International Packing, Crating & Removals from Lebanon

What are international packing, crating and removals?

International packing, crating and removals is the professional service of preparing, protecting and transporting household or office contents, and commercial cargo, across international borders. Unlike a domestic move, an international removal must survive a chain of handling events: truck to port, container loading, ocean or air transit, customs inspection, discharge, and final delivery. Every stage adds potential for damage if goods are not packed to export standard.

GHO Express has handled international removals from Lebanon since 1971, and as a FIDI member we operate under the quality framework of the Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux, the global professional standard for international moving. Whether you are a family relocating from Beirut to Europe, a company moving an office to the Gulf, or an exporter crating machinery for shipment, our team manages the process from your front door to the destination address.

Why FIDI membership matters for your removal

FIDI is the global federation of professional international movers. Its members commit to independently audited quality standards covering staff training, vehicle condition, claims handling and insurance practices. When you choose a FIDI member for your international removal from Lebanon, you have a guarantee that the mover has been externally vetted, not just self-certified.

GHO Express has operated as a FIDI member alongside its broader freight forwarding business. That means the same team that handles export customs clearance and warehousing for commercial cargo also manages your household or office removal under a recognised quality framework.

What we move

Household relocations

A full household removal typically involves:

• Pre-move survey (in-person or video) to produce a detailed inventory
• Supply of export-grade cartons, packing materials and crates
• Professional packing by trained crews, room by room
• Disassembly of furniture, mirrors, large artworks and special pieces
• Loading into a dedicated container or shared groupage container
• Export customs clearance from Lebanon (personal effects declaration)
• Sea freight or air freight to destination
• Import customs clearance at destination via our global partner network
• Delivery and, where requested, unpacking and reassembly

Office and corporate relocations

Office moves add a layer of complexity: IT equipment, sensitive documents, racking, server hardware and working-day constraints. We schedule office packing to minimise downtime, often working evenings or weekends for the most disruptive phases, and provide labelled, itemised inventory management so that every desk, chair and monitor is accounted for at the destination. We coordinate with building management at both ends for loading-bay access and lift reservations.

Export packing and crating

Export packing is not limited to household removals. We provide standalone crating services for:

• Industrial machinery and manufacturing equipment
• Antiques, fine art and collectibles
• Trade show and exhibition materials, see fairs and exhibitions
• Oversized or fragile commercial cargo

Custom timber crates are built to ISPM 15 (heat-treated wood) standards required by most importing countries. We add internal blocking, bracing and dunnage to immobilise cargo within the crate during rough sea or air transit.

How an international removal works, step by step

1. Survey and quotation. We assess the volume and nature of goods, identify special items (pianos, safes, large artworks), and produce a written inventory and fixed-price or volume-based quote.
2. Booking and scheduling. We confirm the removal date, container booking (FCL or groupage LCL), and customs paperwork requirements. For air freight removals, we book the earliest suitable departure.
3. Packing day(s). Our trained packers arrive with all materials. Fragile items are individually wrapped; furniture is padded and shrink-wrapped; electronics are boxed with anti-static protection; crates are built on site where needed.
4. Loading and transport to port/airport. Packed goods are loaded into the container or air cargo unit at your premises and transported to Beirut Port or Rafic Hariri International Airport.
5. Export customs clearance. Our brokers submit the personal effects or commercial export declaration to Lebanese customs. We handle all required documents, see customs clearance.
6. International transit. The shipment travels by sea (sea freight) or air (air freight) to the destination country.
7. Import clearance and delivery. Our destination agent manages customs clearance, pays any duties on your behalf (where instructed), and delivers to your new address.

Documents you will need for an international removal

• Completed household goods inventory (we prepare this during the survey)
• Copy of passport and residency/visa documents for the destination country
• Proof of change of residence (useful for duty-free personal effects relief in many countries)
• Commercial invoice and packing list (for commercial cargo)
• Certificate of origin (commodity-dependent)
• Any import permits required by the destination country (e.g. for vehicles, firearms, medicines)

We advise on the exact requirements for your destination before packing day, so there are no surprises at customs.

Sea or air freight for your removal?

Most full household removals travel by sea because container shipping is the most cost-effective mode for volume. A 20-foot container typically holds a two-to-three bedroom apartment; a 40-foot container suits a larger household. For clients who cannot wait, or for a small high-value shipment such as documents, jewellery or a laptop, we can arrange air freight. Many relocating clients ship the bulk of their belongings by sea and send essentials by air to arrive before the container.

For warehousing between origin and destination, for example if your destination home is not ready, see our warehousing and distribution service.

Coverage

Our packing crews and operations are based in Lebanon, Beirut headquarters and the airport cargo office. We serve international relocations to and from Lebanon and handle the onward journey worldwide through our established global partner and agent network. We do not have offices abroad, but our partners at destination manage local delivery, customs and, where available, unpacking services.

Why GHO Express for your international removal

• FIDI member, independently audited international moving standards, the credential to look for when choosing movers from Lebanon.
• Since 1971, more than fifty years of export packing, crating and international logistics from Beirut.
• Full in-house capability, packing crews, customs brokers, freight forwarding and warehousing under one roof, so your removal has a single point of contact.
• Global partner network, agents and destination movers worldwide for true door-to-door service.
• All scales, from a single crated antique to a multi-container office relocation.

Ready to plan your international move? Contact us with your origin, destination and an outline of what you need to move. Our team will arrange a survey and send you a clear, itemised quote.