Customs advice:
Importing into Australia
Quick Tips
Soles of shoes must be clean Inventory must be accurate
Things you need to know when shipping to Australia
You will need to log into your account in order to complete our online documentation which includes:
- Inventory, recording the contents of your shipment;
- Insurance to protect your shipment in case of mishap.
You will need to upload scans of your passport - the picture page, the signature page and if applicable, a copy of your visa, at the final stage of the process.
There are helpful pointers all throughout but you must be completely accurate with the information you enter as these forms will be presented to the authorities at the destination.
Your shipment of personal effects and household items can be imported duty-free using a B534 unaccompanied personal effects statement...
Importing your personal effects and household items
Your shipment of personal effects and household items can be imported duty-free using a B534 unaccompanied personal effects statement if you fulfil this criterion:
- You are a returning Australian citizen, or, non-citizen with long stay / permanent residence visa who are returning to take up permanent residence after a period of more than 12 months outside Australia. (Please note that it is your responsibility to complete the B534, and you must include your Australian residential address, not a business address.);
- If you are not already in Australia, then you do not need to be present when your shipment is imported but you must be planning to return within 6 months of importing your shipment;
- The items you are importing as your personal effects and household items have been owned for more than 12 months and are not for resale, disposal, gifted, leased / hire out or otherwise used for business purpose.
You must provide an explanation in a letter of reason if any of the follow apply:
- You did not pack your own shipment.
- You are sending your goods to Australia far in advance of your visit/relocation.
- You are shipping goods to Australia 12 months after your arrival.
- You are on a short term visa but are shipping a large amount of goods.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has the right to inspect all shipments of personal effects and household items. They have the right to demand that items within the shipment be either cleaned, irradiated or removed for deep burial which will incur additional charges.
You can find out more from the official Australian Government website here.
If you are sending any of the items below they are covered by this restriction.
How customs quarantine inspections work
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
If you are using our baggage service (boxes, bags and suitcases), you need to pack any kind of boots and shoes, e.g. walking / hiking boots, golf shoes, rugby boots, everyday shoes, inside your boxes at the top, with the soles facing upward or, with suitcases, on top of your clothes with the soles facing upward, so they are visible for quick inspection. This may not be possible with boots but placing inside the box on top should be enough.
If you are using our MoveCube® service, you will be provided a white box within which you need to pack all your shoes and boots of any kind, e.g. walking / hiking boots, golf shoes, rugby boots, everyday shoes. This “Shoe & Boot Box” will need to be packed at the door of the MoveCube for quick inspection.
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
- All types of BBQ / Braai, BBQ / Braai equipment and charcoal.
- Lawn mower, spades, forks, ladders, wheelbarrow and other garden tools, etc.
- Gazebo, folding chairs, garden games, etc..
- Rattan screen.
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
- Mountain bikes, child’s bicycles, scooters, etc.
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
- Russian Maryoshka dolls.
- Christmas decorations made of wool.
- Christmas trees.
- Christmas wreaths containing vines or twigs.
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
- Sea shells, corals.
- Feathers, feather pillows.
- Leather hides.
- Reeds, wicker baskets.
- Rattan chairs, rattan screen, rattan chest.
- Bamboo, bamboo steamer.
- Plant pots.
- Wood carvings & wooden ornaments.
- Wheat bags.
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
- All general strollers and prams.
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
- Golf clubs, golf bags with clubs, golf bags with trolleys – soil is often found at the bottom of golf bags.
- Cricket gear: stumps, bats, balls, leg protectors, gloves, etc.
- Hockey gear: sticks, balls, gloves, etc.
- Mountaineering equipment: ropes, gloves, etc.
- Tents, tent poles and pegs, camping chairs etc.
- Walking sticks.
- Saddles, bridle, girth, etc.
- Fishing rod, fishing lure, fishing tackle, etc.
- Hunting equipment: bow and arrow.
- Swimming pool equipment.
- Diving equipment.
- Surfing equipment.
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
- Brooms, mops, dustbins, step ladders, etc.
- Vacuum cleaners — please ensure no dust is present before packing by removing the bag and cleaning the filters and barrel.
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
- Please note, depending on the value of the car parts, bike parts or scooter parts you're importing into Australia, these items might need clearing via a Customs Broker to avoid additional charges.
We recommend that if you plan to send any of the items listed below you first clean and dry any item that has been in contact with household dust, soil, livestock or vegetation before packing. Please also ensure they are easily accessible for inspection by customs.
- Single-edged fixed blades, such as kitchen knives, hunting knives, fishing knives and skinning knives, are typically allowed into Australia. When completing your Inventory packing list, you must include images and a full description of any knives you are shipping.
This list is not exhaustive but indicative.
Importing inheritance items
Your inherited items can be imported duty-free provided you, the beneficiary named in the will, are living permanently in Australia and the items will not be used for trade or business purposes.
In addition to our online documentation, you will need to provide a copy of the death certificate; a letter from the executor explaining you are the beneficiary with the list of the inherited items and a statement listing the items, the estimate value of the items and that they are not for re-sale.
Importing antiques and precious metals
You can import an antique i.e. the item is more than 100 years old, duty-free but you will have to pay 10% GST. You will need to produce a Lapada or BADA certificate of authenticity; if not, then the authorities may require verification via an approved antiquity expert which will incur additional charges.
Precious metal objects can be imported duty-free as personal effects and household items, if you fulfil the criterion.
Importing e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and hoverboards
You must apply for a permit from the Department of Infrastructure if the wattage of the e-bike, e-scooter, e-skateboard or hoverboard you're sending to Australia exceeds 200 watts. If you're sending a Pedelec (power-assisted pedal cycle), you need to apply for a permit if it does not meet the Pedelec definition (an electrically-powered pedal cycle with a maximum continuous rated power of 250W) or exceeds 250 watts.
If the above requirements are not met and exceed their required wattage, they can't be deemed non-road vehicles. Instead, they may be considered a LA/LB (moped) under the national standards or an LC (Motorcycle).
What boxes are unsuitable for shipping to Australia?
When shipping to Australia, please don't use any container that's previously been in contact with organic substances, such as fruit or bread, such as Hello Fresh boxes. These boxes won't pass their quarantine regulations and will result in delays and fines.
Also, avoid packing your possessions into bin liners, laundry bags, used cardboard boxes and plastic storage crates, as these can crack and shatter when stacked for a long journey creating dangerous sharp edges.
Importing motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts
To clear Australian customs duty-free, you may only ship items defined as unaccompanied personal effects (UPEs). UPEs are a special category of goods that include items like clothing, books, furniture and sports equipment.
Motor vehicles, such as cars and motorbikes and their individual parts, are not treated as UPEs and are subject to duties, taxes, and other charges, including Luxury Car Tax and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Importing imitation firearms and slingshots
You must apply for explicit permission to import imitation firearms into Australia. Examples include toy guns, gel blasters, NERF guns, ornaments, gun-shaped video game controllers or any article that looks like it could reasonably be mistaken for a firearm. You can apply for permission using a B709A - Importation of Firearms – Police Confirmation and Certification form from your Australian state or territory police firearms and weapons registry.
Furthermore, permission is required to import slingshots with arm braces, including modern slingshots, catapults and slingshots with stabilisers and braces. You can apply for permission using a B709B form.
The original B709A or B709B form must be presented to the Australian Border Force (ABF) during importation. When completing your Inventory packing list, you must include images of any imitation firearms or slingshots with braces.
Importing animal hides, horns, skulls and taxidermy
When importing animal hides, horns, skulls or taxidermy animals into Australia, you must provide a detailed description of the species and provide images in your Inventory packing list.
Australia is part of the the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) agreement, and has restrictions on importing endangered wood, animals and plant life, including derivatives. Refer to the CITES website to determine whether items need an import and export permit.
Prohibited goods
At Seven Seas Worldwide our aim is to make the shipping process stress-free and simple, with that in mind our moving experts have created a comprehensive list of prohibited goods along with any service based restrictions.
Like all countries, Australia has restricted certain items to protect its citizens and environment. These include nunchucks (defined as weapons with handles made of any hard material joined by chain or rope), card knives, daggers, automatic knives, throwing blades, flick knives or butterfly knives. The sender is responsible for any fines, penalties or additional charges for undeclared or restricted items.
This page was last updated on 07/02/2025
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