Removals to Australia

If you are planning on moving to Australia, whether to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or anywhere in Australia, Britannia Bradshaw has the expertise and the local knowledge to tailor the move to your individual needs. Your removal is only part of your move, so we also have information about Australian visas and advice on getting settled in Australia.

Moving Personal Effects to Australia

Duty free entry is granted if the goods have been owned for at least 12 months. To move your household items, an inventory is required, and Britannia Bradshaw will provide you with the correct customs forms that must be completed prior to the goods leaving the UK.

All household and personal effects entering Australia are subject to a physical examination by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS).

Items of interest to quarantine include all items that may have come into contact with soil and vegetation such as gardening equipment, bicycles, scooters etc, sporting and camping equipment, golf clubs and buggies, cleaning equipment, brooms, mops, vacuum cleaner waste bags and the like. These items should be thoroughly cleaned before despatch. Please note however prior cleaning and other treatment (fumigation, steam cleaning etc.) does not ensure automatic clearance. AQIS will order further treatment if in their opinion the items being imported present a quarantine risk. Please also be conscious of festive decorations and wreaths containing dried vegetable matter, including pine cones and the like. If imported these items will be subject to further treatment or destruction.

Prohibitions and Restrictions

In general it is in your interest not to import the following items:

• Firearms & ammunition
• Inflammable goods & substances
• Plants & plant material
• Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise
• Narcotics and dangerous goods
• Offensive materials
• Alcohol & Tobacco

All alcoholic beverages will be subject to customs duty and Goods and Service Tax (GST). Beer, wine, and spirits all attract extremely high levels of duty and GST.

Australian removals transit times

Groupage or shared load consignments usually take nine to 14 weeks door to door. However, this can vary depending on volumes being shipped, customs or immigration delays and prevailing weather conditions. Sole use containers usually take six to eight weeks port to port, and there is a weekly service to all major ports.

Bar Coding

All Groupage consignments will be bar coded before they are loaded into the shipping container. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.

Moving your domestic pets to Australia

Cats and dogs may only be imported from AQIS approved countries, and must be accompanied by a valid Permit to Import. Dogs and cats must have been resident in any of the approved countries for at least six months (or from birth), and during the period of 30 days preceding export they must not have been in quarantine in the country of export.

The preparation of your pet to move to Australia is lengthy, you'll need to start well in advance.

Unfortunately, the importation of birds into Australia is currently prohibited.

Britannia Bradshaw can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures.

Find out more about moving with pets

Moving motor vehicles to Australia

All motor vehicles must be granted import approval for customs clearance at the point of entry in Australia, and they are subject to duty. Once you have imported your car, changes to the vehicle may be required to make it compliant with Australian standards.

An Application For Vehicle Import Approval must be lodged with the Vehicle Safety Standards office in Canberra, prior to the arrival of the vehicle in Australia. This action must be undertaken as early as is possible as motor vehicles are unable to be cleared in Australia until an approved application has been obtained. Please obtain the latest publication from the Vehicle Safety Standards website.

Moving to Australia with Britannia Bradshaw

Customs Clearance - It will usually 10 to 15 days for customs clearance and delivery. This time can be affected by government policy, or the inspection of goods, for example.

Packing & Delivery - Our trained removers can pack and wrap all your items to ensure that they are transported safely. If you choose a full door to door service to Australia, Britannia Bradshaw will deliver the goods to your new home. We can then unwrap your furniture and unpack your moving boxes onto a flat surface, and all used packing materials will be removed from the site.

Additional removal services – Should you require additional removal services when moving to Australia, Britannia Bradshaw is authorised to provide comprehensive insurance, and arrange international storage or pet transport.

For more information, download the customs guide to moving to Australia.

How may we help with your Australian removal?

Britannia Bradshaw can help your move to Australia go smoothly. Contact us for a free, no obligation quote or call 0161 877 5555 (Manchester), 0121 504 0966 (Birmingham & Coventry) and speak with an international removals specialist.