Read this before you ship your belongings to Australia
Now that you have made the big decision to relocate to Australia, the next step is planning your move and putting the wheels in motion. This involves making the arrangements for your lifestyle change, and more importantly, shipping your possessions overseas.
Shipping your possessions overseas is a lot different from shipping between states in the same country. It entails a lot more planning and can be a logistical nightmare, but a quick and hassle-free way to do this is to engage the services of a reliable international movers or logistics company.
If you plan on staying in Australia long term or are moving permanently, this article covers the important information you need for moving your stuff to your new country.
photo/ Clker Free Vector images
Use a reliable international moving company –
Moving your belongings from one country to another is not a DIY project. There are dozens of rules and regulations that govern international moving, more so with Australia. It is advisable therefore that when shipping stuff to Australia, you look for and work with a reliable international moving company that will do all the hard work on your behalf, shipping your belongings to your final destination in Australia.
There are a number of things you should look out for when choosing an international moving company such as the necessary accreditations, history and insurance coverage.
Expect quarantine –
The Australian government is particular about the items they allow into the country. Towards this end, your belongings may have to pass Australian quarantine clearance before it is allowed fully into the country. Items that do not meet the standard requirements will not be allowed in.
Australia also have a serious policy on pests and plants, this is why the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service carries out a high level of inspection on personal and household items coming into the country.
When shipping your stuff to Australia, be careful not to include food items in your belongings. You should also check to ensure that traces of soil, dirt, weed and other foreign matter are not found in your belongings. This means carefully and properly washing any item you intend to ship to Australia before packaging.
However, if you really need to ship special household items like wheelbarrows, garden tools and sports equipment (which are not allowed into the country), you will have to declare them for inspection on arrival at your port of entry. Some of these items may need special treatment before you will be allowed to take them into the country.
While it can be tempting to want to move all your belongings to your new country, do a proper research to find out what is admissible and what is not. Items that are not allowed into the country will be impounded and destroyed. Your international moving partner should be able to guide you on the items you can ship and the ones you cannot.
Biological items –
The Australian government does not allow the importation of biological items. This means that you will not be allowed to take in fresh fruits, vegetables, soil samples, certain plants and flowers, unprocessed farm produce, herbs and pets that require an import license. You can find a comprehensive list of the items you are not allowed to carry into the country on the Department of Agriculture website. When planning for your trip, make sure to check this list so that you are well prepared, and to avoid getting frustrated at the end of the day.
However, if you have commercially packaged agricultural items or other well packaged biological items that is needed for your stay to be successful in the country, you can obtain a permit for these items and declare them when you arrive at the country.
What to ship –
It is now time to make some hard decisions on what you can and cannot ship to Australia.
As already established, Australia has a strict policy about the items you can ship into the country, therefore it is a good idea to give a lot of thought to what you can take so that you don’t end up wasting too much time in quarantine.
If you are relocating to Australia permanently or intend to stay for a very long time, you will want to pack and ship your clothes, furniture, kitchen utensils and even your vehicle. You definitely want to pack and ship items that are of personal value to you, such as a family heirloom, photo albums, jewelries and so on. However, it is important to point out here that the volume of items you want to ship will affect your shipping quote. If you are concerned about budget, you may want to consider leaving behind those things you can easily replace. For example, low quality furniture like bookcases will only take up space in your shipping container and cost you money that can be channeled elsewhere. You can easily get a replacement bookcase at an IKEA store in your new town.
If you intend to ship electronics into the country, know that you will be expected to pay taxes on electronics imports worth more than AU$1000. This fee is only applicable to electronics bought brand new and include phones, TV and home entertainment systems. If you can show proof that you bought the appliance within the past six months, you will be exempted from paying the electronics tax.
Wrapping up
As you can see from the points above, shipping stuff to Australia can be a complex and exhausting business, and it definitely not something you should do on your own. If you intend to enjoy a hassle-free relocation, your best option is to work with a reliable international shipping company. Your choice company would also help you make the decision on what to carry and what to leave behind.
Author: James Cummings
