Moving From New York to Callao: International Relocation Guide

Quick Overview

Moving from New York to Callao requires coordinating household-goods packing, FCL, LCL or air freight, U.S. export documentation, Peruvian customs clearance, and final delivery. Confirming your customs category and shipment timing early can reduce inspections, storage charges, and delays.

Planning Your Move From New York to Callao

Relocating from New York, United States, to Callao, Peru, involves more than transporting furniture and boxes between two ports. A complete international move may include a household-goods survey, professional packing, collection, U.S. export formalities, ocean or air freight, Peruvian customs clearance, inland delivery, and unpacking.

The Port of New York and New Jersey moved 5,955,798 loaded TEUs during 2025. At the destination, the public terminals at the Port of Callao handled approximately 3.3 million TEUs, an increase of 8.1% compared with 2024.

Callao is Peru’s principal maritime gateway and is located next to the Lima metropolitan area. Its container terminals provide access to the capital and inland transportation routes serving other parts of Peru.

Through its international moving services to Peru, iContainers can help coordinate packing, ocean or air transportation, export documentation, customs support, shipment tracking, and final delivery.

Why People Move From New York to Callao

People relocate from New York to Callao or the neighboring Lima metropolitan area for employment, family reunification, retirement, education, property ownership, entrepreneurship, or a return to Peru after living abroad.

New York is a major financial and cultural center, while Callao provides direct access to Peru’s principal seaport, Jorge Chávez International Airport, Lima, and the country’s main commercial and transportation networks.

Before arranging the shipment, consider:

• Peruvian visa or residence status
• Eligibility under the standard household-goods regime
• Eligibility as a returning Peruvian migrant
• Housing arrangements
• Healthcare registration
• School enrollment
• Banking and utility setup
• Final delivery access
• The importer’s arrival date
• The expected cargo-arrival date

Callao may be the port of entry even when the final residence is in Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, Trujillo, or another part of Peru. Inland transportation should therefore be included in the relocation plan.

Shipping Options From New York to Callao

The most suitable transportation method depends on shipment volume, budget, required delivery date, and the amount of handling your belongings can tolerate.

Full Container Load

Full Container Load, or FCL, provides dedicated use of a shipping container.

FCL is generally suitable for:

• Complete household relocations
• Multi-bedroom apartments or homes
• Furniture and large appliances
• Bulky personal belongings
• Large quantities of boxes
• Higher-value shipments requiring dedicated space

The most common options are 20-foot and 40-foot containers. A 20-foot container may suit a smaller household, while a 40-foot or 40-foot High Cube container provides more capacity for furniture and larger inventories.

Because the container is reserved for one shipment, FCL normally involves fewer consolidation and deconsolidation stages than shared-container transportation.

Less Than Container Load

Less Than Container Load, or LCL, allows your belongings to share container space with other shipments.

LCL may be appropriate for:

• Boxes and personal effects
• Selected furniture
• Studio or one-bedroom moves
• Partial household relocations
• Shipments that do not require a complete container

You pay for the volume or chargeable space occupied by the shipment rather than reserving the entire container.

However, LCL cargo generally passes through consolidation warehouses at the origin and destination. This can increase handling and extend the overall schedule.

Review the differences between FCL and LCL for an international move before selecting a service.

Air Freight

Air freight is faster than ocean freight but normally costs considerably more per kilogram or cubic meter.

It may be suitable for:

• Essential clothing
• Work equipment
• Computers and electronics
• Important documents
• Permitted medication
• Valuable personal belongings
• Items required shortly after arrival

Some movers divide their belongings into two shipments. Urgent items travel by air, while furniture and the primary household inventory move by sea.

How Long Does a New York to Callao Move Take?

The ocean voyage is only one stage of the complete relocation timeline.

The process may include:

• Packing and collection in New York
• Transportation to the warehouse or marine terminal
• U.S. export documentation
• Container loading or LCL consolidation
• Port cut-off and vessel departure
• Ocean transportation
• Possible transshipment
• Unloading at Callao
• Peruvian customs clearance
• Physical inspection
• Inland transportation
• Delivery and unpacking

The final schedule depends on the carrier, sailing frequency, container availability, route, transshipment connections, port conditions, customs processing, and final delivery address.

Ocean services from New York to Peru may connect through Caribbean, Central American, or other regional transshipment ports before reaching Callao.

Do not plan your household setup around the vessel schedule alone. Keep passports, immigration records, medication, valuables, chargers, work equipment, and several weeks of clothing outside the main ocean shipment.

Understanding Peru’s Household-Goods Customs Regimes

There are two principal routes that may apply to a relocation shipment entering Peru:

• The standard household-goods regime available to qualifying travelers
• The tax-incentive regime for qualifying Peruvian returning migrants

The standard household-goods procedure generally applies a single customs tax of 12% to the customs value of qualifying household belongings. The customs value includes the verified value of the goods, international freight, and insurance.

Qualifying Peruvian returning migrants may instead apply for a separate exemption under Peru’s economic and social reintegration legislation. This regime can provide tax-free admission for eligible household goods up to the applicable value limit.

The correct procedure depends on nationality, residence history, immigration circumstances, shipment value, timing, and supporting documents.

Standard Household-Goods Regime

The standard household-goods regime is available regardless of nationality when the traveler satisfies the applicable requirements.

Under current SUNAT guidance:

• The traveler must have remained outside Peru for at least 13 consecutive months before arrival.
• Short visits to Peru must not exceed 30 calendar days, consecutively or in total, during each year.
• The household goods must arrive as cargo no earlier than one month before the traveler and no later than six months after the traveler’s arrival.
• The traveler must not have used the same household-goods benefit during the previous two years.
• The qualifying household goods are subject to a single 12% tax on their customs value.

These requirements should be confirmed before the shipment leaves New York.

A shipment arriving outside the permitted period may lose access to the simplified household-goods treatment and require another customs procedure.

Returning Peruvian Migrant Benefits

Peruvian citizens returning to live in Peru may qualify for the tax benefits established under the Law for the Economic and Social Reintegration of Returning Migrants.

The current SUNAT guidance states that the benefit may be available to Peruvians who:

• Have lived abroad continuously for at least three years, or
• Were forced to return because of their immigration status after living abroad continuously for at least two years

Visits to Peru during the qualifying period are generally permitted when they do not exceed 180 calendar days per year.

Qualifying returning migrants may receive a one-time tax exemption for:

• Household goods valued at up to US$50,000
• One qualifying motor vehicle valued at up to US$50,000
• Professional instruments, machinery, equipment, capital goods, and other qualifying work assets valued at up to US$350,000

The professional-equipment benefit requires additional documentation and a qualifying productive, professional, business, scientific, or research project.

The returning-migrant procedure requires a valid Returning Migrant Card and must generally be requested within six months of arrival in Peru or, when the card is obtained in Peru, within six months of its issuance.

Do not assume that Peruvian nationality alone provides automatic tax-free importation. Eligibility must be documented and approved.

Documents Required for the Move

The exact document package depends on the importer’s nationality, residence history, customs category, shipment contents, and whether a vehicle or professional equipment is included.

Commonly requested documents may include:

• Passport
• Peruvian DNI, where applicable
• Peruvian visa or residence authorization
• Proof of the importer’s arrival in Peru
• Proof of residence abroad
• Detailed packing list
• Valued household-goods inventory
• Bill of lading or air waybill
• Declaration Simplificada de Importación
• Invoices or a sworn declaration of value
• Warehouse release document
• Insurance policy, where applicable
• Power of attorney when a representative handles the process
• Permits for restricted goods
• Returning Migrant Card, where applicable
• Customs registration number for the returning-migrant procedure
• Sworn declaration of ownership and non-transfer
• Vehicle documents, where applicable
• Professional-equipment list and project documents

For the standard household-goods process, SUNAT identifies the passport or official document, Simplified Import Declaration, transport document, warehouse release document, insurance policy where applicable, and permits for restricted goods among the principal requirements.

For the returning-migrant exemption, the transport documents should be issued in the beneficiary’s name. The household-goods inventory must be detailed, valued, signed, and supported by documents such as invoices or sales contracts where available.

Names, passport numbers, addresses, package counts, and inventory descriptions should remain consistent across every document.

Preparing the Household-Goods Inventory

A detailed inventory is essential for quotation preparation, customs clearance, inspection management, insurance, and final delivery checks.

Each box and unpacked item should receive a unique number. Where appropriate, the inventory should include:

• Clear item description
• Quantity
• Condition
• Approximate value
• Brand and model
• Serial number
• Corresponding box number
• Intended household use

Avoid descriptions such as:

• Miscellaneous belongings
• Personal effects
• Household items
• Kitchen goods
• Electronics

Use more specific descriptions, such as:

• Used cotton bedding
• Used ceramic dinnerware
• Used stainless-steel cutlery
• Twenty used hardcover books
• Six used wooden dining chairs
• One used television
• One used washing machine
• One used personal computer with peripherals

SUNAT’s standard household-goods list includes furniture, household linen, tableware, kitchen articles, household decorations, domestic tools, bicycles, toys, domestic electrical appliances, books, televisions, one personal computer with peripherals, and other goods used in the home.

Where the regulations do not specify a quantity, the number and variety of goods must remain reasonable for the size of the family and must not suggest commercial use.

Quantity Limits and Household Use

Some household-goods categories have specific limits under the standard Peruvian regime.

Examples include:

• One domestic electrical appliance of each type
• One book per title
• Three rugs or tapestries
• One personal computer with peripherals
• One gym apparatus or equipment unit
• Reasonable quantities of furniture and other household goods for the family

The household-goods regime is not intended for commercial inventory, repeated identical products, or goods intended for resale.

Separate commercial products, business inventory, and excessive quantities from the household-goods shipment.

Customs Declaration and Physical Inspection

For the standard household-goods process, the traveler or authorized representative presents the documents to the customs office responsible for the port through which the belongings entered.

The importer must complete a Declaración Simplificada de Importación. Customs then assigns an officer to conduct a physical inspection of the household goods.

During the inspection, customs may verify:

• The importer’s eligibility
• The arrival dates of the traveler and shipment
• The length of residence abroad
• The contents of each package
• Whether the inventory matches the shipment
• Whether quantities appear personal or commercial
• The declared customs value
• Whether restricted goods are included
• Whether the importer previously used the benefit

Once customs authorizes release and the applicable tax has been paid, the belongings may be collected from the warehouse.

SUNAT states that the customs procedure itself may be completed quickly when the documentation and inspection are in order, but terminal, warehouse, broker, and delivery processes can extend the overall clearance period.

Calculating the 12% Household-Goods Tax

Under the standard regime, the single 12% tax is calculated on the customs value rather than only on the purchase value of the belongings.

The customs value generally includes:

• The verified value of the goods
• International freight
• International insurance

SUNAT determines the acceptable customs value under the applicable valuation rules.

Recently purchased or high-value goods should be supported by invoices where possible. Used belongings may require a reasonable sworn valuation.

The 12% customs tax does not include private logistics expenses such as:

• Origin transportation
• Ocean or air freight
• Carrier destination charges
• Port handling
• Warehouse storage
• Container demurrage
• Equipment detention
• Customs-broker services
• Inland delivery

SUNAT distinguishes these private transportation and handling costs from customs taxes.

Packing Household Goods for Ocean Transport

A New York-to-Callao shipment may pass through trucks, warehouses, marine terminals, cranes, vessels, customs facilities, and local delivery vehicles.

Packaging should therefore be suitable for long-distance international maritime transportation.

Furniture

Disassemble furniture where practical and protect corners, legs, polished surfaces, glass panels, and exposed hardware.

Place screws, brackets, and fittings in labeled bags and associate them with the correct item.

Fragile Items

Wrap mirrors, glassware, ceramics, artwork, and decorative objects individually.

Use reinforced cartons and sufficient internal cushioning to prevent movement during lifting and ocean transportation.

Electronics

Protect screens and sensitive components from vibration, impact, heat, dust, and humidity.

Keep photographs, serial numbers, receipts, and valuations for valuable electronics outside the shipment.

Confirm whether lithium batteries can remain installed or must be removed under the carrier’s rules.

Clothing and Textiles

Clothing, bedding, curtains, rugs, and upholstered belongings should be clean and completely dry before packing.

Personal clothing may be classified differently from household furnishings under Peruvian baggage and household-goods rules. Confirm with the destination representative how clothing and footwear should appear on the declaration.

Box Labeling

Each box should display:

• Shipper’s name
• Destination
• Box number
• Total number of packages
• General contents
• Handling instructions where necessary

The iContainers guide to packing for an international move provides additional preparation guidance.

Items That May Require Additional Checks

Some goods may be prohibited, restricted, taxable under another regime, or subject to permits.

Examples may include:

• Food and agricultural products
• Plants, seeds, and soil
• Medicines and medical devices
• Alcohol and tobacco
• Cleaning chemicals
• Flammable materials
• Pressurized containers
• Firearms and ammunition
• Animal products
• Commercial quantities of new goods
• Drones and communications equipment
• Batteries and hazardous materials
• Valuable artwork and antiques
• Professional machinery
• Vehicles and motorcycles
• Refrigerators and air conditioners containing controlled refrigerants

SUNAT notes that certain refrigerators and air-conditioning units may require environmental authorization because they contain substances controlled under ozone-protection regulations.

Do not load a restricted item until the destination customs representative confirms that it can be imported and identifies the required permit.

New Goods and Commercial Quantities

Peru’s household-goods rules can cover new or used household belongings, provided the items fall within the permitted categories and remain appropriate for personal or family use.

Customs may question the household-goods treatment when:

• Quantities appear commercial
• Several identical products are included
• Goods appear intended for resale
• Products remain in wholesale packaging
• The declared value appears unreasonable
• The inventory is incomplete
• Goods fall outside the permitted list
• Required permits are unavailable

Clearly identify recently purchased goods and retain invoices for valuable items.

Importing Professional Equipment

Standard household-goods treatment does not automatically cover commercial machinery or extensive professional equipment.

Qualifying Peruvian returning migrants may apply to import work-related instruments, machinery, equipment, capital goods, and other professional assets under the separate returning-migrant incentive.

The applicable value limit is currently up to US$350,000, subject to submission of a qualifying project and documentation connecting the goods to the professional, productive, scientific, research, trade, or business activity to be developed in Peru.

Prepare a separate professional-equipment inventory showing:

• Item description
• Brand and model
• Serial number
• Condition
• Estimated value
• Intended professional use
• Connection to the proposed project

Do not combine professional machinery with ordinary household effects without receiving destination approval.

Shipping a Vehicle to Peru

A motor vehicle does not form part of the ordinary household-goods list and requires a separate import procedure.

Qualifying Peruvian returning migrants may be able to import one vehicle tax-free up to a maximum value of US$50,000, subject to the current vehicle-import and returning-migrant requirements.

Possible documentation may include:

• Original title
• Registration
• Purchase invoice
• Proof of ownership
• Passport and DNI
• Returning Migrant Card
• Bill of lading
• Export documentation
• Insurance documentation
• Vehicle specifications
• Customs valuation
• Technical and emissions information

Peru applies separate restrictions related to vehicle age, mileage, condition, emissions, steering configuration, and accident history. These requirements should be reviewed for the specific make, model, year, and fuel type before transportation is booked.

Do not place boxes or household goods inside the vehicle unless the carrier and destination customs representative expressly permit it.

Door-to-Door vs Port-to-Port Service

The scope of the quotation determines which services are included and which responsibilities remain with the mover.

Port-to-Port Service

Port-to-port transportation generally covers the ocean movement between the departure and destination ports.

It may exclude:

• Professional packing
• Collection in New York
• Origin terminal handling
• U.S. export documentation
• Callao destination charges
• Customs clearance
• Physical-inspection charges
• Warehouse storage
• Inland delivery
• Unpacking

Door-to-Door Service

A door-to-door move may include:

• Collection from the New York residence
• Professional packing
• Transportation to the origin terminal
• U.S. export documentation
• Ocean or air freight
• Destination handling
• Peruvian customs-clearance coordination
• Delivery to the final residence
• Unpacking
• Removal of packing materials

Review the quotation carefully and confirm which terminal, customs, inspection, storage, delivery, and unpacking charges remain excluded.

Storage and Port Charges at Callao

Documentation or customs delays may result in:

• Terminal storage
• Container demurrage
• Equipment detention
• Warehouse fees
• Inspection charges
• Additional handling
• Customs-representative fees
• Delivery rescheduling costs

To reduce avoidable charges:

• Confirm the customs regime before shipping
• Coordinate the importer’s arrival date with the shipment
• Submit passport and residence evidence early
• Prepare a complete valued inventory
• Confirm the bill-of-lading details
• Obtain permits before vessel arrival
• Respond quickly to customs requests
• Arrange delivery immediately after release

A customs exemption or reduced 12% household-goods tax does not automatically remove port, storage, carrier, warehouse, or inland-delivery charges.

Preparing for Final Delivery

Before customs clearance is completed, verify that the final property can receive the shipment.

Check for:

• Narrow streets
• Restricted truck access
• Low cables or branches
• Gated-community requirements
• Apartment elevator dimensions
• Narrow stairways or doors
• Building move-in schedules
• Parking restrictions
• Secure unloading space
• A need for a smaller delivery vehicle

The complete container may need to be unloaded at a warehouse and transferred to a smaller truck for delivery within Callao, Lima, or another urban area.

For destinations outside the Lima metropolitan area, confirm the inland distance, road conditions, delivery schedule, and any additional handling requirements.

How iContainers Helps With the Move

iContainers can help coordinate the different stages of an international relocation from New York to Callao.

Depending on the selected service, support may include:

• Household-goods volume assessment
• FCL and LCL quotations
• Air freight for urgent belongings
• Professional packing
• Collection from the New York area
• U.S. export documentation
• Ocean transportation
• Shipment tracking
• Peruvian destination-agent coordination
• Customs-clearance support
• Cargo-insurance options
• Temporary storage
• Inland delivery
• Unpacking services

The appropriate service configuration will depend on shipment volume, packing requirements, customs category, returning-migrant eligibility, final delivery location, schedule, and budget.

Tips for a Smoother Move

Begin Planning Early

Start preparing the relocation several weeks or months before departure.

Allow time for immigration documents, customs review, inventory preparation, packing, carrier booking, and destination arrangements.

Confirm the Correct Customs Regime

Determine whether the shipment will enter under the standard 12% household-goods regime or the returning-migrant tax exemption.

The documentation, eligibility rules, and financial treatment differ substantially.

Coordinate Arrival Dates

Under the standard regime, household goods must arrive no earlier than one month before the traveler and no later than six months after the traveler’s arrival.

Prepare a Detailed Valued Inventory

Describe each item accurately and assign a reasonable value.

Separate ordinary household goods, recently purchased items, professional equipment, restricted products, and vehicles.

Obtain Permits Before Shipping

Do not wait until the shipment reaches Callao to determine whether a refrigerator, air-conditioning unit, medicine, plant product, drone, or other regulated item requires authorization.

Reduce Unnecessary Volume

Sell, donate, or dispose of low-value belongings that may cost more to transport than to replace.

Reducing volume may make LCL more practical or allow the use of a smaller FCL container.

Photograph Valuable Belongings

Take photographs of furniture, artwork, electronics, and fragile objects before packing.

Keep receipts, valuations, photographs, and serial numbers outside the shipment.

Consider Cargo Insurance

International shipments pass through multiple handling and transportation stages.

Insurance should reflect the declared replacement value and the terms, exclusions, and deductible of the selected policy.

Keep Essential Items With You

Carry passports, immigration documentation, medication, valuables, chargers, work equipment, and several weeks of clothing separately.

Final Thoughts

Moving from New York to Callao is easier when packing, collection, U.S. export documentation, ocean freight, Peruvian customs clearance, and final delivery are managed as one coordinated process.

FCL is generally best for a complete household or larger furniture inventory. LCL can be more economical for smaller moves, while air freight is suitable for belongings required urgently.

Before booking, calculate the shipment volume, determine the correct customs regime, coordinate the cargo with the importer’s arrival date, prepare a detailed valued inventory, and obtain destination approval before the shipment leaves New York.

References

• Port Authority Reports Full-Year 2025 Volumes – Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
• Port of Callao 2025 Container Volumes – Peruvian National Port Authority
• Household Goods – SUNAT Customs Assistant
• Household-Goods Import Benefit – SUNAT
• Household-Goods Import Procedure – SUNAT
• Goods Considered Household Goods – SUNAT
• Returning to Peru Tax Benefits – SUNAT
• Vehicle Import Requirements – SUNAT