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This guide is designed for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses wishing to import to Australia.

HOW TO GET YOUR PRODUCT TO AUSTRALIA

You have ordered goods from your overseas supplier; you are now wondering how to get it to Australia. There are a few options:

• The postal system
• Express Courier
• Air Cargo
• Sea Freight FCL
• Sea Freight LCL

SEND VIA THE POSTAL SYSTEM?

Sending your goods via the postal system is very convenient if the goods are say 20 kilograms or less. Your supplier will take the parcel to the local post office, send the goods to Australia and complete a customs declaration card which is affixed to the outside of the parcel.

Once the goods arrive at the mail centre in Australia, the parcel will be x-rayed and the customs declaration will be examined to determine the value of the goods. If the goods are valued at less than $1000 AUD, the parcel will be delivered to the address on the outside of the parcel or to your local post office for collection.

If the goods are valued at over $1000 AUD, Australian Border Force (ABF) will send you a notice in the mail requesting that you either undertake the customs clearance yourself or employ a customs broker to process the customs clearance on your behalf.

Once the customs clearance and taxes have been paid, Australian Border Force will advise Australia Post that the parcel can now be released and delivered to the address on the outside of the parcel or to your local post office for collection.

The benefit of retaining a customs broker to process your parcel post shipment is that the broker is linked to the ABF and can transmit the declaration and payment of taxes instantaneously.

SEND VIA EXPRESS COURIER?

Sending your goods via an express courier is also very convenient and cost-effective if your package is let’s say 20 kilograms or less. Your supplier would telephone the express courier company in their country, make the booking and then the express courier would attend to their office and collect the parcel, freight it to Australia, undertake the customs clearance in Australia and then deliver to your nominated address; for one all-inclusive price.

If the goods are valued at less than $1000 AUD, the parcel will not be subject to duty and or GST, (unless the goods are tobacco or wine), the express courier will process the customs clearance and then deliver the goods to your nominated address.

If the goods are valued at over $1000 AUD, the express courier will process the customs entry (generally for free as it is built into the freight rate), then advise you of the taxes payable and ask for payment before they deliver the goods to your nominated address.

There are a few express companies that you and your suppliers could rely upon:

www.fedex.com.au

www.dhl.com.au

www.ups.com

If a customs broker customs clears your express courier shipment and the goods are valued over $1,000 AUD and less than $10,000 AUD; the Import Processing Charge payable to Customs is $88.00.

If a customs broker customs clears your express courier shipment and the goods are valued over $10,000 AUD; the Import Processing Charge payable to Customs is $190.00.

SEND VIA AIR CARGO?

Sending your goods via air cargo is not recommended for small shipments but it is economical if your shipment is large, let’s say at least 50 kilograms and over.

Your supplier would need to deliver the goods to a freight forwarder or airline terminal in their country, then the goods would be shipped to Australia. Once the goods arrive in Australia you would receive a telephone call from the air cargo terminal advising that the goods have arrived; you generally have 24 hours to collect the goods before storage starts.

In this instance, it is always best to ask your customs broker to process the air freight customs clearance before the goods arrive in Australia – in order to avoid storage which is generally $0.60 per chargeable kilogram per day (subject to GST).

Please note that all airline terminals charge fees such as Import Terminal Fees [ITF] and Import Document Fees [IDF].

As you can see when comparing the express courier option for small parcels to air cargo; express couriers absorb the terminal fees in the all-inclusive freight price.

If a customs broker customs clears your air cargo shipment and the goods are valued over $1,000 AUD and less than $10,000 AUD; the Import Processing Charge payable to Customs is $88.00.

If a customs broker customs clears your air cargo shipment and the goods are valued over $10,000 AUD; the Import Processing Charge payable to Customs is $190.00.

SEND VIA SEA FREIGHT LCL?

Less than a Container Load [LCL] means that your goods will share space inside a shipping container with other peoples’ goods to the same port as you in Australia.

Once the container arrives into Australia, the container will be taken off the vessel, taken to an unpack depot and this is where your goods will be separated from other peoples’ goods.

Sending your goods via sea freight LCL is economical in regards to shipping costs; as it is quite cheap to ship goods to Australia but once the goods arrive, there are costs which you need to pay to the company that brought your goods to Australia; these costs are called port charges and are based on cubic metres [m3] and kilograms.

Every day we talk to importers who were not aware that Australia has high port charges which easily affect their project.

If a customs broker customs clears your sea freight LCL shipment and the goods are valued between $1,000 AUD and less than $10,000 AUD, then the Import Processing Charge is $99.00.

If a customs broker customs clears your sea freight LCL shipment and the goods are valued at more than $10,000 AUD, then the Import Processing Charge is $201.00.

PACKING DECLARATION – DOWNLOAD HERE

All sea freight shipments that enter Australia must have a packing declaration which needs to be completed by the supplier overseas.

SEND VIA SEA FREIGHT FCL?

Full Container Load [FCL] means that all of the goods inside the shipping container are yours and that you will be responsible for all costs of collecting the container from the wharf, taking it to a quarantine depot for inspection (if necessary), delivering the container to your premise and then returning the empty container to the wharf; all of these arrangements can be organised and facilitated through your customs broker.

The shipping company that carries your container to Australia will charge port charges to you; generally $600 – $700 AUD for every 20” and
$700 – $800 AUD for every 40”.

If a customs broker customs clears your sea freight FCL shipment and the goods are valued between $1,000 AUD and less than $10,000 AUD, then the Import Processing Charge is $99.00.

If a customs broker customs clears your sea freight FCL shipment and the goods are valued at more than $10,000 AUD, then the Import Processing Charge is $201.00.

PACKING DECLARATION – DOWNLOAD HERE

All sea freight shipments that enter Australia must have a packing declaration which needs to be completed by the

supplier overseas.

(there is an exception for goods that have been frozen from the time of export).

WHERE IS YOUR PRODUCT ONCE IT ARRIVES INTO AUSTRALIA ?

PARCEL POST
The package will first arrive at a mail centre; for example, in Queensland, the mail centre is in Brisbane, for Victoria the mail centre is in Melbourne.

EXPRESS COURIER
The package will first arrive at a capital city air freight terminal and then be collected by the express courier company and held in their customs bonded warehouse until the goods have been processed through Customs and Quarantine.

AIR CARGO
The package will first arrive at a capital city air freight terminal which is a customs bonded warehouse and will be held here until the goods have been processed through Customs and Quarantine.
Once the goods have been processed, the goods can either be collected by yourself, your transport company or your customs broker.

Please note that if Quarantine wishes to inspect the goods; the goods will need to be taken to a Quarantine depot before you can take possession of the goods.

SEA FREIGHT LCL

The shipping container will arrive at a port, then be unloaded from the vessel and placed on the wharf. The container will then be collected by a freight forwarder, taken to their unpack depot and the goods will be segregated from the other goods; this process can take up to 7 days.

Once the goods have been segregated, you, your transport company or your customs broker has 3 days to collect the goods before storage starts. Storage is not cheap, it is generally $40 per cubic metre per day including weekends with a minimum of $200 AUD plus GST for the first day.

Please note that if Quarantine wish to inspect the goods; the goods will need to be inspected at the unpack depot or at another nominated depot before you can you can take possession of the goods.

SEA FREIGHT FCL

The shipping container will arrive at a port, then be unloaded from the vessel and placed on the wharf.
The container will then need to be collected by your transport company or your customs broker and taken to your premise for unloading. The empty container needs to be returned to the wharf promptly as the shipping company charges “rent” on the container generally after 7 days of arrival into Australia. Rent is usually $85 – $120 per day plus GST.

Please note that if Quarantine wish to inspect the goods; the goods will need to be inspected
at an unpack depot or at another nominated depot before you can you can take possession of the goods.

PACKING DECLARATION – DOWNLOAD HERE

All sea freight shipments that enter Australia must have a packing declaration which needs to be completed by the supplier overseas.

(there is an exception for goods that have been frozen from the time of export).

IMPORTING PERSONAL EFFECTS

When importing personal effects, you are saying that you have owned and used the goods for the previous 12 months; personal effects are free of duty and GST but do attract taxes if you are importing such things as wine, tobacco or motor vehicles.

Personal effects are considered to be a high risk and therefore may be inspected by Customs and Quarantine or solely by Quarantine.

PERSONAL EFFECTS AIR FREIGHT

When the goods are personal effects, the airline terminals usually give longer than 24 hours to collect the goods.

PERSONAL EFFECTS SEA FREIGHT LCL [LESS THAN A CONTAINER LOAD]

The depots do not usually give any extended time to collect personal effects and generally charge $40 per cubic metre per day including weekends with a minimum of $200 AUD plus GST for the first day.

PERSONAL EFFECTS SEA FREIGHT FCL [FULL CONTAINER LOAD]

The whole container needs to be taken from the wharf to an unpack depot and fully unpacked; the shipping container then needs to be returned to the wharf to avoid “rent”. Once the personal effects have been examined, you will need to employ a removalist to collect all of your loose articles and take to your premise. The depots usually give 1 free day of storage after Quarantine has released the goods.

The unpack depot may charge storage at $40 AUD per cubic metre per day including weekends plus GST.

PERSONAL EFFECTS STATEMENT – DOWNLOAD HERE

Please refer to the personal effects statement which needs to be completed for Customs and Quarantine.

PERSONAL EFFECTS ARE FREE OF DUTY AND GST BUT DO ATTRACT TAXES IF YOU ARE IMPORTING SUCH THINGS AS WINE, TOBACCO OR MOTOR VEHICLES.

QUARANTINE ISSUES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES

Whenever you wish to locate the rules for importing particular products to Australia, you would be recommended to visit:

https://www.agriculture.gov.au

This web-link provides the rules for importing a wide variety of items such as used machinery, food, nuts, timber products, biological products and is also country specific.

All sea freight shipments that enter Australia must have a packing declaration which needs to be completed by the supplier overseas. There is an exception and they mainly revolves around goods which have been frozen from the time of shipping to Australia. Please refer to the link at right for a packing declaration template.

PACKING DECLARATION – DOWNLOAD HERE

All sea freight shipments that enter Australia must have a packing declaration which needs to be completed by the supplier overseas.

(there is an exception for goods which have been frozen from the time of export).

IMPORTING A CARAVAN

Importing caravans are quite popular, especially from the United Kingdom. Before you can ship the caravan to Australia, you will need to apply and receive an import permit from The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

Please refer to the import permit web-link: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au

Please note that if your caravan has an air-conditioner; you will need to liaise with the Department of the Environment.

Please refer to the import permit web-link: https://www.environment.gov.au

Please refer to the Australian Border Force website for asbestos issues:

https://www.abf.gov.au/prohibited-goods-subsite/files/fs-asbestos-at-the-border.pdf

IMPORTING MOTOR VEHICLES

Importing cars is quite popular, especially from the United States of America; if the motor vehicle is of an age of 30 years or more, there is no import duty. There will however be import GST of 10%.

Before you can ship the car to Australia, you will need to apply and receive an import permit from The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

Please refer to the import permit web-link:

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au

Please note that if your car has an air-conditioner; you will need to liaise with the Department of the Environment.

Please refer to the import permit web-link:

https://www.environment.gov.au

Please refer to the Australian Border Force website for asbestos issues:

https://www.abf.gov.au/prohibited-goods-subsite/files/fs-asbestos-at-the-border.pdf

IF THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS OF AN AGE OF 30 YEARS OR MORE, THERE IS NO IMPORT DUTY

IMPORTING OFF-ROAD VEHICLES

Importing off-road vehicles do not require an import permit, but we recommend that you still apply to the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development for a ruling stating that no import permit is required.

Please refer to the import permit web-link:

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au 

Please refer to the Australian Border Force website for asbestos issues:

https://www.abf.gov.au/prohibited-goods-subsite/files/fs-asbestos-at-the-border.pdf 

IMPORTING FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS AND OTHER ARTICLES

(WHICH OPERATE ON REFRIGERANT GASES SUCH AS “SLUSHIE” MACHINES)

One-off importers planning to import up to five pieces of equipment arriving in one consignment and containing less than 10Kg of gas in total may be eligible for a partial waiver of the licence application fee. The partial waiver reduces the application fee from $3000 to $400, with the licence expiring fourteen days after the equipment arrives or fourteen days after the issue of the licence, whichever is the latest. A partial fee waiver is only available once every two years.

Please refer to the import permit web-link:

https://www.environment.gov.au 

ONE-OFF IMPORTERS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PARTIAL WAIVER OF THE LICENCE APPLICATION FEE.

IMPORTING FOOD

Importing food is a complex issue and involved the Australian Border Force, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Imported Foods and possibly a laboratory to test the food products before they can be sold in Australia.

The minimum information that needs to be on the immediate outside packaging of the food is:

• Name of importer
• Address and phone number of the importer
• Ingredients list in English
• Batch number / lot code / expiry date or best before date

IMPORTING WINE

Importing wine is fairly easy enough but it is an expensive exercise; wine is subject to import duty, import GST and a tax called Wine Equalisation Tax [WET] which is currently 29%.

These three taxes are paid on wine products no matter what the value is; under or over $1000 AUD.

Customs clearing wine can involve Australian Border Force, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources [DAWR], Imported Foods and possibly a laboratory to test the wine products before they can be sold in Australia.

The minimum information that needs to be on the immediate outside label of the wine is:

Name of importer
Address and phone number of the importer
Ingredients list in English
Batch number / lot code / expiry date or best before date

TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE CUSTOMS AND QUARANTINE DEPOTS

Whenever the goods need to be moved from the airline terminal, the wharf or the sea freight depot to quarantine; your broker can move the goods on your behalf. Often the broker will prefer to move the goods as they are then able to control the process on your behalf.

Your broker should liaise with everyone concerned so that the goods are processed as quickly and promptly as possible.

SOURCES OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

The Australian Border Force (ABF)

https://www.abf.gov.au

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources [DAWR]

https://www.agriculture.gov.au

Department of the Environment

http://www.environment.gov.au/

Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au

Prohibited and restricted imports

https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/prohibited-goods

Platinum® Freight Management is here to assist you with your needs. If you have any questions, or require any other information, our friendly customs broker agents will be on hand to help.