International Removals to the Philippines (2026)
Moving from Europe to the Philippines is a big step, whether you are heading for the buzz of Metro Manila, the beaches and business parks of Cebu, or the calmer pace of Davao in Mindanao. Flyto Relocation moves households from across Europe to the Philippines door-to-door, by sea and air, with one dedicated coordinator handling your entire relocation from collection to final delivery. Rated 4.9 from more than 500 reviews, we combine our own European logistics hubs with carefully vetted local partners on the ground in the Philippines, so your belongings are looked after at every stage of the journey.
How Flyto works: European hubs plus trusted local partners
We are a European international mover. We operate our own logistics hubs in Northern, Central and Southern Europe, so we control the first and most important part of your move ourselves: professional packing, secure consolidation and export handling. We are open about the fact that we do not run our own office in the Philippines. Instead, for the destination leg we work with a small number of vetted, insured local partners who handle customs clearance and final delivery in Manila, Cebu, Davao and beyond.
We see this as a genuine strength rather than a compromise. You deal with one Flyto coordinator throughout, in English, who manages the European origin work directly and instructs our destination partners on your behalf. You are never left chasing an anonymous agent in a different time zone. Most household shipments travel by sea to the Port of Manila, the country’s largest and busiest international gateway, with onward road transport to your new home. Time-critical or smaller shipments can move by air.
Our removal services to the Philippines
We tailor each move to the volume you are shipping and how quickly you need it to arrive:
- Full container load (FCL) — a dedicated 20ft or 40ft container for larger households or whole-home moves. Your goods travel alone, which is the fastest and most secure sea option.
- Shared container / LCL groupage — you pay only for the space you use, sharing a container with other shipments. Ideal for partial households, apartments and smaller moves where cost matters more than speed.
- Air freight — for essentials and urgent items that need to arrive within days rather than weeks.
- Door-to-door service — collection at your European address and delivery to your Philippine address, with the paperwork, shipping and clearance coordinated for you.
- Professional packing and materials — export-grade packing at our European hubs to protect your belongings for the long sea voyage and tropical climate.
- Storage — secure short- or long-term storage at origin or destination if your dates do not line up, for example while you finalise a lease or a visa.
Every shipment is fully insured, and marine transit cover is available to protect the full value of your goods.
What drives the cost of your move
We never quote a random figure online, because an honest price depends on your shipment. The main cost drivers for a European move to the Philippines are:
- Volume and weight — measured in cubic metres; the single biggest factor in any international removal.
- FCL versus shared container — a full container is priced differently from groupage, where you pay per cubic metre.
- Origin and destination — your collection point in Europe and whether delivery is to Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao or a more remote province.
- Access — stairs, narrow streets, long carries or the need for a lift or shuttle vehicle at either end.
- Services chosen — full packing, storage, insurance level and any special items such as pianos or vehicles.
- Sea versus air — air is far quicker but significantly more expensive per kilo.
- Customs duties and taxes — these depend on your eligibility for used-effects relief, explained below.
The quickest way to a firm, transparent quote is to tell us your inventory and addresses through our advisor. We will build a price around your real move, with no invented figures.
Customs, paperwork and visas
Household moves into the Philippines are cleared by the Bureau of Customs. Used personal effects and household goods can qualify for relief from duties and taxes, but eligibility and thresholds depend on your immigration status, so it is important to get this right before you ship.
Returning residents and former Filipinos may bring in used personal and household effects under returning-resident and balikbayan provisions, subject to conditions on time spent abroad and value limits set by the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Finance. New foreign residents — for example, those arriving on a 9(g) work visa or a Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) — may also import used household goods, but the relief available, the value thresholds and the documentary requirements differ from those for balikbayans. In several cases a Tax Exemption Indorsement from the Department of Finance is needed to claim duty-free treatment.
For every shipment you will need a detailed inventory, a copy of your passport and visa, and your bill of lading. Some goods are restricted or prohibited — including certain firearms, medicines, plants and foodstuffs — and vehicles have their own rules. Our destination partners handle clearance at the Port of Manila, and your Flyto coordinator makes sure your paperwork is complete before your container sails, which is when problems are cheapest to fix.
On the visa side, the main routes for people relocating long-term are:
- 9(g) work visa — an employer-sponsored pre-arranged employment visa for foreign nationals taking up a job in the Philippines.
- SRRV (Special Resident Retiree’s Visa) — the retirement route. Following the 2025 restructuring, the minimum age was lowered to 40, with higher deposit requirements for applicants aged 40–49 than for those aged 50 and over.
- 13-series immigrant visas — quota and non-quota immigrant categories, including options for the spouse of a Filipino citizen.
We are movers, not immigration advisers, so please confirm your specific eligibility and current thresholds with the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Immigration or the Philippine Retirement Authority. What we do is make sure your shipment matches your immigration status so clearance goes smoothly.
Why choose Flyto for your move to the Philippines
Thousands of kilometres and several weeks at sea separate Europe from the Philippines, so who you trust with the job matters. Flyto offers:
- A 4.9 rating from over 500 reviews — a track record built on doing international moves properly.
- Genuine door-to-door service — one coordinator from your European doorstep to your Philippine home.
- Full insurance — marine transit cover for the true value of your belongings.
- Honest structure — our own European hubs plus vetted local partners, with no misleading claims about offices we do not have.
- English-speaking support throughout — and, helpfully, English is very widely spoken in the Philippines, which makes coordination at the destination far easier.
How long does it take?
Sea freight is the standard choice for household goods to the Philippines. As a general guide, a full container load from Europe to the Port of Manila typically takes around six to nine weeks in transit, while shared-container groupage takes longer — often eight to twelve weeks — because it waits for consolidation and sailing schedules. Add time at each end for collection, packing, customs clearance and final delivery. Air freight moves in days rather than weeks but suits only smaller, urgent shipments. Actual timings vary with schedules, port congestion and clearance, so your coordinator will give you a realistic window for your route.
Frequently asked questions
Does Flyto have an office in the Philippines?
No, and we are upfront about that. We are a European mover with our own hubs in Europe, and we use vetted, insured local partners for customs clearance and delivery in the Philippines. You work with one Flyto coordinator throughout.
Do you deliver outside Manila, to Cebu or Davao?
Yes. Most shipments arrive by sea at the Port of Manila, and our partners arrange onward delivery to Cebu, Davao and other locations across the Philippines.
Can I ship a partial household rather than a full container?
Yes. Our LCL groupage service lets you share a container and pay only for the space you use, which is ideal for apartments and smaller moves.
Will I have to pay customs duties on my used belongings?
Possibly not, if you qualify for used-effects relief as a returning resident, balikbayan or eligible new resident. Eligibility and value thresholds depend on your status, and some cases require a Tax Exemption Indorsement, so we help make sure your paperwork supports your claim.
Is my shipment insured?
Yes. Every move is handled under insurance, and marine transit cover is available to protect the full value of your goods for the sea voyage.
How do I get a price?
Share your inventory and your collection and delivery addresses through our advisor. We build a transparent quote around your actual move — we never publish invented figures.
Ready to move to the Philippines?
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