Shipping times and costs from Wellington, New Zealand to Chennai (Madras), India

Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
19 - 24 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air ยฃ6,999 - ยฃ7,735
Shipping costs by sea ยฃ3,675 - ยฃ4,061

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea ยฃ5,653 - ยฃ6,248

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea ยฃ8,480 - ยฃ9,371

Please note: the prices listed here are meant as an estimate only. The best way to get a comprehensive, tailored quote is to fill out our form and be matched with a supplier.

Shipping Container Costs to India

Shipping belongings to Chennai is relatively simple. You have two options to choose from: sea freight, or air freight. Sea freight is the cheaper option by far, but the final price will depend on what youโ€™re shipping, where youโ€™re travelling to and from, and how much youโ€™re moving. Alternatively, if youโ€™re in a bit of a rush, you can opt for air freight โ€“ but this will cost roughly 12-16 times more.

 

How to get quotes for shipping to Chennai

If you want a more accurate idea of how much shipping to Chennai will cost you, pop your details in this short form. What can you expect from the form?
  • Youโ€™ll be asked a few questions about your belongings, and when you want to ship them
  • If we have shipping partners who can help you, theyโ€™ll contact you with quotes
  • Youโ€™ll then be able to compare these quotes and pick the deal that suits you best
By doing this, youโ€™ll be making the whole moving process that much smoother. Most of our shipping suppliers will also be able to deliver door-to-door, and help you prepare your shipment for customs.

 

Should you choose sea freight or air freight?

There are pros and cons to both options โ€“ it all comes down to which one works best for you. Benefits of sea freight:
  • A 99.99% safety record
  • Sea freight is typically around 12-16 times cheaper than air freight
  • Youโ€™re usually able to fit much more in a shipping container than on a cargo plane
  • A container ship creates 44 times less CO2 than a plane
  • The International Maritime Organisation has pledged to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping by 40% by 2030
  Benefits of air freight:
  • An equal 99.99% safety record
  • Faster than sea freight

 

Clearing customs at the Indian border

All goods imported into India need to be examined โ€“ this helps authorities charge the proper tax amount, and check that goods donโ€™t qualify as illegal imports. So what can you expect from this procedure? Before your goods arrive in India, make sure to keep all the documents required for import clearance on standby. Youโ€™ll need to file an Import General Manifest (IGM) and a Bill of Entry to the customs department.
  • An IGM is a document that contains the details of any goods arriving at that destination โ€“ this should be completed by the carrier of the goods at the destination customs location
  • A Bill of Entry is a document that is completed by an importer or a customs house agent. This needs to be filled out in order to pass import customs clearance procedures
Once the Bill of Entry document has been assessed, your goods will be examined electronically, under the supervision of necessary customs officials. When the inspection has been approved, your belongings will be released and ready to be sent to your new home.

 

Is there a shipping port in Chennai?

If youโ€™re shipping your belongings to Chennai, youโ€™ll be pleased to know that the city is home to Chennai Port, Indiaโ€™s second-largest port (formerly known as Madras Port). Alternatively, you can look into Kamarajar Port Ltd โ€“ formerly known as Ennore Port โ€“ which is located on the Coromandel Coast, about 18km north of Chennai.

 

Will COVID-19 impact shipping?

When it comes to COVID-19, unfortunately, India has been one of the worst-hit countries in the world. Not only has this impacted the nationโ€™s health, but itโ€™s also increased border controls โ€“ slowing down the shipping process to and from India. On top of this, India is one of the biggest providers of shipping employees, and with many Indians having to self-isolate, thereโ€™s likely to be a bit of a backlog of work.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
33 Cubic Meters
5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: ยฃ5,653 - ยฃ6,248

Get a quote for a 20ft container
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  • Boxes
    16 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedrooms
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

40Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
67 Cubic Meters
12.03m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: ยฃ10,741 - ยฃ11,870

Get a quote for a 40ft container
Get Shipping Container Quotes
  • Boxes
    28 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedroom
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x car, 1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

Car shipped by sea freight

Max Dimensions: 5.75m x 2.2m x 2.2m (l x w x h)

Base Price: ยฃ1,750 - ยฃ1,934

Quarantine & Taxes: ยฃ1,000 - ยฃ2,500

Price: ยฃ7,753 - ยฃ11,498

Get a quote for a car
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Unusual Restricted Items

Live Birds and Other Animals
All live animals, including pets, are subject to restrictions.
Counterfeit Items
All counterfeit and pirated goods are prohibited.
Pornographic Materials
Pornographic materials are banned.
Narcotics and Psychotropic Drugs
Narcotics and any substances that can cause addiction are prohibited
Currency
Foreign currency notes must not exceed US$10,000
Firearms and Ammunition
Firearms and ammunition โ€“ unless permission has been obtained