Collectively eleven countries make up Southeast Asia, those being Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The region is characterized by its impressive diversity in religion, history and culture, and is a key area for trade and financial services.
Whilst the dreamy destination is a hotspot for travellers and international visitors, a large number of expats and their families are drawn to the area for work commitments. Southeast Asia promises those moving to the region a lower cost of living, a range of job opportunities, on average a warmer climate, a range of activities and attractions to visit. Stunning beaches, diverse experiences, and rich cultures are all major drawcards for international travellors.
Approximately 37 unique UNESCO World Heritage sites are located in Southeast Asia, presenting opportunities to explore cultural landmarks, temples, and natural wonders. Some of the most famous sites include Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Luang Prabang (Laos), Halong Bay (Vietnam) and Ayutthaya (Thailand).
Traditional cuisine of spring rolls and bone-broth noodle soups from Vietnam, pad Thai and curries in Thailand, bai cha from Cambodia and laksa in Singapore are all on offer at food streets, where authentic food is available at a cheap price.
Southeast Asia has over 20,000 islands, famous for their white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, with habited islands known for their eventful nightlife, luxury resorts or activities that include snorkelling, canoeing or relaxation. Popular island destinations include Boracay (Philippines), Bali (Thailand), Phuket (Thailand) and Phu Quoc (Vietnam).
Travelling in Southeast Asia is highly affordable, with a range of accommodations for hostels, mid-range or luxury accommodations. Moving between the Southeast Asian region locations is made highly accessible by air, rail, cruise and bus options, with boats, ferries, buses, tuk tuks and motorbikes used within countries.
At OSS World Wide Movers, our network of FIDI / FAIM-accredited partners covers the whole of South East Asia.
Our partners in South East Asia are well-versed in all aspects of the requirements for importation of personal and household goods.
This guarantees you a seamless, tailor-made move to South East Asia right through to your new home for your personal effects and vehicles. Don’t forget your much-loved pets as well.
When travelling or moving to Southeast Asia, make sure your passport and visas are correct and valid.
Check the relevant Country Moving Guide links to find out some of the latest requirements.
When moving your household goods to Southeast Asia by sea freight, this will typically take 6-8 weeks for an FCL service. For services such as LCL and shared container services (i.e. groupage), these will take longer to reach your destination as your goods will need to be consolidated with other consignments heading to the same destination. Please discuss these options & shipping times with your removal consultant, as shipping times will vary greatly for each destination when using this type of service over an FCL service.
If you are sending items that have been packed by yourself “Packed by Owner” then they will attract a more stringent inspection by Customs on arrival in Southeast Asia. Providing a detailed carton by carton inventory will assist Customs in inspecting your effects, and may avoid unnecessary delays. It is advisable to have your goods packed by OSS if you are looking at sending larger consignments, to ensure the clearance process can be conducted with minimum fuss.
Moving motor vehicles and motorbikes to Southeast Asia is possible, provided Customs criteria are met. This service is usually depot to depot, meaning the motor vehicle will be collected by you from our partners depot in Southeast Asia following customs clearance. Customs may require evidence that the owner of the vehicle has lived abroad for 12 months or longer, so a copy of your passport with date stamp showing arrival in Southeast Asia, or copy of lease or rental agreement in Southeast Asia would be sufficient.
OSS offers a full range of moving insurance options depending on your needs. Although your shipment to South East Asia will be packed to export standards (designed to withstand the longest journey), the small cost of insurance gives you complete peace of mind with regard to the exposure and rigours that are always inherent when moving from one side of the world to the other.
Ask us about MoveCover, our Marine Transit Insurance product.
If you are considering a move to Southeast Asia then it’s very important that you understand the tax differences between various nations. It is vital that you understand and obtain specific accounting and taxation advice suitable to your individual circumstances prior to your arrival.
Moving a boat to Southeast Asia has similar requirements to moving a car when it comes to registration requirements and process.
Customs and Quarantine in Southeast Asia will have a particular interest in the boat due to its exposure to marine life, however as Australia has a relatively clean marine environment, your boat should pass customs and quarantine without any problem.
When looking to relocate to Southeast Asia you will need to consider the extensive list of restricted and prohibited items. The following is a sample of the extensive list you can see via the different countries’ PDFs: Moving to Southeast Asia – FIDI Guides
Within Southeast Asia there are lots of different power plugs and sockets, and the standard voltages and frequencies differ depending on the country you’re moving to. For information on all the power plugs and outlets in Asia, click here.
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