First Time Importers™

A common question that arises for first time importers™ is whether they need a licence to import goods into Australia. The simple answer is: No, you do not need an import licence to import to Australia.

Australia allows importers to import goods either under:

Your personal name or,
An Australian Business Number (ABN).

The choice will depend upon whether you are importing the goods for your personal use or for business purposes. Regardless of whether you import under your personal name or under an ABN, the shipping costs, the customs clearance fees and taxes remain the same.

However, it is essential to make certain that the goods that you wish to import are or are not covered by any restrictions or paperwork requirements before you purchase the goods and certainly before the goods are shipped to Australia.

If you are unsure about Australian importing requirements, you should first reach out to the Australian Border Force (ABF).

Reach out to Platinum® once you have found your overseas supplier and are ready to make a deposit on the goods.

This is one of the most critical questions that we receive at Platinum® from first time importers™. The answer is always, ‘the sooner, the better’. Having Platinum® involved before you place a deposit on the goods is the best opportunity in avoiding issues down the line. Here is why:

Platinum® liases with both your overseas supplier and you together, to ensure that all of the documentation requirements are met before the goods depart from overseas.

Platinum® always aims to pre-clear your goods before they arrive into Australia. The sooner that we can pre-clear your cargo, the quicker that your cargo can depart from the air cargo terminal, the wharf, or sea freight depot and avoid possible storage costs.

Platinum® always wants to know that your goods are insured from overseas to Australia, either your overseas supplier can arrange the insurance or Platinum® can arrange insurance on your behalf. If your supplier is arranging the shipping to Australia, we wish to see that your goods are travelling to a minimum level of INCOTERMS (CIF) or INCOTERMS (CIP).

The Benefits of Early Planning

Having Platinum® involved early in the purchasing process, allows you to experience fewer surprises and to also eliminate unnecessary issues and fees. Before you decide to place a deposit on the goods that you wish to purchase, request a proforma invoice from your overseas supplier that should include (1) the cost of the goods, (2) the shipping costs from overseas to Australia and (3) the insurance cost. Upload the proforma invoice to our Get a Quote platform, and our team will provide you with a detailed quote on the same day. This step will provide you with full transparency and will eliminate any guesswork.

Having Platinum® involved early also allows Platinum® to address any compliance concerns, like quarantine (DAFF) regulations, which can lead to costly delays if not managed properly.

Delayed Customs Broker Engagement

When first time importers™ engage a customs broker late in the process, this will often result in first time importers™ experiencing unexpected delays, increased fees, missed deadlines, and compliance issues. Do not wait for your goods to depart from overseas to have your customs broker involved, involve your customs broker before the goods depart from overseas for Australia.

Storage and Rent Accumulation

Time is working against you when it comes to airfreight and sea cargo storage costs:

The air cargo terminal: generally only provides 24 hours of free storage costs once the cargo has been checked-in to their warehouse.
The sea freight depot (for Less than a Container Load – LCL shipments): typically provides three business days free of storage costs once the LCL cargo has been unpacked from the shipping container.
The wharf (for Full Container Loads – FCL shipments): generally provides three calendar days free of storage once the FCL has been discharged from the vessel.
The shipping company (for Full Container Loads – FCL shipments): generally provides seven calendar days free of rental costs (detention) on the shipping container.

Understanding these complex time constraints will assist with unnecessary financial losses.

Paperwork Mishaps

Possessing incomplete or inaccurate documentation is a frequent cause of delays and storage costs. It is important to rely upon Platinum® to review all of the paperwork that your overseas supplier plans to issue before the shipment departs from overseas.

Quarantine (DAFF) Delays

Australia imposes strict biosecurity laws for items that arrive into Australia. Generally, sea freight cargo poses more issues than airfreight, Platinum® would address the current DAFF expectations with you and your supplier together.

Avoiding these pitfalls is straightforward when you collaborate with customs clearance experts like Platinum® early.