International Movers
International Movers to Israel: Who the Trusted Names Are, and How to Choose Between Them
Moving to Israel isn't a packing problem. It's a logistics problem.
Relocating internationally — and especially making aliyah — means shipping routes, port coordination, customs clearance, and final-mile delivery, all stitched together across two countries. Israel adds its own wrinkles on top: customs rules that can shift, narrow city streets that defeat a full-size truck, and the need to time your container to your actual arrival.
Get the mover right and the whole thing fades into the background. Get it wrong and you're looking at months of delay, fees that appear from nowhere, or the loss of things that can't be replaced.
Below are the names that come up most consistently for Israel-bound moves, drawn from reviews and client testimony. Treat the ratings as indicative, not gospel — scores and timelines drift, and some of these firms serve specific origin countries far better than others. Use these profiles as a shortlist, then get current written quotes and recent references before you commit.
The top pick: Aliyah Lift Shipping
For families and individuals making aliyah from the US and Canada, Aliyah Lift is the name that comes up first. The company ships exclusively to Israel — full container and partial "lifts" — and its team knows the aliyah process, the customs exemptions, and the Nefesh B'Nefesh paperwork inside out.
What stands out:
Dedicated to aliyah and Israel-bound shipping, not generic international moves
True door-to-door: packing, customs, port clearance, and final delivery
Responsive support on both the North American and Israeli sides
Partial and consolidated shipments for smaller loads, to keep costs down
Before you sign, confirm exactly what's included — packing, insurance, unpacking, storage — and ask about marine insurance options and coverage limits. Expect a container departure-and-arrival window of roughly 6–10 weeks.
Verdict: the top choice for North American olim. Reviewers consistently describe on-schedule arrivals, careful packing, and attentive service through customs (Facebook reviews average 5.0). Deep Israeli-customs expertise paired with a personal, community-minded approach few competitors match.
Premium and established: Kef International
One of Israel's most established movers, Kef has operated for decades with a focus on household relocations to Israel. It's known for professionalism, clear communication, and careful handling, with deep experience on US, UK, and European shipments.
What stands out:
Excellent customer service and attention to detail
Everything from door-to-door shipments to full relocation logistics
A long track record across US, UK, and European origins
Before you sign, know that pricing sits at the higher end of the market, and ask for a clear contract covering customs, delivery, and insurance.
Verdict: a premium choice for reliability — rated 9.8/10 on Sirelo, with clients praising communication from start to finish and on-schedule arrivals. Ideal if you value reliability and clear communication and are comfortable paying for it.
Mid-tier balance: Sonigo International
An Israeli-based company with more than 35 years' experience, Sonigo handles thousands of containers a year and keeps offices in both Israel and the US. That strong local presence pays off at the customs and final-delivery stage.
What stands out:
A strong presence inside Israel — useful through customs and delivery
Both sea and air freight options
Often includes one month of free storage on container shipments
Before you sign, get the written estimate in detail to avoid surprise charges, and confirm your named contact on both the origin and destination sides.
Verdict: a solid middle-tier balance — rated 8.4/10 on Sirelo across 200+ reviews, many praising on-time delivery and packing, a few flagging communication or pricing surprises. A good price-to-service balance if you keep the estimate tight.
Global network: AGS Movers Israel
A global brand with an Israeli branch and 140+ offices worldwide. AGS is best known for corporate relocations, but it also handles private aliyah and family moves, with standardised service across countries.
What stands out:
Strong global coverage — ideal from countries with few Israel-specific providers
Storage, insurance, and worldwide documentation management
One brand coordinating the full logistics chain
Before you sign, note that some services are subcontracted — ask who actually handles pickup and delivery, and check the hand-off between the origin office and the Israeli destination team.
Verdict: best for complex, multi-country moves. A strong brand with a global footprint and mixed pricing — the right call when you want a single company managing a complicated relocation end to end.
The questions to ask every mover
The answers — and how readily they come — tell you most of what you need to know. Ask all of these before signing:
Is it truly door-to-door? Pickup, sea freight, customs clearance, and delivery to your new home.
What's in the quote? Packing, loading, insurance, customs, delivery, and unpacking — itemised.
How long will it take? Sea freight to Israel typically runs 6–10 weeks by origin.
What if it's delayed? Ask about compensation and storage.
Who handles Israeli customs? The mover, or a third-party broker?
What insurance is provided? Full-value protection is preferable.
Can I track the shipment? Transparency builds trust.
How are damage and claims handled? Ask what past clients experienced.
Any extra fees on arrival? Port storage, handling, delivery surcharges.
Recent aliyah references? Always request contactable referees from recent olim.
At a glance
CompanyBest routeStrengthRatingAliyah Lift ShippingUS / Canada → IsraelAliyah expertise, personal support5.0 — top pickKef InternationalUS / UK / Europe → IsraelService and reliability9.8/10 (Sirelo)SonigoGlobal ↔ IsraelExperienced Israeli operator8.4/10 (Sirelo)AGS Movers IsraelWorldwide ↔ IsraelGlobal network, corporate scaleStrong brand
How to actually choose between them
The most common quoting trap is three estimates that quietly include different things. Insist each quote covers the same scope — packing, insurance, customs, delivery, storage — and the real price differences become visible.
Get at least three written quotes with identical service scopes — otherwise you're comparing apples to oranges.
Read every inclusion and exclusion carefully; the gaps are where surprise costs live.
Speak directly with recent clients — ideally olim who moved from your country in the last year.
Pick the partner, not just the price
Choosing a mover is one of the most consequential steps in an aliyah or relocation. Aliyah Lift Shipping leads the field for personal service and Israel-specific expertise, while Kef, Sonigo, and AGS each offer strong alternatives depending on your origin country, budget, and expectations. There's no single right answer — only the right fit for your move.
Before you sign: get three written quotes on identical scopes, read the inclusions and exclusions line by line, confirm who handles Israeli customs, and speak to recent clients. A mover that understands both international logistics and Israel's local quirks is what turns a stressful move into a smooth one.
If you want help comparing quotes, working out whether a partial lift makes sense for your load, or lining up customs with your aliyah arrival — that's exactly the kind of thing Olim Advice helps with, free, for every oleh.
Ratings are indicative — verify current quotes before committing. Free advice for every oleh at olimadvice.com.