Tell us what you are shipping and we will match you with vetted movers who run this corridor. Free, no obligation, and partners never pay for placement.
