Trans-Tasman Moving from New Zealand to Australia
Helping people and their families move to Australia is what we do best. With branches throughout Australia in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Townsville we have the country covered. Whether you need to move some selected items, all of the contents of your home, or a vehicle we can tailor a service to meet your requirements. We make it easy by providing a door to door service to anywhere in Australia. Plus we've got the latest information about Australian border control regulations for Customs, Quarantine and CITES.
We have the experience, expertise and infrastructure to help make your move to Australia a pleasurable event. Let us take care of the hard work while you concentrate on everything else. So if you're s returning Aussies or going to live here for the first time, let us help you on your journey to Australia.
- How Much Will it Cost
- Economy Sea Freight
- Customs Regulations
- Quarantine Regulations
- CITES Regulations
- Vehicle Shipping
How Much Will it Cost to Move to Australia
There are several key elements that we use to determine the cost of your move. Once we have all of these details we can provide you with a quotation.
- Where are you moving from and to?
- How much do you need to move, i.e. full household or just a few items?
- Do you have any items that require special handling or packing, i.e. a piano?
- When do you want to move?
- Do you require Careful Packing of your boxes?
- Do you require Secure Storage?
- We also have Easy Insurance available as well.
Economy Sea Freight to Australia
We provide Economy Container Sea Freight services to Australia. This is where your goods are loaded into a shared container with other peoples goods and you only pay for the space your goods take up. With a shared container it is not always possible to advise shipping dates as they are subject to a container being filled with other peoples goods. We can provide you with an estimated door to door transit time based on historic activity. However, your shipment may arrive sooner or later depending on the level of market demand to your destination at the time.
Australian Customs Regulations
When moving goods to Australia it is important to know that your goods must be cleared for entry by the Australian Customs service. We will undertake this formality on your behalf as part of our service. You are required to provide a copy of your passport and complete an Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (B534). We will submit these documents to Customs together with your inventory of goods being shipped.
As a general rule you are able to import your used personal effects and household goods into Australia without having to pay customs duty and tax provided;
- The goods are your personal property and that you have owned and used whilst overseas for at least 12 months before departing for Australia.
- Be an arriving person who is a permanent resident returning to Australia, or a first time migrant taking up permanent residency.
You can also import inherited goods without paying duty and tax provided you can show proof that the goods have been willed or given to you as part of the estate of person who passed away.
If you include any alcohol and tobacco products in your shipment you will have to pay import duty and tax on them. There are also very tight controls around the prohibited and restricted goods. Please be aware that some goods are prohibited while others may require special permits for importation.
It is important to be fully aware of the requirements, thus it is essential to visit Australian Customs to obtain up to date detailed information.
Australian Quarantine Regulations
Biosecurity is vitally important to Australia as we are more reliant on agriculture and our natural unique environment than any other developed country. Our indigenous flora and fauna are precious to Australians and tourists alike. We have unique native species that are a core part of our natural heritage and culture, and we pride ourselves on enjoying high standards for our agricultural products, lifestyle and wellbeing. Unfortunately the importation of personal effects can create a pathway for the introduction of unwanted pests and diseases. As a result there are very strict controls put in placed by the Department of Agriculture. All shipments of household goods and personal effects entering Australia are subject to a quarantine inspection before they can be released and ok for entry into Australia. We will undertake this inspection and release process on your behalf as part of our service. In order to do so we will need you to complete an Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (B534). We will submit this to Quarantine together with the inventory being shipped.
SPECIAL NOTE: We do not charge Quarantine Inspection Fees on shipments upon arrival to Australia.
Most households will have a number of common items of quarantine concern that must declared. In some instances certain items may require some form of treatment before they are released for entry, some may even be destroyed or ordered to be re-exported.
It is important to be fully aware of the requirements, thus it is essential to visit the Department of Agriculture to obtain up to date detailed information.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
During the period of 1 September to 30 April any shipment containing commercial goods, vehicles and other high-risk items from countries identified as having Brown Marmorates Stink Bug risk and will be subject to further quarantine treatment. Click here to see the latest advice from Department of Agriculture.
Khapra Beetle
Considered the number two National Priority Plant Pest, the Khapra Beetle is a highly invasive pest not present in Australia. It poses a major threat to Australia's grain industry. To prevent the arrival of Khapra Beetle the Department of Agriculture are banning the importation of high risk plant products. This includes many common household food items. As a result we highly recommend excluding food from all shipments. Click here to see the latest advice from Department of Agriculture.
CITES Regulations
Australia has strict requirements for importing household items that contain CITES species.
Common CITES items found in household moves include.
- elephant ivory (eq piano keys)
- rosewood furniture
- hunting trophies (eq animal mounts, floor rungs)
- wildlife souvenirs (eq corals, some shells, animal skulls)
- handbags or shoes made from crocodile or snake.
If the household lot contains CITES species you will need to obtain CITES permits before sending the items to Australia. Learn More.
Shipping Your Vehicle To Australia
The importation of motor vehicles and motorcycles into Australia is highly regulated and as such there are a number of requirements you need to be aware of over and beyond our shipping services.
Australia allows the importation of motor vehicles and motorcycles provided they meet applicable safety and emissions requirements. You must also have acceptable proof of entitlement of the vehicle, and standards of compliance at origin. Please visit the Department of Infrastructure website where you will find the most up to date information. It is critical that you ensure your vehicle meets the requirements before considering shipping to Australia. Please visit their website where you will find the most current information.
Upon arrival in Australia all motor vehicles and motorcycles will need to be cleared with Australian Customs. Depending on your residential status and length of ownership of your vehicle you may be able to import it free of GST. Please visit their website where you will find detailed information.
All motor vehicles and motorcycles will require a physical internal and external biosecurity inspection upon arrival to Australia by the Department of Agriculture to ensure they are clean and free of any quarantine risk material. This is a service that we will arrange for you as part of our process, however if any risk material is found in and/or on your motor vehicle, motorcycle or trailer then additional cleaning services may be required and incur additional expenses.
All motor vehicles require a border structural inspection in order to check for any structural and water damage, verify the particulars of the vehicle including, make, model, VIN or Chasis and check the odometer reading. This will be conducted by Independent Verification Services Limited (IVS) and the results will be submitted to the Australian Customs
Next all motor vehicles and motorcycles must under go an Australian Design Rule (ADR) with an entry certifier to verify and certify that it meets safety and emission standards, check that it is in good condition, decide if it needs any repairs or specialist certification arrange State and Territory Registering Authorities.
