Shipping and Removals in Australia
Many reputable companies offer shipping and removal services to and from Australia, and expats relocating to Australia can import their household effects duty-free provided they’ve owned them for 12 months. Furthermore, many of the nation’s major cities are positioned on the coast, and most have ports that are efficient, well-managed and incredibly familiar with receiving or sending container shipments.
That said, the rule of thumb for shipping to a country as far for many as Australia is, is leave it unless you absolutely need it.
That said, the rule of thumb for shipping to a country as far for many as Australia is, is leave it unless you absolutely need it. Though unfurnished accommodation is more popular in Oz, it’s still possible to find furnished accommodation; and expats will find countless shopping opportunities to stock up on household goods and favoured home furnishings. Thus, packing-up nineteenth century China and bubble wrapping worn-out, warped mattresses may not be necessary.
What’s more, shipping, both by sea or by air, can be incredibly expensive. In many cases though, it’s possible to have your employer foot the bill for bringing your goods across, or to at least set aside some sort of allowance for you to do so.
Shipments made by sea are generally less expensive than those by air, but those sent by air will obviously arrive much sooner than those sent by sea. It’s recommended that expats use a combination of both, shipping essential goods by air, and those less than necessary goods by sea.
Costs are dependent on the volume of goods shipped (usually calculated in cubic metres) or the weight (in pounds), and the distance the cargo must travel. It’s a good idea to solicit at least three quotes from service providers, and to keep in mind the following:
Common services to look for in a shipper
- Pick-up goods at your location
- Basic disassemble and reassemble of furniture
- Border clearance and customs formalities at the destination
- Professional wrapping of all wooden, metal and fabric furniture
- Fuel surcharge
- Export documents for household goods only
- Wooden crate liftvan or palletizing
- Preparing professional inventory list
- Unloading all items to destination residence, and setting all items per your request
- Agent fees and NVOCC deconsolidation charges
- Removing packing debris from destination resident
Expats should be aware that shippers often tack on additional expenses for certain packing materials, handling and hoisting of excessively large items and certain processing requirements.
Common extra expenses a shipper might charge
- Custom built wooden crates
- Documentation fee for vehicles and commercial cargo
- Piano handling
- Custom exam, inspection and/or x-ray
- Storage
- Local duties and taxes
- Packing service for small and breakables items
- Fumigation charges and quarantine
- Insurance (unless purchase separately ahead of time)
- Insurance processing fee
- External hoisting or crane equipment
- Additional collection or split delivery locations
- Long carry over 75 feet away from main entrance
- Stairs fees- over 1st floor walk-up
Furthermore, it’s a good idea to buy insurance from a company other than the shipping company used, to ensure reliable coverage on broken cargo.
Expats should plan to arrive in Australia at least 7 days prior to the arrival of their goods to avoid high storage fees, but this isn’t a legal requirement; expats have up to six months to arrive in Australia after their goods touch down.
In order to ship goods to Australia, it’s necessary to have the following paperwork:
- Copy of visa and passport
- Signed and completed customs form B534
- Inventory of goods – items must be categorised and boxed in relevant categories
- Bill of Lading
- Full name and intended address in Australia – this cannot be your work address or a PO Box, but can be a friend’s address, a hotel or a temporary address.
You may also be asked to prove ownership of certain items by presenting receipts, insurance papers, etc. For new-looking electronic goods especially, it’s best to have these on-hand.
Shipping pets to Australia
Shipping pets to Australia can be a complex process. The relevant bio-security regulations relating to your country of origin must be met, and a microchip must be implanted on the animal for identification purposes. Owners will also need to pay for quarantine, an import permit, and air transport. You will be required to complete official documentation with information on the content of consignment as well as copies of your passport and visas.
