International Removals to Iceland (2026)
Moving to Iceland means shipping your home across the North Atlantic to one of Europe’s most remote island nations. It is a specialist job: there are no road or rail links, so every household shipment travels by sea container on scheduled North-Atlantic lines, and every consignment clears Icelandic Customs as a third-country import, even when it leaves from inside the EU. Flyto Relocation manages the whole move end to end, from your front door in Europe to your new address in Reykjavík, with one coordinator who speaks English and knows exactly how Icelandic sea freight and customs work. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from more than 500 reviews, fully insured and genuinely door-to-door, we take the guesswork out of relocating to Iceland.
How Flyto works: European hubs, trusted local partners, one coordinator
Flyto is a European international mover with our own operational hubs across Northern, Central and Southern Europe. We are honest about our model: we do not run our own office in Reykjavík. Instead, we combine our own European crews and packing teams with carefully vetted local partners in Iceland, and we bind the whole chain together with a single point of contact who owns your move from start to finish.
Because there is no land route to Iceland, your belongings travel by container sea freight. We consolidate your shipment at one of our European hubs, then route it through a major North-Atlantic gateway, typically Rotterdam in the Netherlands or a Danish port such as Aarhus, where the scheduled Iceland lines call. From there your container sails to the port of Reykjavík (Sundahöfn), where our local partner handles customs clearance, delivery and unpacking. You deal with one coordinator throughout, not a chain of separate companies passing you around.
Our services to Iceland
We tailor every move to the size of your home and your budget:
- Full Container Load (FCL) — a dedicated 20ft or 40ft container for larger homes, giving you the fastest and most secure option.
- Less than Container Load (LCL) and groupage — you share container space and pay only for the volume you use, ideal for flats, studios and part-loads.
- Door-to-door delivery — collection at your European address and delivery inside your new Icelandic home, not just to the port.
- Professional packing and materials — export-grade packing for the demanding North-Atlantic crossing, plus optional unpacking.
- Storage — secure short- or long-term storage in Europe or Iceland if your dates do not line up.
We deliver throughout Iceland, including Reykjavík, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður and the wider capital region, as well as Akureyri and other towns reachable by onward domestic transport.
What shipping to Iceland costs
We never quote an invented figure, because the honest answer depends on your specific move. The main cost drivers are:
- Volume and weight — how much you ship is the single biggest factor; FCL versus LCL groupage makes a real difference.
- Sea-freight rates — North-Atlantic container capacity, fuel and seasonal demand all feed into the ocean leg.
- Origin and access — your collection point in Europe, floor level, lift access and parking.
- Iceland’s remoteness and high cost base — as an island with no land link and a high-cost domestic economy, last-mile handling and onward delivery to towns outside the capital add to the total.
- Services chosen — packing, storage, insurance cover and unpacking.
The best way to get a realistic price is a tailored quote based on your actual inventory. Our advisor will walk you through it in minutes.
Customs and paperwork to Iceland
This is where a specialist matters most. Iceland is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the single market, but it is not in the EU customs union. In practice this means your household goods are treated as a third-country import even when they are shipped from an EU country. There is no free circulation of goods into Iceland: a customs declaration is always required.
Icelandic Customs is administered by Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn / Tollur). A customs broker must submit the import documentation to Customs before your shipment arrives. The good news is that Iceland grants relief from import duties and VAT on used household goods brought in on a transfer of residence, provided the conditions are met. Broadly:
- You must have lived abroad for at least twelve months before moving to Iceland.
- The goods must be used and owned by you for at least one year before import.
- The household effects should generally be shipped within about six months of your move, and the shipment must be imported within twelve months of your transfer of residence.
- Motor vehicles are not treated as household goods and are charged separately (bicycles, however, count as household goods).
Unused items or goods owned for a shorter period may still be imported under a value limit. We prepare and lodge the paperwork through our local partner’s customs broker so your relief is claimed correctly and your container is not held up.
Separately from customs, you will need a kennitala — Iceland’s national ID number — issued by Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands). It is essential for banking, employment, tax and healthcare. EEA and EFTA citizens must register their legal domicile with a District Commissioner or Registers Iceland within three months of arrival; non-EEA citizens are registered in connection with their residence permit. We can point you to the right steps, though the personal registration itself is something you complete yourself.
Why choose Flyto for your move to Iceland
- 4.9 from 500+ reviews — a proven record with international movers.
- Fully insured — comprehensive cover for the North-Atlantic crossing.
- English-speaking coordinator — one contact who owns your move throughout.
- Real Iceland expertise — we understand container sea freight, North-Atlantic routing and the third-country customs process most movers get wrong.
- Honest, joined-up model — our own European hubs plus vetted Icelandic partners, coordinated as one seamless service.
How long does it take?
The ocean leg to Reykjavík is relatively short by international standards, but the total door-to-door time depends on collection, consolidation, the sailing schedule and customs clearance. Most European moves to Iceland take in the region of a few weeks door to door, with groupage taking longer than a dedicated container because it waits for consolidation. We give you a realistic timeline with your quote and keep you updated at every stage.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay duty or VAT when shipping household goods to Iceland?
Iceland charges import duty and VAT on goods as a third-country import, but used household goods brought in on a genuine transfer of residence normally qualify for relief if you meet the conditions (lived abroad 12+ months, goods owned and used 1+ year, imported within the time limits). We help you claim it correctly.
Why is Iceland treated as an import even from within the EU?
Iceland is in the EEA single market but not in the EU customs union. That means a customs declaration is always required and your goods are handled as a third-country import, even when shipped from an EU country.
How does my shipment actually get to Iceland?
By container sea freight. We consolidate at a European hub and route through a North-Atlantic gateway such as Rotterdam or a Danish port, from where scheduled lines sail to the port of Reykjavík.
Can you deliver outside Reykjavík, for example to Akureyri?
Yes. We deliver across the capital region — Reykjavík, Kópavogur and Hafnarfjörður — and arrange onward domestic transport to Akureyri and other towns.
Do you offer shared-container (groupage) shipping?
Yes. LCL groupage lets you pay only for the volume you use, which is ideal for flats and part-loads. For larger homes a full 20ft or 40ft container is usually faster and more economical per cubic metre.
Do you handle the customs paperwork for me?
Yes. Through our local partner’s customs broker we prepare and lodge your import documentation with Icelandic Customs (Skatturinn / Tollur) before your shipment arrives, so your relief is claimed and your container clears smoothly.
Get your Iceland removal quote
Tell us what you are moving and where, and your English-speaking coordinator will build a tailored, honest quote for your move to Iceland — no invented prices, no runaround.
Get your free Iceland moving quote