Moving Household Items to Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide

It’s one thing to relocate. Moving across continents is something entirely different! That is why we wanted to provide you with a comprehensive guide to moving household goods to Australia.

Our guide contains information on:

• Personal Effects Left Behind (UPEs)
• Charges and fees
• Duty-free shopping
• Clearing your belongings after arriving in Australia
• Advice on how to prepare your goods
• The most effective way to pack your belongings

Personal Effects Left Behind (UPEs)

Unaccompanied Personal Effects are household and personal items that you are bringing with you to Australia but will be delivered separately to you. This usually means that these items arrive in Australia via air, sea, or post.

Clothing, personal hygiene and grooming items, furniture, appliances, sporting equipment, and books are examples of UPEs.

To find out if an item you want to bring to Australia is permitted, consult the Australian Border Force’s importing guide.

However, the following items are not UPEs according to Australian import regulations:

• Cars
• Automobile components
• Industrial goods
• Donated items
• Items acquired through online purchases

Here is a list of prohibited items.

Certain things are restricted from entry into Australia. These things are

• Fresh vegetables and fruit.
• Bulbs and live plants.
• Restricted and prohibited seeds.
• Spices and unidentified seeds.
• Live animals, including pets, that require an import license. Learn more about bringing pets to Australia here.
• Biological products, including certain herbal medicines made from plants.
• Raw products from plant or animal origins.
• Items that are soiled or contain organic residues.
• Products that have been purposefully infected with diseases or pests.

Charges and fees

You need to account for a variety of fees and charges in your budget. These consist of, but are not confined to:

• Fees for screening documents.
• Fees for inspection. The amount of time it takes to inspect your items will determine your total inspection price.
• Goods may be treated, if applicable.

Approved Arrangement (AA) locations charge facilitation and storage fees.

Duty-free discounts

If you and your goods meet specific criteria, you may be eligible for reductions on customs duty and Goods and Services Tax.

Conditions that you must fulfill:

You traveled to Australia by ship or airplane from somewhere else.

You are eligible for permanent residency.

Your possessions must abide by the following requirements:

The items need to be:

Your personal belongings;

Suitable for usage by you in Australia and designed for;

You personally own and utilize it while traveling abroad for a predetermined period of time. This often occurs 12 months before your departure from Australia.

Please be advised that the following are not eligible for discounts:

autos or auto parts.

tobacco products and tobacco.

alcohol-based drinks.

Organizing your possessions

You have two options: either you handle the clearance of your items personally, or you engage a representative or agent to handle the clearance of your goods on your behalf.

You must fill out and submit an Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement in order to clear your UPEs (B543 Form). The form can be submitted either in person or online. Here is further information on both choices.

Advice for getting ready your goods

Australia seeks to stop diseases and pests from entering the nation, as was previously indicated. Any items that have come into contact with food, dirt, plants, animals, or their products must be emptied, drained, cleaned, and dried as a result.

Let’s examine some concrete instances of what you can do:

• Remove any soil, animal, and plant detritus before installing garden furniture, fencing, pots, ornaments, outdoor toys, tools, and utensils.
• Remove all trash from trash cans, brooms, and vacuum cleaners.
• Appliances and containers: clean them.
• Camping and athletic gear should be thoroughly cleaned, including golf clubs, soccer boots, backpacks, and the like.
• Vacuum all rugs, carpets, and mats.
• Animal bedding, grooming supplies, cages, and fish tanks should all be washed, vacuumed, and cleaned after removing any evidence of pet hair.
• Equipment for sports in fresh water that you can drain and dry, such as fishing tackle, wetsuits, and reservoirs.

• Check for evidence of insect infestation on any household goods made of wood or with wooden components, including wooden toys, musical instruments, furniture, kitchenware, and lumber. Items that are damaged should either be repaired or abandoned. Additionally, go over any furniture and baskets that comprise wicker, cane, rattan, bamboo, or banana leaf.

• Plant material such as seeds, flowers, leaves, and pine cones can be found in everyday household items. Consider ornaments, photo albums, potpourri, artifacts, and decorations. Don’t forget to check the heat bag fillings.

• Do not pack fresh food or opened packages of dry foods, as well as herbs and spices. You could import these items, but it may be easier to buy them locally once you arrive in Australia.

Packing your possessions

When moving household items to Australia, packing properly will reduce the time it takes the Department to inspect your goods. As a result, the inspection costs will be kept to a minimum.

Here are some pointers from the Departments of Agriculture and Water Resources on how to make your own.

Make a packing list by doing the following:

Make a list of all the boxes and what is in each one. Include a description of the materials used to make the goods. For instance, a metal bed frame or a cane basket. This list will be requested by Australian authorities.

Labeling and numbering:

Number the packing boxes and make sure they correspond to the numbers on your packing list. When labeling boxes, make sure to write with a permanent marker. Sticky labels should be avoided because they frequently fall off during the move.

Packaging materials and cartons:

It is best not to use used boxes or bags unless you are certain they are free of animal or plant material. Use no straw, sawdust, wood shavings, or other plant materials as packing or filler.

Group items together:

Group items that the biosecurity officer may be interested in together in boxes.

Pack the following items for safety:

Wrap sharp or breakable objects, such as knives or ceramics, securely. Mark boxes clearly if they contain medical supplies, dangerous goods, or anything else that could endanger your safety. Packing flammable items such as fireworks or paint thinners is not recommended.

Do you prefer not to go it alone? We can recommend a shipping company!

Intergate Emigration has formed a partnership with a reputable shipping company that has assisted thousands of individuals and families in importing their belongings from all over the world.

This South African business has more than 20 years of expertise, a wide network of agents throughout the world, and collaborates with professionals to guarantee that all information is up-to-date and pertinent to prevent delays and pointless expenses.

You can reach us at info@intergate-emigration.com or by phone at +27 (0) 21 202 8200 if you’d want us to introduce you to this business.

Recap the steps to take while transporting domestic goods to Australia.

Unaccompanied Personal Effects are your clothing, furniture, and other personal effects. Items with animal or plant origins, or those that have come into touch with animals, plants, water, food, or soil will catch the biosecurity officer’s attention.

You should clean your possessions and pack the boxes in a way that makes it simple for the inspector to check your belongings in order to reduce the amount of time it takes to inspect your goods. Since the inspection is time-based, the shorter it can be, the less you’ll have to spend.

You may qualify for customs duty and good and services tax reductions if you meet certain criteria.