Moving from United Kingdom to Georgia
A practical guide to shipping a home from the United Kingdom to Georgia by sea, the realistic timeline to Poti or Batumi, the Revenue Service tax ID you will need, customs on used goods, and the unusually easy residence route.
United Kingdom to Georgia is a Black Sea move made easy by Georgia's open door.
Moving a household from the United Kingdom to Georgia is a sea shipment that loads at Felixstowe, Southampton or London Gateway and sails through the Mediterranean and the Bosphorus into the Black Sea, arriving at Poti or Batumi, Georgia's two main ports. From there it travels by road to Tbilisi or wherever you settle. A road and ferry combination through Europe and Turkey is possible but slower and rarely cheaper for a full container, so sea is the normal path.
What makes this corridor unusual is how welcoming Georgia is. United Kingdom citizens can enter and stay for a full year visa free, which means many people simply move, settle and then decide whether to apply for a temporary residence permit, a process that is quick by international standards. That ease takes a lot of the immigration pressure off the move, so the logistics and the customs paperwork become the main things to get right.
As an indicative range for 2026, a one bedroom move runs roughly £3,200 to £5,800 in a shared container, while a full three bedroom home in a sole use forty foot container lands around £9,000 to £13,000 door to door. You will need a Georgian tax identification number from the Revenue Service to clear and import the goods, so plan a visit to them early.
What shipping a household from the United Kingdom to Georgia costs in 2026.
Indicative ranges in pounds for 2026. Sea freight on this lane is priced by the volume you ship and the container you book, so the biggest decision is shared space versus a sole use box.
Indicative ranges for 2026, in pounds. Real quotes depend on volume, the UK load port, season, the Poti or Batumi clearance and the road delivery distance to Tbilisi or beyond.
- +You pay only for the space your goods occupy
- +Best value for a one bedroom
- −Consolidation and the Black Sea leg add weeks
- −Sailing date depends on the load filling up
- +Fits a typical two bedroom home
- +Your goods travel alone and are handled less
- +Faster and on your own schedule
- −You pay for the box even if part empty
- +Space for a three or four bedroom home
- +Best cost per cubic metre for large volumes
- −Overkill for a small flat
- −Needs truck access at both ends
Get moving quotes for United Kingdom to Georgia.
Tell us your size and timing. We pass your request to vetted international movers who run the United Kingdom to Georgia lane, and you compare them on your own terms.
A realistic schedule for this route.
A conservative schedule for a United Kingdom to Georgia move. The fixed point is your sailing date, so book early and let everything else hang off it.
Book the move and take a survey
Get a binding in home or video survey of your volume from movers who run the United Kingdom to Georgia lane, and lock a sailing from Felixstowe or Southampton.
Sort documents
Assemble your passport, the packing and valued inventory, and proof of your move. Because the visa side is simple for United Kingdom citizens, the focus is the customs and tax paperwork.
Pack and load in the United Kingdom
Movers pack and load your container, seal it and book it onto a Black Sea sailing. Keep a hand carry bag for documents and essentials.
Mediterranean and Black Sea leg
The box sails through the Mediterranean and the Bosphorus to Poti or Batumi. This is the longest stretch and often involves a transhipment.
Customs clearance at Poti or Batumi
Your agent clears the goods through the Revenue Service. You will need a Georgian tax identification number, so arrange to register for one while the goods are in transit.
Delivery and unpacking
The container moves by road to your home in Tbilisi, Batumi or wherever you have settled, where the crew unloads, unwraps and removes the packing materials.
Bringing used household goods into Georgia.
Georgia generally allows people relocating to bring used personal effects and household goods, and there are exemptions for goods that are not intended for economic activity, including furniture and household items, set out under the rules administered by the authorities. The standard import tax in Georgia is eighteen per cent value added tax on many goods, so the relief and exemption rules matter, and a clean, itemised inventory helps your agent claim the right treatment.
Clearance is handled by the Revenue Service, the Georgian tax and customs authority. A foreign consignee needs a Georgian tax identification number from the Revenue Service to import, which in practice means a short visit to register, often while the goods are still in transit. You will also need your passport, the valued inventory and proof of your move. Restricted and prohibited items, and any vehicle, follow separate rules. Because Georgia is outside the European Union, this is a national scheme, not the European Union transfer of residence relief.
The routes in for this corridor.
Georgia is one of the easiest countries in the world for United Kingdom citizens to settle in. You can enter and stay visa free for a full year, and a temporary residence permit is straightforward if you want to stay longer. The right route depends on your plans.
United Kingdom citizens can enter Georgia and stay for up to one year without any visa. Many people move on this basis first and decide on a permit later, which makes Georgia unusually low friction.
For those staying beyond a year, a temporary residence permit can be obtained on grounds such as work, study, family or owning property, and is typically valid for a year and renewable. Processing is quick by international standards.
For people employed by or running a Georgian business. Georgia's low tax regime and simple company registration make it popular with entrepreneurs and remote workers, who often combine this with a residence permit.
For spouses and close family of Georgian citizens or residents, who can apply for a temporary residence permit on family grounds with documentation of the relationship.
How to pick a mover for this route, without the guesswork.
We do not rank or recommend individual companies. We teach you the criteria that separate a safe international move from an expensive mistake, then put your request in front of vetted movers who run this lane.
Check the trade affiliation. Membership of FIDI or IAM is the clearest signal a mover is financially screened and bound to industry standards for international household goods. In the United Kingdom, look for movers affiliated with FIDI or IAM and ask directly about their recent shipments into Poti or Batumi and onward delivery to Tbilisi, and whether they handle Revenue Service clearance routinely.
Insist on a binding pre move survey. A real video or in home survey of your volume is the only honest basis for a price. A quote given without one is a guess that tends to grow on moving day.
Compare like for like. Read what each quote includes: packing, materials, customs clearance, destination delivery, stair or long carry charges, and insurance. The cheapest headline number is rarely the cheapest move.
Understand the insurance terms. Ask whether cover is full replacement value or depreciated, what the excess is, and how claims are handled. Read the valuation clause before you sign.
Read recent reviews for this corridor. A mover can be excellent locally and weak on international shipments. Look for verified reviews that mention the actual route and customs experience.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from the United Kingdom to Georgia?
As an indicative range for 2026, a one bedroom move runs about £3,200 to £5,800 in a shared container, and a full three bedroom home in a sole use forty foot container lands around £9,000 to £13,000 door to door. Your real price depends on volume, the UK load port and the season.
How long does shipping take from the United Kingdom to Georgia?
Plan on roughly six to nine weeks door to door for a sole use container and eight to twelve weeks for a shared load. The route sails through the Mediterranean and the Black Sea to Poti or Batumi, often with a transhipment that adds time.
Do UK citizens need a visa to move to Georgia?
No. United Kingdom citizens can enter Georgia and stay for up to a full year visa free, which is why many people move first and apply for a temporary residence permit later if they want to stay longer. This is a summary, not immigration advice, so confirm the current rules.
Do I pay tax on my furniture moving to Georgia?
Georgia applies value added tax to many imports, but there are exemptions for household items and furniture that are not for economic activity. A clean inventory helps your agent claim the right treatment. Verify the current rules with the Revenue Service before you ship.
What tax number do I need in Georgia?
A foreign consignee needs a Georgian tax identification number from the Revenue Service to import household goods. In practice you register for one with a short visit, often while your container is still in transit, so plan it early.
Last reviewed: 29 April 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.