Removals from the Canary Islands to the UK, door to door

What's the route and how long does it take?

The real logistics of a move from the Canary Islands to the UK are by sea. Your belongings leave by container from the ports of Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and arrive at British ports such as Southampton or Tilbury (London), from where we arrange onward road delivery to your final address, whether that's in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

• Indicative sea transit: several weeks, allowing for the crossing, customs clearance at both origin and destination and inland delivery. The exact date depends on the option you choose and on sailing frequencies.
• Groupage (shared load): more economical, but subject to your container consolidating with other shipments, which can extend the timescales.
• Sole-use container: tighter, more predictable timings, ideal for large volumes or whole houses.
• Air option: for urgent or low-volume shipments, cutting transit from weeks down to days.

When we plan your move we give you a collection window in the Canary Islands and an estimated delivery in the UK, and we keep you informed at every stage. If your departure and arrival dates don't line up, we have interim storage in the Canary Islands to look after your shipment until everything is ready.

Customs and paperwork

This is the part that worries people most, and rightly so: the Canary Islands sit outside the EU customs and tax territory, and the UK is also outside the European Union. That means your removal goes through an export clearance at origin and an import clearance at destination. The good news is that we take care of all the customs formalities: you don't have to wrestle with forms or agents on your own.

Our team advises you on the paperwork required and prepares the formalities on both sides. As a general guide, a household removal usually involves:

• A detailed, valued inventory of everything being moved.
• Your personal documentation (ID, passport) and the details of the origin and destination addresses.
• The documents evidencing your change of residence, where the personal-effects import regime requires them.

We don't quote duty figures or specific tax arrangements here, because they depend on each person's circumstances and on the rules in force at the time of shipping. What we do guarantee is that we explain what you need, prepare the paperwork and handle the clearance so that your shipment enters the UK correctly and without avoidable hold-ups.

Options: groupage, container or air

No two removals are the same, so we tailor the option to your volume, your budget and how urgent it is. These are the real choices:

• Sea groupage: your belongings share a container with other shipments. It's the most economical option and works well for flats, apartments or partial removals. The trade-off is slightly longer timings, as they depend on the load being consolidated.
• Sole-use container: you book a full container (usually 20ft or 40ft) just for you. It's the ideal choice for whole houses, large volumes or when you want maximum control over the dates. Your shipment travels on its own and with more predictable timings.
• Air freight: designed for urgent or low-volume shipments (boxes, essential items, documents, the odd piece of furniture). Much faster, with a higher cost per kilo than sea freight.

In many cases the best solution is to combine the two: the bulk of your belongings by sea and a small urgent portion by air, so you can live with the essentials while the container is on its way. After the volume assessment we recommend the option that best balances price and timescales in your case.

Who it's for: the British and German communities in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are home to one of the largest British communities outside the UK, as well as a substantial German one. We work every day with residents who decide to take the step of returning or relocating, and we know their situations well.

We cover all the islands, with a particular presence in the areas where this community lives:

• South Tenerife: Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, Costa Adeje, Golf del Sur, San Eugenio and the whole Arona and Adeje area.
• South Gran Canaria: Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, Meloneras and Mogán.
• The other islands: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, with collection and consolidation towards the main ports.

The most common reasons we deal with are a permanent return to the UK, retirees heading home after years in the sun, job relocations and families reorganising their lives between the two countries. We speak your language where it counts: we explain each step clearly and stay ahead of the usual questions that come with an international move.

A complete, door-to-door service

Our promise is that you won't have to coordinate five different suppliers yourself. Horizont Atlantic manages the whole chain with our own team and trusted partners at destination:

• Volume assessment in person or by video call, with no obligation, to size up the shipment and give you a clear quote.
• Professional export packing: materials made for sea transport, with reinforced protection for furniture, appliances, artwork and fragile items.
• Sea transport (groupage or sole-use container) or air freight from the Canary ports to the UK.
• Export and import customs clearance handled entirely by us.
• Goods insurance on an all-risks basis, matched to the real value of what you're sending.
• Delivery, unpacking and reassembly at your new home, leaving everything in place.
• Interim storage in the Canary Islands if you need your belongings looked after before shipping.

All with a single point of contact who is with you from start to finish.

Why choose Horizont Atlantic

Moving an entire home from an Atlantic island to another country isn't your average removal: it calls for sea-freight experience, customs expertise and tightly organised logistics. Here's why you can trust us:

• More than 15 years specialising in international removals from the Canary Islands.
• Our own base in Tenerife (El Mayorazgo) and an office in Las Palmas, with our own teams and equipment, not just brokering.
• Real experience with the Canary Islands-UK route and its post-Brexit customs particularities.
• Transparent quotes and honest advice on the option, timescales and formalities.
• A personal touch at every stage, with particular care for the British and German communities living on the islands.

Tell us where in the Canary Islands you're leaving from and which part of the UK you're moving to, and we'll put together a tailored, no-obligation quote. We take the first step of your journey home together with you.