Indonesia is an island nation of over 17,000 separate islands. Australia is a continent that is home to a near endless variety of exotic animals and plants. If you’re moving from Indonesia to Australia, you may first be surprised at how massive Australia is. Most people in Australia do live near the coast, due to the inhospitable desert making up the majority of Australia’s 3 million square miles.
You probably have a ton of questions and we don’t blame you. Australia has a reputation for crocodiles, kangaroos, and customs quarantine. Let’s talk about what you need to know.
What do I need to know about moving my personal goods to Australia?
The first thing you need to know about importing your goods to Australia is that you will need to clear your goods through the Australian Customs service. Australia is a unique country in that there are many plants and animals that live on the continent that simply do not exist elsewhere in the world. Pests and diseases brought in from other parts of the world can be devastating for this natural resource. For this reason, Australian Customs officials follow very strict guidelines on imports.
All household goods imported into the country are given rigorous quarantine inspections. Most households will have some items subject to quarantine. Wood furniture, for example, will be very closely inspected to ensure that termites or other wood boring pests are not present. Any items flagged during this process will need to be quarantined for a time, sent back to its point of origin, or in some cases, destroyed.
Most of your personal goods can be imported to Australia without taxes or duty. As with most counties, items eligible for import are those that you have owned and personally used for at least six months.
Am I allowed to bring my vehicle to Australia?
Yes, well, sort of. The vast majority of vehicles imported to Australia are imported by car manufacturers. There are companies designed as Registered Automotive Workshops (RAWs) that can import a very limited selection of used vehicles. To see if your vehicle is eligible, check the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS). Eligibility is only the first of many steps you must take. The RAWs will likely need to make repairs or modifications to your vehicle before it can be imported, and you will be responsible for covering that expense.
Individuals may also apply to import their own vehicle to Australia, but beware. The Australian Border Force will not release your vehicle unless all your paperwork is complete and in order. You will need to apply for a Vehicle Import Approval and be able to certify that your vehicle is free of asbestos. Again, privately-owned vehicles are rarely approved for import, and this process does take several weeks. Make sure to leave yourself plenty of time.
If you do receive approval for your import, you will need to be prepared to pay customs duty and GST, and for some, a luxury car tax.
Don’t try to go it alone
If there’s anything we’ve learned from Johnny Depp – other than how to give good pirate – it’s that Australian customs is not for the faint of heart. Efforts to protect Australia’s amazing natural resources are wonderful for koalas but can result in headaches for people importing goods. At A1 Auto Transport, we have a team of international shipping experts who know what it takes to meet these complex requirements.
If you call now for a free, no-obligation quote, we can start helping you get where you need to go. We have the expertise to help with paperwork, shipping arrangements, and customs declarations. Give us a call today!
Written By:Joe Webster
Joe Webster began his journey in the auto transport field by attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Marketing.
After college, he started his career in the auto transport industry from the bottom up and has done virtually every job there is to do at A-1 Auto Transport, including but not limited to: Truck Driver, Dispatch, Sales, PR, Bookkeeping, Transport Planner, Transport Manager, International Transport Manager, Brokering, Customer Service, and Marketing. Working with his mentor Tony Taylor, Joe Webster has learned the ins and outs of this industry which is largely misunderstood.
With over 30 years experience in the industry, we've been helping people ship their vehicles, motorcycles, RV's, heavy equipment, household goods and more across the country or overseas without a hitch. Ask us anything.
