Moving

Who this page is for

For anyone moving to Georgia from another country with household belongings, and for those moving within a city or from Georgia to another country.

Finding a flat and utilities are covered on separate pages. This page is about the belongings' journey: from packing to opening the box in the flat.

Our role

We are not a freight forwarder ourselves and we do not ship goods. We work with licensed movers and customs brokers.

We draw up the plan, compare quotes, prepare documents and keep you informed at every stage in your language, until the last box is opened.

Three routes

Belongings can arrive by air, by sea or by road.

Air is fast but suits small volumes; sea is slow but takes large volumes; road is an in-between option from nearby countries.

Sometimes the most sensible choice is a combination: essentials by air, the rest by sea.

Air baggage and air freight

For a few boxes, the simplest option is often extra baggage on your own flight.

Larger volumes go as air freight, which passes through a separate customs procedure.

We check the airline's rules on size, weight and lithium batteries in advance.

Sea containers

A full container holds only your belongings and is sealed at the point of departure.

For smaller volumes there is groupage shipping, where you share a container with others.

Sea is the slowest route, and cargo often enters Georgia through the port of Poti or Batumi.

Road transport

From nearby countries, belongings often come by lorry.

The route crosses several borders, and the documents must be in order at each one.

Road shipping is often faster than sea and carries more than air.

What is worth bringing

It is not always better to bring everything: some things are simpler to buy here.

Large, cheap furniture often costs a lot to ship, while quality or personal items are worth it.

We go through the list together and suggest what to bring and what to buy locally.

Estimating the volume

A mover prices by volume, and an accurate estimate avoids unexpected costs.

The estimate can be done on site or by video call, room by room.

We ask several movers to quote on the same list, so that the comparison is fair.

The inventory

Every box needs a number and a description of its contents.

The list also records the value of the belongings, because customs and insurance need it.

We prepare the list in two languages and check every box against it on receipt.

Packing

Professional packing avoids the most common cause of damage - poor packing.

Some insurance covers only items packed by the mover.

If you pack yourself, we recommend good boxes and materials, and marking each box by room.

Fragile and valuable items

Crockery, mirrors, art and instruments need separate packing, sometimes a wooden crate.

A valuable item is valued separately and listed separately in the insurance.

We often recommend carrying the most valuable and irreplaceable things with you.

Documents with you

Passports, diplomas, certificates, medical records and bank cards do not go in the shipment.

You carry them in your hand luggage, because you will need them as soon as you arrive.

It is also better to carry copies of the shipping documents, so that you have everything to hand at customs.

The first-day box

One box or suitcase should be packed as if the shipment might never arrive.

In it: bedding, towels, chargers, a kettle, toiletries, a child's toy and clothes for a few days.

This box is often the most valuable one when a container is held up at sea or at customs.

Customs and personal belongings

Customs may treat personal belongings brought in for living under special rules, subject to certain conditions.

The conditions often concern the used condition of the items, your status and the time of arrival.

We check the exact rule with a licensed customs broker before shipping.

The customs broker

The customs declaration is often prepared and filed by a licensed broker.

They need the inventory, a copy of your passport, a status document and the shipping documents.

We explain the broker's visit and questions in your language.

Restricted items

Weapons, some medicines, plants, food and some chemicals are restricted or prohibited.

Explosive and flammable items, including aerosols and paint, are often not accepted in a shipment.

We check the list before packing, so that the shipment is not held at customs.

Medicines

Personal medicines can often be brought in, in reasonable quantities and with a prescription.

Special rules apply to some medicines, and we check them before you arrive.

We recommend keeping medicines in your hand luggage, in their original packaging, with a doctor's note.

Electronics and power

Georgia's electricity grid runs at 220 volts, and European-type sockets are used.

110-volt appliances need a transformer, and sometimes it is better to buy them here.

We check battery-powered tools against the mover's rules.

Cash and valuables

Cash and valuables above a certain threshold need to be declared at the border.

We do not put such items in the shipment; you carry them with you.

We check the declaration rule before you travel.

Shipment insurance

A mover's standard liability is often limited and does not cover the real value of items.

Separate insurance based on value is often sensible, especially for sea shipping.

We read the policy terms, exclusions and claim deadline before signing.

Stages and tracking

A large move has several stages: packing, dispatch, transit, customs and delivery.

At each stage we get tracking information and pass it on to you.

If a shipment is held up, we find out why and tell you the new date.

The port and the warehouse

Sea freight arrives at the port and then goes through customs processing.

Storage at the port and in the customs warehouse has its own time limits and costs.

So we prepare the documents before the shipment arrives, so that it does not sit there longer than needed.

The last mile

Delivery from the warehouse to the flat often needs separate arrangement.

In the city centre it is sometimes hard for a lorry to stop, and we plan for this in advance.

Someone has to be on site on delivery day, and if you cannot be, we will be.

Stairwell and lift

We compare large furniture with the size of the lift, the stairs and the doors in advance.

If furniture does not fit, dismantling or lifting it through a window is sometimes necessary.

We let the association and the neighbours know about a large delivery in advance.

Temporary storage

If the flat is not ready yet, belongings can wait in storage.

We check the storage conditions, security and insurance in advance.

Often we take the essentials to the flat first and leave the rest in storage.

Temporary accommodation

You often spend the first weeks in a temporary flat while your belongings are on their way.

We cover choosing temporary accommodation in the accommodation section.

We put the shipping and flat dates into one plan, so that paying double rent is kept to a minimum.

A car

Bringing in a car has its own customs rules and fees.

Sometimes it is better to buy a car here, sometimes to bring one, depending on the type and age of the car.

We compare the options with a customs broker before you decide.

Registering a car

After customs clearance, an imported car needs registration and number plates.

A technical inspection and insurance are separate steps.

We explain the driving licence rules in the immigration section.

Pets

A pet needs veterinary documents, vaccinations and sometimes a microchip.

Airlines have their own pet rules: in the cabin, in the hold or as separate cargo.

After arrival our health section recommends a vet.

Plants and food

Bringing in plants, seeds and some foods is subject to phytosanitary rules.

It is often simpler to buy them here than to bring them.

If a plant is especially valuable, we check whether a permit is possible in advance.

Art and instruments

A painting, a sculpture or a musical instrument often needs a wooden crate and climate control.

Some countries require their own document for taking art out.

We ship such items with a separate valuation and insurance.

Within the city

A move within a city is often done in a single day, with movers and a lorry.

We plan timing at both addresses, parking and lift availability.

We combine cleaning the old flat before handing it back and the new one before moving in into one plan.

Movers

We choose movers who know how to dismantle and assemble furniture.

Heavy items - a piano, a safe - need a specialist team.

We agree the damage rule in advance and photograph belongings before the move.

Furniture assembly

In the new flat, assembling furniture and connecting appliances is often a separate job.

We leave connecting the washing machine, the cooker and light fittings to a tradesperson.

On moving day one of the first jobs is assembling the bed - so that your first night is not spent on the floor.

Leaving Georgia

If you are leaving Georgia, the same steps run in reverse: inventory, packing, customs and dispatch.

The destination country's customs rules are checked by a broker there.

We deal with items you will not take by selling or giving them away, and prepare the flat for handover.

Taking antiques out

Taking antiques and items of cultural heritage out of Georgia sometimes requires a permit.

This applies to old carpets, icons, paintings and other historical items.

When buying, we ask the seller for documentation and check the export rule in advance.

Moving an office

We often plan an office move for the weekend, so that work does not stop.

IT equipment and servers need separate packing and reconnection.

We cover the details on the office page.

Damage on receipt

On receiving the shipment we check the boxes against the list and photograph any damage straight away.

Damage must be written on the delivery document before signing.

The claim deadline is often short, so we prepare the claim within the same few days.

Fake movers

Some unknown movers offer a very low price and then will not release the belongings without an extra payment.

That is why we work only with vetted, licensed partners, under a written contract.

A price far below everyone else's is often a warning, not a bargain.

Comparing quotes

Quotes often cover different things: packing, customs, storage, delivery and insurance.

We compare what each includes and what extra costs could arise.

The cheapest quote often ends up being the most expensive.

A plan with dates

We build the plan backwards from moving day: when to pack, when to ship, when to receive.

The plan includes the flat contract, utilities, school and your flight.

When something changes, we update the plan and inform everyone involved.

Timing

By air, belongings often arrive within a few days, including customs.

By road it often takes one to two weeks, and by sea several weeks or more, depending on the route.

The biggest delays are often caused by incomplete documents.

Common mistakes

Documents and medicines in the shipment.

Choosing a mover on price alone, without a contract or insurance.

Receiving and signing for the shipment before the boxes are checked.

What we need from you

Where the shipment is coming from and roughly what volume it is.

When you are arriving and when the flat will be ready.

A car, pets, valuable or fragile items and anything you absolutely need on the first day.

Cost

Partners set the prices for shipping, packing, storage and insurance.

Customs fees and duties, if they apply, are official and paid separately.

Our coordination is agreed in advance, and we add nothing to partners' prices.