Australia Customs Guide Household Goods, Vehicles, Pets & Restricted Items

Important: This Australia customs guide provides a comprehensive reference for families and professionals planning international moving, overseas relocation or door-to-door shipping services to the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia is one of the world’s strictest customs environments, especially for biosecurity-risk goods such as plants, food, wooden items and outdoor equipment. Always verify regulations directly with Australian authorities before shipping.

Home To Home Relocations assists clients across Toronto, the GTA and Ontario with international moves to Australia, including export packing, ocean/air shipment coordination, biosecurity documentation, customs clearance, and final delivery to cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.

1. Moving to Australia – Key Customs Overview

1.1 Duty-Free Import of Used Personal Effects

Australia allows the duty-free import of used household goods when they belong to a person relocating permanently to Australia and meet specific criteria:

Goods must be used and owned for at least 12 months prior to import
Relocation must be genuine and not commercial
Importer should hold a valid visa, residency approval, or long-term entry permit
Household goods must be for personal use and not resale

Important: Duty-free eligibility does not exempt goods from Australia’s strict biosecurity inspection process, which applies to nearly every shipment.

1.2 Restrictions due to Biosecurity

Australia enforces some of the most aggressive biosecurity controls in the world. The government inspects shipments to prevent the introduction of pests, soil, seeds and contaminants. Goods that pose risk may require treatment, inspection fees, fumigation or destruction.

2. Used Household Goods & Personal Effects

2.1 Required Documentation

You will typically need:

Copy of passport (photo page)
Visa / residency or proof of long-term entry into Australia
Completed B534 Personal Effects Statement
Bill of lading / airway bill
Detailed inventory in English

2.2 Inventory & Packing Requirements

Use clear, descriptive labels such as “kitchen utensils”, “children’s books”, not “miscellaneous”
Clean and dry all outdoor items — including bicycles, garden tools, sports gear and furniture
Ensure all footwear is free of soil or grass
Separate high-risk goods to avoid inspection delays

H-H Relocations Tip: Australia inspects outdoor equipment, mattresses, shoes, camping gear and wooden furniture. Cleaning these items thoroughly before packing reduces delays and inspection fees.

3. Importing Motor Vehicles to Australia

3.1 Vehicle Import Rules

Vehicle importation is controlled under Australia’s Motor Vehicle Standards. Approval must be obtained **before the vehicle ships**.

Vehicles must meet Australian Design Rules (ADR)
Taxes and duties may apply
Vehicles may require quarantine inspection and cleaning
The Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) is mandatory prior to shipping

3.2 Required Vehicle Documents

Original registration/title documents
Bill of lading or airway bill
Insurance policy
Vehicle Import Approval

Critical: Shipping a vehicle to Australia without VIA approval can result in refusal of entry, re-export costs or destruction of the vehicle.

4. Bringing Pets to Australia

Australia has stringent pet import regulations, including rabies-free country status, veterinary approvals and quarantine requirements.

4.1 Pet Import Requirements

Microchip compliant with ISO standards
Rabies vaccination (timing varies by country of origin)
Veterinary health certificate
Pets may require quarantine upon arrival

Pet Travel Tip: Begin the process early — rabies vaccination timing, microchip requirements and quarantine slots fill quickly.

5. Restricted & Controlled Items

5.1 Biosecurity-Risk Goods

Australia enforces extensive biosecurity restrictions to prevent pests and diseases from entering the country. Many everyday items require inspection, treatment or may be prohibited.

Soil, sand, seeds, grains and plant materials
Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and honey
Wooden furniture, rattan, bamboo and wicker items
Outdoor sports/camping gear, shoes, bicycles, and gardening tools

If inspectors find contamination (dirt, live pests, soil residues, mould), fees may be charged for fumigation, cleaning, irradiation or destruction.

5.2 Food, Alcohol & Tobacco

Food containing meat or dairy is often prohibited unless certified
Alcohol may incur duty and GST depending on quantity
Tobacco products face duty and GST and require accurate declaration

5.3 Medicines & Other Controlled Goods

Some items are allowed only with prescription or permit:

Prescription medicines
Chemicals, aerosols and hazardous substances
Certain knives, firearms and weapons (subject to permits)

Important: Attempting to import undeclared prohibited items may result in seizure, fines or prosecution.

6. Prohibited Items – Do Not Ship to Australia

The following items are strictly forbidden in personal household goods shipments:

Illegal drugs and narcotics
Biological materials, live animals (without permits), plant seeds and soil
Pornographic or objectionable material
Firearms, ammunition and certain weapons without permits
Counterfeit goods or currency
Ivory, coral and goods made from endangered species

Violations may result in destruction of goods, fines or criminal penalties. Always check if an item is restricted before packing.

7. Practical Tips for International Moves to Australia

7.1 Moving from Toronto or the GTA

For a smooth international move from Toronto to Australia, Home To Home Relocations recommends:

Begin early — many Australian requirements have long lead times
Clean all outdoor items thoroughly before packing
Identify items that may require inspection
Discuss unusual or high-risk items before shipping
Keep all essential travel documents with you

7.2 Why work with a specialist mover

Australia’s customs, biosecurity standards and inspections are among the strictest worldwide. Working with an expert mover ensures:

Accurate guidance on what you can/cannot ship
Professional export packing suited for long transit routes
Proper documentation and inventory structure
Seamless door-to-door coordination, including clearance and delivery

Relocation Tip: The number-one cause of delays in Australia is quarantine inspection of dirty or high-risk items — clean everything carefully before loading.

8. Useful Official Links – Australia

Verify the latest rules and procedures directly with government authorities:

This guide supports your international move planning. Final decisions always rest with the Australian Border Force, Department of Agriculture and other relevant agencies.