Moving to Poland from the USA

Ocean freight takes 6–9 weeks door-to-door (3–5 weeks port-to-port from the US East Coast to Gdańsk or Gdynia, plus pickup, customs clearance and delivery). Air freight takes 10–14 days door-to-door. We recommend starting the process 4–6 weeks before your move so your belongings are in Poland shortly after you arrive.

If you qualify for mienie przesiedlenia (Transfer of Residence relief), your used personal effects and household goods are relieved of customs duty under EU Regulation 1186/2009, and VAT relief typically applies under EU Directive 2009/132/EC and the implementing Polish rules for a bona-fide transfer of normal residence — we confirm current VAT treatment with KAS before your shipment departs. Alcohol, tobacco, motor vehicles and new items are excluded. City Post Express handles the entire application on your behalf — we prepare the documentation, compile the inventory in the format KAS requires and submit everything through the Polish customs system (PUESC).

Costs depend on volume, weight and whether you choose air or ocean freight. We price flat-rate, all-inclusive — one number that covers pickup, shipping, customs clearance and delivery, with no surprise surcharges. Contact us with a rough idea of what you are shipping and we will send a clear quote within a day.

Yes, although cars follow a different procedure to household goods. You will need a customs declaration, VAT and excise assessment, a translated title and registration at your local starostwo. Poland drives on the right, so US left-hand-drive cars are practical — but older petrol V8s may run into emissions (Ekoklasa) restrictions in larger cities. Contact us for a vehicle-specific quote.

We deliver everywhere in Poland — from Warsaw apartments to farms in Podlasie, villages in the Tatras, and everything in between. Our local delivery partners know the country. No address is too remote.

Yes. Many clients send an air freight shipment first with the essentials, then a larger ocean freight shipment with furniture and the rest of the household. Under mienie przesiedlenia, all consignments must arrive within 12 months of establishing your Polish residence.

Not necessarily. You can nominate a family member or friend to receive the delivery. However, you must have established (or be in the process of establishing) your residence in Poland for the customs relief to apply. We coordinate delivery timing around your arrival.

For anything more than a few parcels, shared container (LCL) ocean freight is the most affordable option. You only pay for the space you use, and a flat-rate door-to-door service bundles everything — pickup, shipping, KAS clearance, delivery — into one price. This typically beats per-box diaspora parcel rates by a wide margin once you are shipping more than 10–15 boxes.

Parcel carriers charge per box, add customs brokerage fees separately, and do not handle the mienie przesiedlenia relief — which means the recipient can end up paying 23% VAT plus duty on every box. Shared container ocean freight with full customs handling is a completely different model and usually saves 40–60% on a household-sized move.

For a full relocation, dedicated international shipping is the right choice — not postal carriers, not diaspora per-box services. City Post Express provides door-to-door ocean freight with pickup in the US, customs clearance in Poland, and delivery to your new address. One company, one invoice, one point of contact from your US driveway to your Polish front door.

It depends. Items with sentimental or high monetary value — handmade pieces, family heirlooms, quality sofas and beds — are usually worth shipping. Flat-pack and lower-value furniture is often cheaper to buy in Poland (IKEA, Agata, Black Red White are well established). Measure your Polish flat before deciding — doorways and stairwells are often tighter than US equivalents.

No. You can ship before you have a PESEL. Apply at your local urząd gminy once you are in Poland. We can clear your shipment using your passport and other residence documentation while your PESEL is being issued.

Polonez, Polamer, Doma and Meest are excellent for sending individual parcels and small packages — the classic diaspora per-box model. City Post Express is built for full relocations: shared or full container ocean freight, door-to-door, flat-rate pricing, with mienie przesiedlenia relief handled as part of the service. If you are sending a few boxes, use the diaspora carriers. If you are moving your life — 20+ boxes, furniture, a whole household — you want a dedicated international mover like us.