Your move from Brazil to Switzerland, from start to finish.
We are a Brazilian multinational international moving company, with our own teams and fleet — we do not outsource the care of your home.
Elected best in customer satisfaction at the MESC Award (Melhores Empresas em Satisfação do Cliente, by Instituto MESC in partnership with Google) in 2024 and 2025.
FIDI-FAIM certification, independently audited, and EcoVadis Gold rating — the only moving company in Latin America with this distinction.
We serve families, executives and expatriates in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Bern and Lugano.
Changing country is already big enough — the hard part is ours.
Why choose One Moving for your international move to Switzerland?
Our own team in Brazil conducting packing, documentation and shipment, and accredited agents of our international network performing customs clearance and delivery in Switzerland — with oversight by our team at every stage.
The 18.44 examined before the cargo reaches the border
Switzerland is a particular case: it has no seaport, so your cargo disembarks in Rotterdam, Antwerp or Genoa and continues by land transit to the Swiss customs territory. The exemption of Übersiedlungsgut, provided for in article 14 of the Zollverordnung, is declared on the official form 18.44, and the BAZG conducts a preliminary dossier examination that must be filed at least 2 days before the cargo reaches the border. We coordinate this schedule so that the dossier is approved before the truck, avoiding a stop at the border.
Customs clearance at both ends
We handle the export documentation in Brazil, the discharge in Rotterdam, Antwerp or Genoa and the overland transit to the Swiss border, with the preliminary dossier examination at the BAZG performed in advance. You do not need to worry about bureaucracy — we take care of everything.
Door-to-door delivery throughout Switzerland
We deliver your move in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Bern, Lugano and other cantons, including the alpine regions. From your address in Brazil to the door of your new home in Switzerland, including unpacking and furniture assembly.
Specialized professional packaging
We pack your belongings with high-quality materials and professional techniques. Furniture, electronics, works of art — all protected with the utmost care.
Comprehensive international insurance
Your move travels protected by international insurance that covers the entire journey — from collection in Brazil to delivery in Switzerland.
Free virtual pre-move survey
We carry out the pre-move survey of your belongings by video call, without the need for an in-person visit. Practical, fast and without obligation.
Real route transit times Brazil — Switzerland
Door-to-door transit times, from the moment of collection in Brazil until delivery with assembly in Switzerland.
| Origin | Destination | Maritime | Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| São Paulo (SP) | ZurichMaritime via European port, with overland transit to Switzerland | 45 to 65 days | 15 to 30 days |
| São Paulo (SP) | GenevaMaritime via European port, with overland transit to Switzerland | 45 to 65 days | 15 to 30 days |
| Rio de Janeiro (RJ) | Basel | 45 to 65 days | 15 to 30 days |
| Curitiba (PR) | LausanneIncludes road transfer to the port of origin | 50 to 65 days | 15 to 30 days |
| Belo Horizonte (MG) | BernIncludes road transfer to the port of origin | 50 to 65 days | 15 to 30 days |
Maritime via European port, with overland transit to Switzerland
Maritime via European port, with overland transit to Switzerland
Includes road transfer to the port of origin
Includes road transfer to the port of origin
We serve the entire country; contact us to find out the exact transit time for your city.
Estimated door-to-door transit times, subject to the shipping line's or airline's schedule. They include collection, packing, customs clearance at origin and destination, and final delivery. The transit time for your move is confirmed in the quote after the service and route are defined.
Customs framework for the route: We run the route with form 18.44 for Übersiedlungsgut and the BAZG's preliminary dossier examination two days before the border, since Switzerland has no seaport and the cargo enters by land transit.
What is included within this timeframe
The times above are door-to-door and include collection and packing at the origin residence, cargo consolidation, waiting for the ship’s departure window, the crossing, customs clearance at both ends and final delivery with furniture assembly. We publish it this way because it is the timeframe you actually experience. Port-to-port times published by carriers may seem shorter because they only cover sailing time, without customs, collection or delivery.
Required documentation at both ends
What Swiss and Brazilian customs request, with the name of each document and of the responsible authority.
Departure from Brazil
Receita Federal do Brasil
- 1
Declaration of export of goods
Export registration of unaccompanied baggage, conducted by our in-house team in Brazil, with issuance of the bill of lading in the name of the owner. One Moving hires and coordinates the customs broker and oversees the release from end to end, for your convenience.
- 2
Detailed inventory of the goods
Complete listing of goods, volume by volume, with description and estimated value. It is the document that accompanies Form 18.44 presented to the Swiss customs. All preparation is done by our team during packing and managed by One Moving, for your convenience.
- 3
Proof of personal use for at least six months
Swiss customs duty relief requires that the household goods and personal effects have been used personally by you abroad for at least six months before the transfer of residence, and that they continue to be used by you in Switzerland. We record this information in the inventory, because it is the central requirement of the regime.
Entry into Switzerland
BAZG — Federal Office for Customs and Border Security
- 1
Signed Form 18.44
Swiss customs duty relief is requested using the official Form 18.44, the Zollveranlagung von Übersiedlungsgut, based on Article 14 of the Zollverordnung. It is submitted at the time of import. Completion and filing are managed by One Moving, with support from our accredited agent, for your convenience.
- 2
Preliminary dossier examination, two days before the border
Swiss customs allows the moving dossier to be sent to the competent customs office for preliminary examination at least two business days prior to crossing the border. It is a resource that greatly reduces the risk of retention, and we use it as standard. This advance handling is managed by One Moving for your convenience.
- 3
Swiss residence permit or alternative proof of domicile
Citizens from outside the European Union and EFTA must present the Swiss residence permit at customs clearance. If it is not yet available, customs may accept other proofs of transfer of domicile, such as an employment contract and a lease agreement, or perform provisional clearance upon guarantee, refunded if the documents are presented within 6 months. We identify which route applies to your case and conduct the procedure, managed by One Moving, for your convenience.
- 4
Vehicle declaration at the time of the first crossing
If there is a vehicle in the move, it must be declared at the exact moment of import. The vehicle qualifies for relief if it has been used by you for at least six months abroad. If not, taxes are due, with the possibility of deferral for up to two years via Form 15.30, without definitive relief. We assess viability before any freight booking, with One Moving's accompaniment for your convenience.
- 5
Declaration of subsequent shipments
If you plan to send the move in more than one shipment, subsequent shipments must be declared already in the first import. We structure the schedule with this requirement in mind, because omission makes customs duty relief for later shipments unfeasible.
Vehicle with less than 6 months of use: the most expensive mistake on the route
Attempting to import a vehicle purchased less than six months ago expecting relief, or failing to declare it at the exact moment of the first border crossing, is the costliest mistake on this route. Without six months of proven use, full import taxes apply, which in Switzerland include the automobile tax, customs duties and VAT. It is possible to defer payment for up to two years using Form 15.30, but this does not convert into relief. Vehicle registration in Switzerland, with plate change, must be done within one year of the transfer of domicile.
Six months of personal use, before and after the move
Swiss customs duty relief requires that the goods have been used personally by you abroad for at least six months before the transfer, and that they continue to be used by you in Switzerland. The requirement has two ends: past and future. Items purchased on the eve of shipment do not qualify, and Form 18.44 requires an express declaration of the intention of continued use.
Customs clearance only during cargo business hours
This is the most distinctive peculiarity of Switzerland. The customs clearance of household goods and personal effects is only carried out during the operating hours for commercial goods traffic, normally Monday to Friday during business hours, and through the heavy vehicle time slots at land borders. Because Switzerland has no seaport, the cargo disembarks at a European port and enters by land transit, which makes this operational detail decisive in the schedule. We schedule arrival according to this window.
Products of animal origin are prohibited
The import of animal-origin products from countries outside the European Union and EFTA is prohibited in Switzerland. Firearms require authorization from the Federal Police, plants and protected species follow CITES rules, and medicines have their own restrictions. Dogs with cropped ears or docked tails cannot be imported. We review the inventory with this filter before shipment.
The window is 2 years, but the shipments need to be announced
Goods must be imported within a close temporal relation to the transfer of residence, which Swiss customs interprets as up to two years from the change of domicile. It is a comfortable window. The point to watch is this: subsequent shipments must be declared at the time of the first import and must also arrive within that two-year period.
Voltage: Switzerland uses 230 V, with type J plug
Switzerland operates on 230 V and uses the type J plug, a proprietary standard different from European type C, although many sockets accept type C. For those coming from Brazilian regions at 127 V, motorized appliances such as washers and dryers do not operate adequately with simple adapters. We evaluate item by item in the inventory.
Sources: BAZG/FOCBS (Bundesamt für Zoll und Grenzsicherheit) — "Moving household effects" and FAQ removal goods —, official form 18.44 "Zollveranlagung von Übersiedlungsgut" and BLV/FSVO. Legal basis: Zollverordnung (ZV), artigo 14, SR 631.01. Information verified in August 2026; we confirm the conditions of your case before shipment.
Sea or air: how to choose
Both modalities serve the Brazil — Switzerland route. The choice depends on volume, urgency and value of the goods.
Maritime Transport
Ideal for complete moves with large volume. Best cost-effectiveness to transport furniture, appliances and all your belongings.
- Exclusive or shared container
- Best cost-benefit
- Ideal for full moves
- Tracking throughout the entire journey
Air Transport
For those who need speed. Perfect for smaller volumes, urgent items, or partial moves that cannot wait.
- Door-to-door delivery in up to 20 days
- Ideal for smaller volumes
- Perfect for urgent items
- Real-time tracking
International move to Switzerland without stress
We know that moving to another country is an important decision. That is why we take care of all the logistics of your move so you can focus on what really matters: your new life in Switzerland.
Our team accompanies every step of the process, ensuring safety, organization and predictability.
FAQ Brazil — Switzerland
The most frequent doubts on the route, answered based on the official rule.
By sea transport, the time is 45 to 65 days, and by air, 15 to 30 days. These times are door-to-door: they include collection and packing at your residence in Brazil, cargo consolidation, waiting for the ship's sailing window, the crossing, customs clearance at both ends and the final delivery in Switzerland with furniture assembly. As Switzerland has no seaport, sea freight arrives at a European port and continues in overland transit to Swiss territory, which is already considered in the range provided.
If you are transferring domicile to Switzerland and the goods have been personally used by you abroad for at least 6 months before the move, and will continue to be used by you there, the importation is exempt from duties. The legal basis is article 14 of the Zollverordnung, and the exemption is requested via form 18.44. Also considered as immigrants are people who remained abroad for at least 1 year without renouncing their Swiss domicile.
It is the BAZG's official customs declaration of household goods and personal effects, the Zollveranlagung von Übersiedlungsgut. It must be presented at the time of importation and is the instrument that formalizes the request for exemption. We complete and file this form, with support from the accredited local agent, so you do not have to deal with the Swiss customs procedure.
Yes, private vehicles are included in the move exemption, provided they have been used by you for at least 6 months abroad before the move and are declared at the time of importation. If the vehicle was acquired less than 6 months ago, there is no entitlement to the exemption and import duties are due, including automobile tax, customs duties and VAT. It is possible to defer payment for up to 2 years with form 15.30, but without definitive exemption. Swiss registration, with plate change, must be done within 1 year of the transfer of domicile. This is the most expensive point on the route when poorly planned.
Goods must be imported within a close temporal relation to the transfer of residence, which Swiss customs understands as up to two years from the change of domicile. If you intend to send the move in more than one shipment, the subsequent shipments must be declared already in the first import and must also arrive within this two-year period.
It is the ideal scenario, but not mandatory. Citizens from outside the European Union and EFTA must present the Swiss residence permit at customs clearance. If it is not yet ready, the customs authority may accept other proof of transfer of residence, such as an employment contract and a rental agreement, or perform provisional customs clearance upon guarantee, which is refunded if the documents are presented within 6 months. We identify the applicable path for your case in the initial analysis.
Yes, and this is a Swiss particularity. Customs clearance of household goods is only carried out during the operating hours for commercial traffic, normally Monday to Friday during business hours, via the heavy vehicle lanes at land borders. In addition, customs allows the dossier to be sent for preliminary examination two business days in advance, a resource we use as standard to reduce the risk of retention at the border.
It depends on the appliance. Switzerland operates on 230 V and uses the type J plug, a proprietary standard, although many sockets accept the European type C. Electronics with dual-voltage power supplies usually work with a plug adapter. Motorized appliances, such as washers and dryers coming from Brazilian regions at 127 V, do not operate adequately with simple adapters. We evaluate item by item in the inventory, because often it is not worth paying freight for equipment that will not power up.
Yes, with a strict protocol. Dogs, cats and ferrets coming from Brazil, which is considered a country with rabies risk, require a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, an antibody titration test in an approved laboratory and compliance with a waiting period. Because of these requirements, animals younger than 7 months from countries with rabies risk are not allowed entry. An official veterinary certificate is necessary and, for direct air entry, an import license from the FSVO. The limit is 5 animals per transport. Preparation begins months before the flight, conducted by our pet department. We have already transported more than 1,000 animals.
In Brazil, collection, packing and export documentation are conducted by One Moving's own team. In Switzerland, Form 18.44, the preliminary dossier review with the BAZG, customs clearance at the border, final delivery and assembly are carried out by accredited agents of our international network, under supervision of our team. As Switzerland has no seaport, we also coordinate overland transit from the European port of arrival.
What our clients say
Thousands of families have already entrusted their international move to One Moving.
“One Moving took care of everything. From packing to delivery in Zurich. Everything arrived perfect, with no damage. True professionals.”
“I didn't know Switzerland had no seaport. They explained the whole overland route and the border dossier. I didn't even have to worry.”
“Serious and transparent company. The quote was exactly what I paid, no surprises. The virtual pre-move survey was very convenient.”
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