Moving from London to Miami (2026): Costs, Visas & Complete Guide

Moving from London to Miami (2026): Costs, Visas & Complete Guide

Swapping the grey Thames for the turquoise Atlantic is one of the most popular transatlantic moves British professionals and entrepreneurs make in 2026. Miami has become a genuine business hub as well as a lifestyle destination, and the practicalities of relocating there from London are very manageable once you understand the sequence of shipping, customs and immigration steps. This guide walks you through the whole journey.

Key takeaways

• Household goods travel by sea from UK ports across the Atlantic to the Port of Miami or nearby Port Everglades, typically taking around three to five weeks in transit plus packing and clearance time.
• Your used personal effects can usually enter the United States duty-free, but you must file CBP Form 3299 with a detailed inventory.
• UK nationals have several routes to live and work in Miami; the E-2 treaty investor visa is especially popular with entrepreneurs because the United Kingdom is a treaty country.
• Florida charges no state income tax, a major financial draw for high earners relocating from London.
• Dogs must meet CDC import rules that changed in August 2024; the UK is a rabies-free/low-risk country, so requirements are relatively light. Cats are exempt from CDC rules.

1. The route: London to Miami by sea and air

Most household relocations from London to Miami move as ocean freight. Your goods are packed and loaded near London and trucked to a UK deep-sea port such as Southampton or Felixstowe, then shipped across the Atlantic to South Florida. The two gateways that serve Miami are the Port of Miami (PortMiami) and neighbouring Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, both of which handle the bulk of container traffic for the region.

Atlantic sea transit from northern Europe to South Florida generally runs around three to five weeks, depending on the sailing schedule, any transhipment and port congestion. On top of that you should budget time for professional packing at the London end and for customs clearance and final delivery in Florida. For a smaller consignment, your goods usually share a container with other shipments (groupage or LCL), which is more economical but can add time while the container is consolidated and deconsolidated.

Air freight is the faster alternative, cutting the ocean crossing down to a matter of days, and it makes sense for a small volume of essentials or items you need quickly. It is considerably more expensive per cubic metre than sea freight, so most people use it selectively rather than for a whole home.

2. What the move costs: the general drivers

International removal pricing is driven by a handful of factors rather than a single fixed figure. The main ones to plan around are:

• Volume and weight – the cubic metres you ship is the single biggest cost driver. Decluttering before you pack has an outsized effect on the final bill.
• Sea versus air – ocean freight is far cheaper for large volumes; air is a premium option for speed.
• Full container versus shared – a dedicated (FCL) container is faster and more private; shared groupage is cheaper for modest volumes.
• Access and handling – narrow London streets, upper-floor flats without a lift, long carries and parking restrictions all add labour and equipment costs at origin.
• Services – full packing, custom crating for art or antiques, insurance cover and storage each add to the total.
• Destination charges – US port fees, customs clearance, terminal handling and final delivery in Miami traffic.

Because these variables differ so much between households, the only reliable figure is a surveyed quote based on your actual inventory.

3. US customs and CBP Form 3299

When your household goods arrive in the United States without you carrying them personally, they are treated as unaccompanied articles and must be declared to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on CBP Form 3299, Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles. This is the form that supports your claim to bring used personal and household effects in duty-free.

To qualify for free entry, the goods should generally be used personal and household effects that you owned and used abroad. You will complete the form with your details, US address, arrival information and the shipment particulars, and your full packing inventory serves as the itemised list CBP may ask to see. New items, items for sale, alcohol, firearms and certain restricted goods are treated differently and may attract duty or additional controls, so they must be declared honestly. A good removals partner prepares the 3299 and inventory with you so clearance is smooth.

4. Living in Miami

Miami is a sprawling, sun-soaked metropolis with a strongly international, Latin-American character – Spanish is spoken everywhere and the city functions as a gateway between the Americas. For Londoners, the neighbourhood choices are the first big decision:

• Brickell – the dense financial district, full of high-rise apartments, restaurants and nightlife; the natural landing spot for finance and tech professionals who want a walkable, city feel.
• Coconut Grove – leafy, village-like and family-friendly, with a bayfront and a relaxed pace.
• Coral Gables – elegant, tree-lined and known for good schools and Mediterranean-style architecture.
• Wynwood – the arts and creative district, known for its murals, galleries and younger crowd.
• Miami Beach / South Beach – the iconic barrier-island lifestyle, beaches and Art Deco; lively but pricier and busier.
• Aventura – to the north, popular with families and international residents, centred on a large shopping district.

Two practical realities to weigh: Miami sits in the Atlantic hurricane season (broadly June to November), so home insurance, building resilience and a preparedness plan matter; and Florida’s lack of a state income tax is a real financial advantage that offsets a cost of living which, in the desirable neighbourhoods, can be high for housing and cooling. Coming from London, you may find groceries and eating out variable, driving essential, and air-conditioning a year-round fixture.

5. Visas, status and the practical set-up

Immigration status. You cannot simply move to the United States on the visa waiver; you need an appropriate work or investor visa, or permanent residence. Common routes for Londoners include the H-1B (specialty occupation, employer-sponsored), the L-1 (intracompany transfer), the O-1 (individuals of extraordinary ability), and family- or employment-based green cards.

The standout option for entrepreneurs is the E-2 treaty investor visa. The United Kingdom is an E-2 treaty country, so UK nationals can qualify by investing a substantial amount of capital in a real, active US business that they own at least 50% of or otherwise control, with the funds genuinely at risk. There is no fixed minimum investment, but it must be substantial relative to the business. The E-2 is renewable and is a favourite of Miami’s large founder and small-business community. Immigration outcomes are individual, so take qualified legal advice for your circumstances.

Social Security Number (SSN). Once you have work authorisation you apply for an SSN, which you will need for payroll, banking, credit and most official life admin.

Health insurance. The US has no NHS equivalent. Health cover is typically employer-provided or bought privately, and it is essential from day one – medical costs without insurance are very high.

Driving licence. Florida requires new residents to obtain a Florida driver licence within 30 days of establishing residency, done in person at a local office where you surrender your UK licence; a vision test applies and you may be exempt from written and road tests. Vehicle insurance and registration have their own short deadlines.

Pets. Since 1 August 2024, all dogs entering the US must appear healthy, be at least six months old, be microchipped, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Because the UK is classed as a dog-rabies-free/low-risk country, dogs coming only from the UK face the lighter documentation set. Cats are not subject to CDC import rules. Confirm the current requirements close to travel, as CDC forms and processes continue to be updated.

6. A realistic timeline

Start planning three to four months out. A typical London-to-Miami sequence looks like: secure your visa and legal advice (this drives everything); book a home survey and confirm your removals quote; declutter and arrange housing in Miami; complete CDC and pet steps if applicable; pack and load in London; ocean transit of roughly three to five weeks; US customs clearance with your CBP Form 3299; and final delivery. Air-freighted essentials can bridge the gap while your sea shipment is in transit.

How Flyto handles your move

Flyto Relocation runs its own hubs across Europe and ships worldwide, so a London-to-Miami move is coordinated end to end – packing in the UK, the Atlantic ocean freight, US customs paperwork including CBP Form 3299, and delivery in Miami – through a single point of contact. That means one team managing the origin survey, the sailing, the clearance and the final mile, rather than a chain of disconnected brokers.

Get a personalised moving plan and quote from a Flyto advisor

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from London to Miami take? Ocean freight across the Atlantic typically takes around three to five weeks in transit, plus packing at the London end and customs clearance and delivery in Florida. Air freight is a matter of days but costs considerably more.

Do I pay duty on my household goods? Used personal and household effects can generally enter duty-free when declared on CBP Form 3299 with a full inventory. New goods, items for sale and restricted categories are treated differently and must be declared.

Which visa is best for moving to Miami from the UK? It depends on your situation. Employees often use H-1B, L-1 or O-1 routes; entrepreneurs frequently choose the E-2 treaty investor visa, for which UK nationals are eligible. Take qualified legal advice.

Is it true there is no income tax in Florida? Florida levies no state income tax, which is a significant draw for people relocating from London. Federal US taxes and other state/local taxes still apply.

Can I bring my dog from London to Miami? Yes. Since August 2024 dogs must appear healthy, be at least six months old, be microchipped and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. As the UK is a low-risk rabies country, documentation is lighter. Cats are exempt from CDC rules.

Which port will my shipment arrive at? South Florida is served by the Port of Miami (PortMiami) and nearby Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale; both handle the region’s container freight.

Related moves

• Moving from Paris to Miami
• Moving from Amsterdam to Miami
• Moving to Philadelphia from Abroad
• Moving to San Diego from Abroad

Sources

• CBP Form 3299 (cbp.gov)
• Moving used household goods into the US (help.cbp.gov)
• E-2 Treaty Investors (uscis.gov)
• Treaty Trader & Investor visas (travel.state.gov)
• Bringing a Dog into the U.S. (cdc.gov)
• New Resident information (flhsmv.gov)
• Moving or retiring abroad (gov.uk)

Hiring an international mover? See our full International removals to the USA service — Flyto’s own European hubs, vetted local partners and one English-speaking coordinator, door to door.