Moving from United States to Iceland
A practical guide to shipping a home from the United States to Iceland by sea, the realistic timeline to Reykjavik, the customs relief on used household goods, and the residence routes that fit this corridor.
United States to Iceland is a North Atlantic move that hinges on the kennitala and the customs relief.
Moving a household from the United States to Iceland is a North Atlantic sea shipment, usually loaded on the East Coast and sailed to Reykjavik, where the Sundahofn terminal handles almost all container traffic. The route is well served by regular sailings, and because Iceland imports nearly everything by sea, the logistics are routine even though the destination feels remote.
Iceland is not in the European Union but is in the European Economic Area, and it grants relief from customs duties on used household goods for people moving their home, provided you have lived abroad for at least twelve months, have owned and used the goods for at least a year, and bring them in within six months of moving. Getting that relief, and getting your kennitala, the national identity number from Registers Iceland, are the two things that unlock everything else from a bank account to a tenancy.
As an indicative range for 2026, a one bedroom move runs roughly $4,500 to $8,000 in a shared container, while a full three bedroom home in a sole use forty foot container lands around $11,500 to $17,500 door to door. The sea leg is shorter than many transatlantic moves, but Iceland's housing market is tight, so line up your home before the box arrives.
What shipping a household from the United States to Iceland costs in 2026.
Indicative ranges in US dollars 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 US dollars. Real quotes depend on volume, the East Coast load port, season, the Reykjavik clearance and the delivery distance.
- +You pay only for the space your goods occupy
- +Best value for a one bedroom
- −Consolidation adds weeks before sailing
- −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 States to Iceland.
Tell us your size and timing. We pass your request to vetted international movers who run the United States to Iceland lane, and you compare them on your own terms.
A realistic schedule for this route.
A conservative schedule for a United States to Iceland 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 States to Iceland lane, and lock a sailing from the East Coast.
Sort documents and the relief
Assemble your passport, a dated inventory, proof you have lived abroad for at least twelve months, and proof you have owned the goods for a year, which the customs relief requires.
Pack and load on the East Coast
Movers pack and load your container, seal it and book it onto a Reykjavik sailing. Keep a separate air or hand carry box for essentials.
North Atlantic crossing
The container sails to Reykjavik. Regular schedules make this leg more predictable than many transatlantic routes.
Customs clearance at Reykjavik
Your agent clears the goods through Iceland Revenue and Customs, lodging the inventory and proof of residence. Have your kennitala ready, as it is requested for the clearance.
Delivery and unpacking
The container moves by road from Sundahofn to your home in the Reykjavik area or beyond, where the crew unloads, unwraps and removes the packing materials.
Bringing used household goods into Iceland.
Iceland grants relief from customs duties on used household goods for people moving their residence to the country. To qualify you must have lived abroad for at least twelve months, the goods must have been owned and used by you for at least a year, they must be for your own household use in Iceland, and they must arrive within six months of your move. Proof of your foreign residence can be obtained from Registers Iceland, and customs may ask for an itemised inventory and evidence of ownership.
Clearance is handled by Iceland Revenue and Customs, known as Skatturinn. You will typically need your kennitala, the national identity number, a detailed home inventory, and proof of residence abroad. Alcohol, tobacco, certain foodstuffs, weapons and some other categories are restricted or prohibited and follow separate rules, and a vehicle is treated separately from household goods. Because Iceland is outside the European Union customs union, its relief is its own national scheme rather than the European Union transfer of residence relief.
The routes in for this corridor.
Iceland is in the Schengen area, so United States citizens can visit visa free for up to ninety days in any one hundred and eighty day period, but living there means a residence permit from the Directorate of Immigration. The right route depends on why you are moving.
For people with a job offer from an Icelandic employer. The work and residence permit are applied for together through the Directorate of Immigration, and processing can take several weeks.
For spouses and close family of Icelandic citizens or legal residents. You apply for a residence permit on family grounds, with documentation of the relationship and means of support.
Iceland has offered a long term remote work permit for high earning employees and contractors of foreign companies, valid for a limited period. Conditions and income thresholds change, so confirm before relying on it.
For students admitted to an Icelandic university, who apply for a residence permit for study with proof of enrolment and sufficient funds.
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 States, look for movers affiliated with FIDI or IAM and ask directly about their recent shipments into Reykjavik and their handling of Iceland Revenue and Customs clearance and the used goods relief.
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 States to Iceland?
As an indicative range for 2026, a one bedroom move runs about $4,500 to $8,000 in a shared container, and a full three bedroom home in a sole use forty foot container lands around $11,500 to $17,500 door to door. Your real price depends on volume, your East Coast load port and the season.
How long does shipping take from the United States to Iceland?
Plan on roughly five to eight weeks door to door for a sole use container and seven to eleven weeks for a shared load. Regular Reykjavik sailings make the sea leg more predictable than many transatlantic routes.
Do I pay duty on my household goods moving to Iceland?
Usually not, if you qualify for the relief. Iceland grants relief from customs duties on used household goods when you have lived abroad for at least twelve months, have owned the goods for a year, and bring them in within six months of moving. Verify the current rules before you ship.
What is a kennitala and do I need one?
The kennitala is Iceland's national identity number, issued by Registers Iceland. You need it for your customs clearance, a bank account, a tenancy and almost every formal transaction, so applying for it early is one of the first things to do on arrival.
Can I bring my car from the United States to Iceland?
A vehicle is possible but is treated separately from household goods, with its own registration and tax rules. Given Iceland's driving conditions and import costs, many people sell in the United States and buy locally. Confirm the current requirements before shipping a car.
Last reviewed: 19 January 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.