|
Australian Customs
General Customs Information
Items to avoid moving overseas
Quarantine
Pet Moving Services
Our Services
Additional Services
General Customs information.
All goods entering Australia are subject to a physical Customs and Quarantine
inspection and clearance process. Unaccompanied baggage and household items
may be imported into Australia free of customs duty and sales tax, providing
they have been owned and used overseas for a minimum of twelve (12) months
or more preceding your departure to Australia.
Items not in this category, which have owned and used for less than twelve
months will be subject to duty and sales tax. The rates vary and proof of
purchase, such as receipts, invoices or the like will be required to substantiate
the value of such items. All household and personal effects entering Australia
must be deconsolidated from the ocean or air containers at an approved Customs
warehouse facility for a physical inspection prior to release/delivery. In
most cases, a container cannot be transported direct to a residence for examination
by the inspecting officers.
It is standard procedure for the owner of household goods and personal effects
to sign a Customs Declaration Form – B534, to clear the consignment when
it arrives in Australia. A photocopy of all pages of the importer’s passport
will be required to clear your consignment through Customs. Both the completed
Customs form and the endorsed copy of your passport must be received by this
office prior to the goods’ arrival in Australia. Our overseas based colleague
or associate in your country of origin will be able to assist you in this
process/ requirement.
If you require any information on the importation of Motor Vehicles into Australia,
click to visit the Department
of Transport Motor Vehicle Importation web site. Alternatively,
download our Motor
Vehicle Importation Requirements pdf. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)
Any more questions? Visit
the Australian Customs web site.
Items to avoid moving overseas
The following items should generally be excluded from your shipment to Australia.
If you plan to include any of these in your shipment, please contact us for
clarification PRIOR to the pack and uplift in your country of origin.
 Animal skins of endangered
species-Australian Quarantine will require treatment certificates in advance
from an approved taxidermist.
Any inflammable or corrosive
items. These are easily identifiable on containers and are deemed hazardous
to transport by sea or air.
Baby car seats - of any
other than Australian production/origin are subject to stringent laws. Most
do not comply with Australian safety standards.
Cane, bamboo and wood
products. Must be treated and not raw. If so they may be subject to fumigation
at additional cost prior to release.
Canned meat or milk products
(Prohibited) All perishable foods will be seized and destroyed by Quarantine
on arrival.
Dried flowers or plants,
pinecones etc. These are subject to treatment process. Most are seized and
destroyed(as above)
Weapons (Including Guns
or ammunition, hunting knives spring-bladed knives, daggers, swordsticks and
knuckledusters) All weapons including inoperable "trophy" firearms
are subject to inspection by Customs. Owners MUST have a valid Australian
shooters licence in order to import firearms. This certificate must be produced
in order to receive such items back from Customs following a positive safety
and authentication of origin check.
Narcotics, medicines or
drugs (unless prescribed by your doctor) Customs may ask for copies of prescriptions.
Please carry these with you rather than pack them in the consignment.
Outdoor effects (ie; garden
tools, lawn mowers and outdoor furniture, bicycles, vacuum cleaners, golf
shoes/boots or camping gear) will all be inspected by Quarantine for signs
of dirt/soil etc.
Stamp or coin collections
of a high value - (Note: these are not normally covered by a Marine Insurance
policy.) Customs may require an authentication certificate.
Telecommunications equipment
(CB radios, cellular mobile phones, cordless phones, fax machines, etc)- most
are not permitted for use in Australia due to regulatory standards imposed
by the Federal Government authority. If they are shipped and declared 'not
approved' you will be required to send them back to the country of origin
at your own expense or pay to have them destroyed.
Vacuum cleaner dust bags
- Quarantine will check dustbags in cleaners for refuse.
Wines and spirits (High
duties) - Most attract duties/taxes equal to as much as 50% of the value of
the wine or spirits. A detailed list (we can supply this form) must be completed
in advance and attached to your completed Customs form. Duty/taxes are assessed
according to alcoholic strength, volume, type and value declared.
NOTE** The inclusion of any of the above items subject to fumigation (this
is normally item specific), steam cleaning, eradication or to be destroyed
WILL incur additional costs upon entry into Australia. They will also delay
the clearance process.
go to top of page
Quarantine
Australia is very dependent upon its primary industries such as livestock
and agriculture and is fortunate, indeed unique, in being free from many diseases
that are apparent in the rest of the world. As a result, quarantine regulations
in Australia are very strict.
While live animals are the greatest risk, animal products such as fresh and
tinned meat, salami, eggs, and dairy products are risk items. Many such items
are prohibited, as are plants, soil, seeds, skins, shells and the like.
When importing a motor vehicle, motorbike, caravan or trailer the quarantine
authorities will inspect the vehicle on arrival and may require it to be steam-cleaned.
Clearance of your vehicle will be assisted if all soil, etc is removed (including
the underside) prior to its departure. The Australian Agricultural Authority
may not always accept a 'steamcleaning' certificate issued at origin.
Pet Moving Services
Requirements are as follows:
Prior arrangement of quarantine facilities. All dogs and cats will be quarantined for a minimum period of at 30 days.
Official quarantine stations are located at:
• Eastern Creek, Sydney, NSW
• Spotswood, Melbourne, Victoria
• Byford, Perth, Western Australia
Detailed quarantine requirements are specified in the "Conditions for
Importation" that forms part of the Import Permit.
Please note that you will be responsible for the payment of any charges on
or after the pet’s arrival into Australia including but not exclusive
to:
Inspection on arrival, transportation to the quarantine station, disinfection
of the containers, accommodation at the quarantine station and any veterinary
care, feeding and grooming.
Import Permit
The importation of dog and cats into Australia is subject to the issue of
an import permit which must be obtained prior to export from an overseas location
to Australia by the Chief Quarantine Officer (Animals) of the State in which
your animal will be quarantined.
Application on the appropriate form ("Application for a Permit to Import
Quarantine Material Live Animals – Dog or Cat") together with the
applicable permit fee should be made at least (2) two months prior to the
intended date of importation.
If permission is granted, an "Import Licence" copy with a copy of
the "Conditions for Importation" will be sent to you. Our overseas-based
associate will be able to assist you in applying for this permit in advance.
Specific Conditions
In order to bring cats and dogs into Australia, you must meet the following
conditions:
•
•
•
•
• |
Your dog or cat must have been continuously resident in the country
of origin for at least 30 days prior to export and during this time the animal
must not have been in quarantine.
Dogs must be fully vaccinated against distemper, infectious hepatitis,
canine parvovirus and para-influenza not less than 14 days and not more than
12 months prior to travel.
Dogs must be tested for Brucella Canis and Leptospirosis within 30
days of export.
Cats must be fully vaccinated against feline enteritis, feline rhinotrcheitis
and feline calicivirus, not less than 14 days and not more than 12 months
prior to travel.
All dogs and cats must be treated for internal parasites within 14
days prior to export and for external parasites within 96 hours of export
and pass a clinical examination within 48 hours of shipment. |
Birds and Other Animals
Birds are prohibited imports and will be destroyed on arrival. Other animals
for which a permit to import has not been obtained will also be destroyed
on arrival.
go to top of page
Our Services
Upon arrival of your consignment, Move Management Australia will provide the
following standard services:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• |
Collection from port / airport
Supervision of the standard Customs & Quarantine clearances
Processing of Customs entry for personal and household effects
Transportation to residence
Inventory check
Unpacking of carton contents to table surface
Unwrapping and placement of furniture items
Removal of wast materials (same day service, plus 1 x additional collection vehicle in area basis)
Return transportation of ocean or air containers to local terminal
Minor re-assembly of furniture items disassembled at origin that do
not require the services of a professional tradesman. |
Additional
Services
NOTE * Provision of the following services will incur
additional costs
which may or may not be included in your
door to door contract with the moving
service provider at
origin. If not prepaid, these fees are payable to Move
Management Australia prior to delivery unless otherwise
stated or negotiated. |
|
|
| |
•
•
•
•
• |
Administration costs for the indirect payment of Customs duty / GST.
Additional labour of transportation due to a poor or restricted delivery
access, i.e.; more than 10 steps/stairs up or down, internal handling / delivery
above first floor, overhanging trees on driveway access, long carry from vehicle
to residence (exceeding 20 metres), narrow stairwells, balcony entrances or
delivery via crane, rope pulley, helicopter or manual/exterior elevator.
Additional labour due to a 100% examination by the Australian Customs
or Agricultural authorities.
Fumigation treatments and associated administration, transportation
and re-inspection.
Motor Vehicle Imports (bikes, scooters, boats & cars):
|
| • |
Customs entry fees and associated administration |
| • |
Quarantine examination |
| • |
Steam cleaning and associated transportation and re-inspection |
| • |
Import licence application and administration |
| |
|
•
• |
Additional
labour and Customs entry fees due to the inclusion of COMMERCIAL goods in
a consignment of household effects.
Valet / maid services:
|
| • |
full unpacking of carton contents into cupboards and onto shelves |
| • |
folding linens, making beds |
| • |
restoring your new house into a home |
| |
|
•
•
•
• |
The destruction
of goods seized by Quarantine / Customs and associated transportation / administration.
Storage rental and warehouse handling, pre and post clearances / delivery.
Additional trips to retrieve packing waste materials.
Handyman services / professional trades people for the following:
|
| • |
picture hanging |
| • |
electrical fittings / wirings, plugs, etc… |
| • |
extensive re-assembly of furniture items i.e.; bunk beds, wardrobes,
shelving, wall units or cupboards and the like. |
| • |
the provision of transformers |
go
to top of page |
|
|
