Moving to Rome & Milan Itally

Planning a move from the West Coast to Rome or Milan? Chipman Relocation & Logistics is the full-service moving company for the job. Since 1939, we've helped thousands of families and executives relocate across the country and across the Atlantic. Whether you're settling into a Prati apartment near the Vatican or a Brera loft in central Milan, Chipman puts nearly nine decades of experience to work so your Italy move is coordinated and calm from origin pack-out through destination delivery.

Whether you're leaving California, Oregon, or Washington, our crews handle every step at origin, and our FIDI-accredited partner handles Italian customs, inland trucking, and delivery in Rome or Milan. Request a quote to get started.

Why Choose Chipman for Your Move to Italy?

• History of Success: dependable moving services since 1939.

• Licensed Mover in CA, OR, & WA: moving families since 1927, with the resources and coverage of the most trusted networks in North American relocation.

• FIDI-Accredited International Partner Network: your Italian destination move is handled by vetted, audited FIDI members with local expertise in Rome and Milan.

• Award-Winning Customer Service Coordination: your personal move concierge, dedicated to arranging every detail from origin through European delivery.

• Qualified and Safe Crews: every crew member is background checked, drug screened, and health checked prior to every move.

Your Trusted Movers for Italy Relocations

Moving to Italy is not the same as moving across the country. It involves ocean freight, EU customs clearance, and transit measured in weeks rather than days. As an award-winning mover and as a FIDI-accredited relocation company, Chipman taps a global network that reaches every major Italian port and inland city, so your West Coast origin and your Rome or Milan destination are managed as one project rather than a hand-off between disconnected carriers.

Our local service centers handle origin work directly, so the crew who packs your home anywhere on the west coast is our trusted teammember, not a subcontractor. From there we coordinate the ocean leg, customs clearance with Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, and destination delivery through our Italian FIDI partner, so you have one point of contact from the west coast to Piazza Navona.

Most household shipments move by ocean container. Full container load (FCL) typically runs 3 to 5 weeks port to port; shared container (LCL) typically runs 4 to 8 weeks to Genoa, plus a day or two of inland trucking to Rome. Air freight works for smaller or time-sensitive shipments at a meaningful cost premium.

Testimonials

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What to Know Before Moving From The US to Italy

Italian customs and duty-free relief. Italy is part of the EU customs union, and clearance runs through the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), Italy's customs authority (adm.gov.it). Used household goods brought in by someone transferring residence to Italy (trasferimento di residenza) can qualify for duty-free and VAT-free import relief, provided the goods have been owned and used for at least six months and are declared correctly. Paperwork must be ready before the container lands at Genoa or Civitavecchia and typically includes proof of transfer of residence, a codice fiscale (Italian tax code), a detailed inventory (lista valori) in euros, and passport and visa copies.

Visa realities. Most of our customers arriving as long-term residents come in on an elective residence visa (visto per residenza elettiva). Italy's consulates require documented, ongoing passive income (pension, investment, rental) generally set around €31,000 for a single applicant and higher for couples and dependents, plus proof of Italian accommodation before arrival. A codice fiscale is required for signing leases, utilities, and customs paperwork, so most customers apply early through their consulate or their Italian FIDI partner on arrival.

Pet import. Italy follows EU pet travel rules, which allow dogs, cats, and ferrets from the US with an ISO-standard microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and a USDA-endorsed EU animal health certificate (EU pet travel guide). Book your pet's travel early and independently of the household shipment.

Vehicles, appliances, and voltage. Auto import is possible but often not worth it for a US vehicle, since Italian re-registration and emissions certification make selling at origin and buying in Italy simpler. Italian household current is 230V/50Hz, so US 120V appliances (kitchen, laundry, vacuum) will not run on Italian power without an impractical step-down transformer. Most of our customers ship personal effects, furniture, and electronics with universal power supplies, and replace large appliances locally.

Long Distance and International Moving Services

From wherever you start on the west coast, Chipman provides complete international relocation services and a free quote detailing every phase.

Ocean Freight, FCL or LCL

Full container load (typically 20-foot or 40-foot) is the fastest option for larger households, sailing out of Long Beach or the Port of Oakland through the Panama Canal to Genoa, La Spezia, or Civitavecchia. Shared container (LCL) works well for smaller shipments and studios.

Air Freight for Time-Sensitive Shipments

For smaller or urgently needed items, air freight through LAX, SFO, or Sea-Tac to Rome (Fiumicino) or Milan (Malpensa) can be arranged.

FIDI Destination Partner Coordination

Your destination move is handled by a FIDI-accredited partner, an audited professional relocation company rather than a random local trucker.

Packing and Export Preparation

Our crews prepare your shipment for ocean transit with export-grade cartons, dish packs, mirror packs, and specialty crating for artwork, wine, and antiques.

Full-Value Shipment Protection

Chipman offers a Full-Value Protection Plan with every international move.

Full-Service International Moves

Chipman is more than a team of heavy lifters. A short list of what our team can handle for an Italy move:

• Appliance Disconnect at Origin: professional disconnection of washers, dryers, and refrigerators. Italian voltage differs, so reconnection is typically handled locally.

• Specialty Crating: export-grade preparation for artwork, glass tabletops, chandeliers, wine collections, and other items that require special care.

• TV Disconnect: removal of wall-mounted televisions at origin, with reconnection handled locally in Italy.

• Home Electronics Preparation: safe packing of entertainment systems, personal computers, and network gear for ocean transit.

• Destination Unpacking Through FIDI Partner: your Italian FIDI partner handles unpacking, debris removal, and basic furniture placement.

• Auto Transport (Optional): door-to-port car shipping when the economics make it worthwhile, arranged case by case.

International Moves Since 1939

Since 1939, Chipman Relocation & Logistics has been the trusted moving partner for US families relocating across the country and around the world. Our Italy moves have delivered families to Prati apartments near the Vatican, Trastevere walk-ups off Piazza Trilussa, Parioli townhouses near Villa Borghese, Brera lofts, Porta Nuova high-rises overlooking Piazza Gae Aulenti, and Navigli flats along the canals. Each move is different, and we plan each from the ground up.

Ready to Plan Your Move to Italy?

The right partner turns a US-to-Italy move from a paperwork headache into an organized handoff between coasts, ports, and Italian cities. Chipman Relocation & Logistics has been helping West Coast families relocate since 1939, with the FIDI-accredited coordination, customs expertise, and destination service your Rome or Milan move deserves. When you're ready to start planning, visit our international moving page or request a residential quote, and we'll build your move plan around the specifics of your origin city and your Italian destination.