Removals to Italy

No two moves to Italy are the same, and our service is built around that reality. Some clients are relocating a full family home, including fine art, antiques, and specialist collections accumulated over a lifetime. Others are establishing a second residence on the Amalfi Coast or the Italian lakes and require a precisely coordinated, discreet service that fits around an existing schedule. We work across all Italian destinations, from the northern cities of Milan and Turin to the sun-bleached hillside villages of Umbria and Sicily.

From the moment you make contact, your dedicated move coordinator takes responsibility for the entire process. This is the person who assesses your property, manages your documentation, liaises with our teams and partner agents in Italy, and remains your single point of contact from the planning stage through to delivery and placement. For private PAs and household managers arranging a move on behalf of a principal, the coordinator model means reliable updates, clear accountability, and no need to manage multiple contractors.

We handle primary residential relocations and second-home moves, and we regularly manage consignments that include contents of considerable sensitivity: fine art, antiques, wine collections, and high-value personal effects that require specialist handling at every stage.

Since Brexit, British citizens relocating to Italy are moving to a country outside the UK customs territory, which changes how your household goods are treated at the border. The process is well-established, but it does require careful preparation and accurate documentation. Your coordinator manages this on your behalf.

The primary mechanism for importing your household goods duty-free is Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief, a customs concession that allows used personal effects to enter without import duties, provided certain conditions are met. To qualify, you must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months, have owned and used the goods being imported for at least six months before your move, and complete the importation within 12 months of registering your residence in Italy. Registration with your local Italian municipality (the anagrafe) must take place before the shipment arrives.

Supporting documentation typically includes your passport, proof of prior UK residency, your codice fiscale (Italian tax identification number), and a fully itemised inventory of all goods in your consignment. Italian customs authorities have also introduced an EORI number requirement for household goods shipments; your coordinator will advise on current requirements. Your coordinator works with our Italian customs agents to ensure every element of your documentation is in order well in advance of your move date.

New furniture, consumables such as alcohol and food, and goods that have not been personally owned and used are not covered by ToR relief and may attract duties. Your coordinator will advise on how to categorise your consignment accurately.

The accreditations held by a removal company tell you a great deal about how it operates. Williams & Yates is FIDI/FAIM accredited, which represents the international removals industry’s most stringent quality standard. FAIM-certified companies are audited every three years by an independent third-party auditor, and must complete annual self-assessments and financial reviews between audits. Certification covers operational procedures, staff training, data protection, supply chain management, risk management, and financial stability.

We are also a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR), the UK’s recognised trade association for the sector. BAR members are subject to an annual external audit and adhere to a Code of Practice monitored by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Membership of the International Association of Movers (IAM) reflects our commitment to professional standards across international moves. And as a Which? Trusted Trader, we carry a mark of independent consumer assurance that many of our clients recognise and value.

For all consignments, comprehensive marine transit insurance is available. Your coordinator will advise on the appropriate level of cover for your belongings, including specialist valuations for high-value items and collections.