Shipping to Europe from New York
Send with Doma From the Closest Office
New York is home to one of the largest Polish communities in the United States. Greenpoint, Ridgewood, Queens — thousands of families here send packages, gifts, and personal belongings to Poland and Europe every year. Doma Shipping is based in Chicago, IL. We don't have a New York location — but we serve New York customers regularly. The process is simple: you get your package to our Chicago office, and we handle everything from there. Customs, tracking, dispatch, and door-to-door delivery to Poland or anywhere in Europe. If you're in New York and want to ship to Europe the right way — with 30 years of experience behind it — here's everything you need to know.
How It Works
From New York to Europe
in 3 Steps
Step 1:
Get your package to our Chicago location Ship your parcel to us using any domestic carrier — UPS, FedEx, USPS. We’ll give you our address and any instructions you need. It usually takes 2–3 days to reach us from New York.
Step 2: We handle everything from Chicago
Once your package arrives, our team takes over. We prepare customs documents, choose the right shipping method (air or sea), and dispatch your shipment to Europe.
Step 3: Track it all the way to delivery
You get a tracking number. Your recipient in Poland or Europe gets their package at the door. You don’t have to worry about a thing in between.
Sending a package overseas isn't like mailing something across town. The price reflects real costs: fuel, international freight rates, customs processing, insurance, and last-mile delivery on the European side.
Why Shipping from the USA to Europe Costs
What It Does
Sending a package overseas isn't like mailing something across town. The price reflects real costs: fuel, international freight rates, customs processing, insurance, and last-mile delivery on the European side.
Air freight is faster but costs more.
Sea freight takes longer but saves you money on bigger or heavier shipments.
For New York customers shipping larger loads:
furniture, multiple boxes, or a car — sea freight through a shared container (LCL) is often the smartest choice. Many families from Greenpoint and Ridgewood who ship regularly to Poland choose this option because it’s affordable and reliable for bigger shipments.
We'll always recommend
the option that fits your budget and timeline — not the most expensive one.
How Long Your Shipment Takes
to Reach Europe
One important note: Polish holidays like Christmas and Easter bring a big surge in shipments. If you're sending something for a holiday, contact us at least 3–4 weeks earlier than you think you need to. Sea freight fills up fast in November and December.
Air freight
3 to 7 business days to Poland or most EU countries after your package arrives at our Chicago location. Best for documents, small parcels, and urgent shipments.
Sea freight
4 to 8 weeks depending on destination. Best for larger boxes, household goods, furniture, and vehicles.
Factor in 2–3 days
for your package to travel from New York to Chicago before we dispatch it. We tell you this upfront so your timeline is accurate from day one.
What You Cannot Ship
from New York to Europe
Before you pack, it's worth knowing what can't go in the box.
Commonly restricted items include:
- Fresh food, meat, and dairy products
- Live plants and soil
- Cash and currency above declared limits
- Hazardous materials (aerosols, certain batteries, flammables)
- Counterfeit goods
- Certain electronics without proper documentation
New York is full of estate sales, antique markets, and vintage finds. Many customers want to ship old furniture or family heirlooms back to Poland. Some of those items need extra paperwork. Some are restricted entirely. Our bilingual team will tell you exactly what’s allowed before you ship — so nothing gets held at customs or sent back.
When in doubt, call us before you pack. A two-minute conversation saves a lot of headaches.
How to Avoid Customs Delays on Your European Shipment
Customs delays happen for predictable reasons. Most of them are avoidable.
The most common causes:
- Wrong or missing declared value
- No contents list or inaccurate description
- Mixing personal items and commercial goods in the same box
- Missing sender or recipient information
This last one catches a lot of customers off guard. If you’re sending gifts for family alongside a few items sold online, those need to be declared and packaged separately. Customs officers in Poland look for exactly that.
Doma prepares all your customs paperwork. We know what Polish and EU customs want to see. We fill it out correctly the first time. Customers who switch to us after problems with other carriers notice the difference right away.
Who Pays Duties and Taxes - You or Your Recipient
This is one of the most common questions we get — and one of the most important to sort out before you ship. Short answer: it depends on how the shipment is set up.
DAP (Delivered at Place)
The recipient pays duties and taxes when the package arrives. This can be a surprise if they’re not expecting it.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
The sender pays everything upfront. The recipient gets the package with no extra charges.
For families sending packages to parents or grandparents in Poland — especially seniors on fixed incomes — unexpected customs charges can cause real problems. We help you choose the right option so your recipient isn’t caught off guard.
Gifts sent between individuals have different rules than commercial goods. We’ll walk you through what applies to your specific shipment.
Fastest Shipping Options
from New York to Poland
Need something there quickly? Here's what's realistic:
- Air express is the fastest option. Once your package reaches our Chicago location — typically 2–3 days from New York — we can dispatch it to Poland in 3 to 7 business days.
- Total realistic timeline for urgent shipments: about 5 to 10 days from the day you send the package to us.
- Sea freight is not for urgent shipments. If your recipient needs it in under three weeks, air is the only answer.
We’re honest about timelines. If something isn’t realistic, we’ll tell you — and offer the best actual option instead. That’s part of why people keep coming back.
FAQs
I'm in New York — how do I ship with Doma if you're in Chicago?
Ship your package to our Chicago office using any domestic carrier (UPS, FedEx, USPS). We’ll give you the full address and instructions. Once it arrives, we take care of everything else — customs, dispatch, tracking, and delivery to Europe.
Can I ship furniture or household goods from New York to Poland?
Yes. Sea container shipping — either a shared container (LCL) or a full container (FCL) — is the right solution for large household shipments. We manage everything once your items reach Chicago.
How do I track my shipment?
Every shipment gets a tracking number. You can check the status online from the moment we dispatch it from Chicago until it’s delivered to your recipient in Europe.
Can I ship a car from New York to Poland?
Yes. For vehicles, contact us first — there are specific steps for vehicle export, including documentation and transport to our Chicago facility. We handle the rest: customs paperwork, container or RoRo transport, and delivery in Poland.
Does someone at Doma speak Polish?
Yes. Our team is fully bilingual. You can reach us in Polish or English — whichever is easier for you.
