Moving to Australia

All You Need to Know About Relocating Your Household Goods and Pets

There is plenty a person needs to prepare for when it comes to moving and shipping to, and storing their household goods in, Australia. This is especially important for people moving from areas like the US to Australia. For example, there are strict limitations on the items you can bring into the country duty-free (see below).

The personal items you bring cannot exceed a total value of 900 AUD (650 USD), and they must have been owned and used for at least a year. No more than 2.25 liters of alcohol is allowed to enter the country per traveler, and only 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of tobacco products can be brought in per person aged 18 years or older. Trunkmoves restricts tobacco and alcohol in your shipments, but you can carry these items in your luggage. How much does it cost to move to Australia?

 

 

Vaccinations required for Australia? The main one to make sure you have is the yellow fever vaccine. This is mandatory for anyone coming to Australia from a country with a risk of yellow fever. Routine vaccinations are recommended too, such as the measles vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and yearly flu shot. Specific health requirements and medical examinations will be necessary too depending on your age, the type of visa you apply for, and country you are coming from. 

If you intend on moving to Australia with pets, we also detail how you must first know the group your cat or dog falls under: 1, 2, or 3. Group 1 are dogs and cats coming from New Zealand, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island. These pets will not require an import permit when migrating. Cats and dogs that fall under group 2 and 3 will require an import permit. These are dogs and cats that come from approved rabies-free countries, and approved countries where rabies is absent or well-controlled, respectively. (See below some more information about bringing pets into Australia).

 

Shipping Used Household Goods and Personal Effects into Australia

Documents Required

• Copy of passport (photo and signature page)
• Completed Australian Customs form B534
• Copy of visa or e-visa approval (non-citizens)
• Detailed inventory / packing list (in English)
• Alcohol inventory, if applicable
• Original bill of lading if no telex release / waybill issued (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)

 

Specific Information

• The OBL must be received 7 days prior to arrival at first entry port into Australia.
• The AWB must be received 48 hours prior to arrival at first entry airport into Australia.
• Sea freight clearance times vary from 12-15 working days depending on mode of sea freight and the destination location.
• Airfreight clearance takes approximately 5-7 working days depending on documentation received and destination location.
• An inventory of alcohol is required for Australian Customs to assess the duty and taxes payable, which are generally 50% of the alcohol's purchase value for wine and 150% for spirits.
• The signature on the Australian Customs form B534 must match the passport page.

 

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

• Vehicle import approval (VIA)
• Import declaration (prepared by Customs broker)
• Registration papers from country of origin
• Proof of ownership and purchase receipt

 

Specific Information

• A VIA must be obtained prior to the importation of motor vehicles.
  • VIA will take 3-6 weeks to approve.
  • Application for VIA may be found at:https:infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/how_to_apply.aspx
• The restrictions for documents and Customs regulations must be met for the importation for privately owned motor vehicles.
• Customs clearance is required at the port of entry.
• Customs duties and goods and services taxes (GST) must be paid at the time of vehicle import with the exception of returning Australian vehicles when GST only applies.
  • GST only is payable on motorcycle imports
• Contact the Australian Taxation Office to determine if and when luxury car taxes (LCT) must be paid.
• https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Luxury-car-tax/

 

Pets

Documents Required

• Import application
• Import permit 

 

Specific Information

• All animals imported to Australia must meet the requirements of the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and will be quarantined upon arrival.
• Import permits take approximately 10 business days from the date receipt by Department of Agriculture to be approved; however, incomplete or incorrect applications may take longer.
• Owners of the goods must select a quarantine station for the animal prior to import.
• Animals may be visited by only the person identified as the importer during the quarantine period

 

Note:  It is critical to contact Department of Agriculture and Water Resources prior to the import of pets as requirements and restrictions are dependent upon the country of origin and vary dramatically per type of animal.

 

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Alcohol:
  • Customs duties plus goods and services tax (GST) will apply to alcohol imported into Australia.
  • Duty is calculated on the type of alcohol, the volume contained per bottle, the alcohol % per bottle and the value per bottle.
  • Ten percent (10%) GST is then added to the duty calculated.
• Anabolic and androgenic substances (those that enhance muscle and bone growth and may include health supplements)
• Antibiotics
• ANZAC and any related advertising material
• Items bearing an image of the Australian national flag and coat of arms
• Items bearing an image of the Australian state or territory flags and coat of arms
• Asbestos
• Cat and dog fur products
• Glazed ceramic ware (specific to lead content)
• Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
• Chemical weapons
• Chewing tobacco and snuff in quantities greater than 1.5 kg
• Cigarette lighters (up to five lighters acceptable if over 18 years or older on a ship or aircraft)
• Cosmetics and toxic materials (cannot contain more than 250 mg/kg of lead but may contain more than 250 mg/kg of lead acetate designed for use in hair products)
• Counterfeit credit cards
• Crowd control equipment (antipersonnel sprays, body armor, extendable batons, electric shock devices, etc.)
• Cultural heritage goods from Papua New Guinea (permission from the Trustees of the Papua New Guinea Public Museum and Art Gallery is required)
• Diamonds (only rough diamonds in tamper proof container from a country participating in the Kimberley Process may be imported and require a Kimberley Process Certificate)
• Dog collars designed to puncture or bruise an animal’s skin
• Passengers arriving on board a ship or aircraft do not need a permit for the import of drugs and narcotics required for personal use if: 
  • The drugs and narcotics are prescribed by a medical practitioner or veterinarian, and quantity does not exceed a 3 month’s supply at the maximum prescribed dosage,
  • The drugs / narcotics are carried as accompanied baggage;
  • Prescription must be in English or translated to English.
• Kava may be imported in root or dried form in amounts not to exceed 2 kg and is carried as accompanied baggage by a passenger 18 years or older.
• Firearms and accessories, parts, magazine, ammunition, components of ammunition, and replica
• The following items are embargoed goods and are restricted and require permission to import.  Contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for additional information:
  • Eritrea – weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment and spare parts
  • Iran – weapons, ammunition, military vehicle and equipment and spare parts
  • North Korea – weapons ammunition, military vehicles and equipment and spare parts
  • Libya – weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment and spare parts
• Endangered animal and plant listed in the appendices to the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
  • A search tool for CITES endangered species is available at https://checklist.cites.org/#/en
• Novelty erasers (resembling food in scent or appearance)
• Plastic explosives formulated as a mixture, malleable or flexible at room temperature or with:
  • One or more high explosives which in pure form have a vapor pressure less than 10.4 PA at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius
  • A binder material
  • Fish and tooth fish
  • Electronic flyswatters and mosquito bats
  • Growth hormones and substances of human or animal origin
  • Hazardous wastes (explosive flammable, poisonous, toxic, exotoxic or infectious, clinical wastes, waste oils, waste residue from manufacture or household waste as defined by the Basel Convention)
  • Hydroflurocarbons
  • Incandescent lamps
  • Knives and daggers
  • Laser pointers
  • Novelty money boxes coated with material containing more than 90 mg/kg of lead
  • Ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases
  • Pencils and paintbrushes with a coating that contains excess amounts of toxic compounds such as lead, arsenic and barium
  • Pesticides and other hazardous chemicals
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Terphenyls and Polyphenyls
  • Pornography and other objectionable materials
  • Radioactive substances
  • Therapeutic drugs and substances (abortifacients, aphrodisiacs, etc.)
  • Unmanufactured tobacco (not stemmed or stripped or in whole form)
  • Toys containing excess amounts of toxic compounds such as lead, arsenic and barium
  • Woolpacks
  • Weapons (military goods and other weapons including blow pipes, crossbows, martial arts equipment, knuckle dusters, slingshots, maces and flails)
  • Trade Practices Act goods

 

Prohibited Items

• Rough diamonds
• Dogs (dangerous breeds including Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull Terrier, Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario and advertisements referencing these breeds)
• Embryo clones and viable materials, and any related advertising matter advertising these items
• Suicide devices