Live bookings open November 1, 2026. Get your exact price today, and we'll email you when you can book. Get my price

Shipping boxes to and from Australia

Australia welcomes used belongings and is strict about anything that could carry pests. Most shipments worth AUD 1,000 or less clear with no duty or GST at the border. If you're moving there, household goods you have owned and used for 12 months can come in free with form B534. Clean everything and declare anything made from plants or animals.

Typical transit: 2-4 business days from New Zealand; 4-7 from Asia, Europe, or North America
Currency: AUD
Duty-free up to: AUD 1,000 (about $710) for most goods
Receiver ID: Not usually needed

Price a shipment to Australia

From

Boxes

Weight each (lb)

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to Australia

1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$186.08delivered in 4 to 7 business days
5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$930.38 totalabout $186.08 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by Australia and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

Get my exact price

Popular routes to Australia

Popular routes from Australia

Sending to Australia

Duties and taxes1 2 4 5

Duty-free threshold: AUD 1,000 (about $710) for most goods. Shipments worth AUD 1,000 or less generally pay no duty, GST, or charges at the border. Alcohol and tobacco are taxed at any value. Gifts get no separate allowance, and a parcel can't be split into smaller items to stay under the limit. Above AUD 1,000, duty, GST, and processing charges apply unless a concession fits.
Import tax: GST at 10%, plus customs duty on some goods, once a shipment is worth more than AUD 1,000. Duty varies by item: for example, 5% on cotton clothing and wooden furniture, and free on laptops. Wine also pays a 29% wine equalisation tax. Overseas online sellers may charge GST at checkout on purchases of AUD 1,000 or less, but that doesn't apply to your own used goods.
How value is worked out: Duty is worked out on the customs value, which is the price of the goods without international freight and insurance. GST is 10% of the customs value plus duty, plus the cost of transport and insurance to Australia. For courier parcels under 31.5 kg, that transport cost runs all the way to the delivery address. Foreign currency is converted to Australian dollars at the exchange rate on the day the goods were exported, not the day they arrive. Used goods and gifts have no sale price, so customs values them by other methods. Goods you first bought in Australia and are bringing back unchanged in ownership are not charged GST.
Who pays: Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
Moving there?: If you are moving to Australia, unaccompanied personal effects (UPEs) sent by air, sea, or post can come in free of duty and GST. You must be 18 or over, arrive from outside Australia as a passenger or crew member, and arrange the shipping before you arrive. Furniture, household goods, and most personal effects must have been owned and used by you for 12 months before you leave for Australia. Clothing, footwear, and toiletries have no ownership period but need Australian citizenship, a permanent visa, or a special category visa. Alcohol, tobacco, vehicles, inherited goods, goods for sale, and anything sent after you arrive are not covered. Lodge form B534.

Worked example

Illustrative: 4 boxes of used cotton clothing and a wooden side table worth AUD 2,000 (about $1,420), sent by someone who is not moving, with AUD 400 of international shipping and insurance. Assumes everything is dutiable at 5%, the tariff rate for cotton garments and wooden furniture, with no free-trade preference.

Duty: 5% of AUD 2,000 = AUD 100. GST: 10% of (AUD 2,000 + AUD 100 + AUD 400) = AUD 250. Import processing charge for an electronic declaration: AUD 50. Biosecurity charge for air cargo: AUD 48.

About AUD 448 (about $320), plus any courier clearance fee. The same boxes at AUD 1,000 or less, or claimed under the moving concession, would owe no duty or GST, though biosecurity screening fees can still apply to a moving shipment.

How customs clearance works in Australia1 2 3 7

Express shipments worth AUD 1,000 or less are cleared on a free self-assessed declaration, usually filed by the courier. Above AUD 1,000, the owner or a licensed customs broker lodges a full import declaration, and duty, GST, and charges must be paid before release. Personal effects claimed on form B534 need neither declaration and are cleared on the form instead.

Formal entry: Over AUD 1,000. An electronic full import declaration carries a AUD 50 processing charge for goods worth up to AUD 10,000 (AUD 152 from AUD 10,000), plus a AUD 48 biosecurity charge for air cargo. Alcohol and tobacco need a declaration at any value.
How long it takes: Low-value courier shipments usually clear quickly on the courier's declaration. A moving shipment waits until you lodge form B534 and biosecurity has assessed it, so lodge early. Inspections and treatment add time.
Inspections: Biosecurity assesses every B534 and packing list. Items made of wood, plants, or animal parts, or that have touched soil, water, or animals, are the likeliest to be inspected. Inspection is charged by time, and treatment, re-export, or destruction is at the owner's cost.
If duties go unpaid: Nothing is released until duty, GST, and charges are paid. Goods that aren't cleared can be moved to a licensed customs warehouse and stored at your cost. After two months uncleared, the storage operator can ask permission to dispose of them by sale, donation, recycling, or destruction.

Moving to Australia: claiming duty relief1 7

01
Check you qualify
You must be 18 or over and arrive from outside Australia as a passenger or crew member. Clothing and toiletries also need citizenship or a permanent or special category visa.
02
Book before you fly
Arrange the shipping before you arrive, and keep proof it is linked to your move, such as your ticket or work contract. The goods can land before or after you.
03
Clean and sort your belongings
Clean anything that touched soil, plants, animals, or water. Keep receipts, photos, or a statutory declaration showing 12 months of ownership.
04
Complete form B534
Fill out the Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement in English and answer the biosecurity questions honestly. It is a legal declaration.
05
Lodge the form
Lodge it in person with a 100-point ID check, by email to your state's Border Force office, or through a customs broker. Include the air waybill, packing list, and receipts for newer items.
06
Biosecurity check and release
The biosecurity department assesses every B534 and packing list and may inspect the goods. Border Force releases them once biosecurity has cleared them.

Documents to have ready1 7

Form B534 (Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement), completed in English, if you are claiming the moving concession
A packing list of everything in the shipment, saying what each item is made of (for example, wooden chair or cane basket), with values
The air waybill or delivery order that names the owner and the Australian address (the courier provides this)
Your passport details, plus proof the shipment is linked to your move, such as an airline ticket or work contract
Receipts or proof of value for anything owned less than 12 months, and permits for any prohibited goods
Proof you have owned older items, if asked: receipts, photos, or a statutory declaration

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms1 2

Form B534: Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (opens in a new tab)
Claims duty and GST relief for belongings sent when you move to Australia. Also the biosecurity declaration. Complete it in English.
Form B650: Import declaration (N10) for sea or air cargo (opens in a new tab)
The full import declaration for goods worth more than AUD 1,000 that aren't cleared as personal effects. Usually lodged by a customs broker.

What you can pack, category by category1 7 8 9

What you can pack, by category
Category	Status	What to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothes	Allowed	Clean clothes and shoes are fine. They are duty-free under the moving concession only for citizens and permanent or special category visa holders. Remove all soil from shoes.
Books and papersMore on books	Allowed	Personal books are fine. Objectionable material is prohibited.
ElectronicsMore on electronics	Allowed	Duty-free under the moving concession if owned and used for 12 months. Couriers need batteries installed in the device.
MedicationMore on medicine	Conditions	Up to a 3-month supply at the maximum dose, in original packaging. Prescription medicines need a paper Australian prescription. No controlled substances or vaping products.
FoodMore on food	Conditions	Declare all food. Fresh fruit and vegetables, uncanned meat, and whole eggs are out. Packaged dairy from countries free of foot-and-mouth disease is allowed. Check BICON first.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmetics	Conditions	Personal quantities are fine. Couriers don't take aerosols or nail polish. Perfume concentrates need 12 months of ownership for the concession.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobacco	Not allowed	Don't pack them. Cigarettes and most tobacco need an import permit, and alcohol is taxed at any value, even when you are moving.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gear	Conditions	Must be spotless: no soil, seeds, or grass on bikes, tents, boots, or golf clubs. Dirty items are cleaned or treated at your cost.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gear	Allowed	Used toys are fine. Clean outdoor toys, and remove loose batteries.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photos	Allowed	Personal papers and photos are fine.
Other	Conditions	Wooden, cane, and animal-product items must be declared and may be inspected. Knives, batons, and laser pointers may need a permit.

Quantity limits4 9

Quantity limits for Australia
Item	Limit
Medicines	Up to a 3-month supply at the maximum prescribed dose per shipment, and no more than a 15-month supply in any 12 months.
Vapes (travelers only)	Travelers may carry 2 vapes, 20 accessories such as pods, and 200 mL of vape liquid for their own use. None may be sent by post or courier.
Alcohol and tobacco (travelers only)	Travelers 18 and over may bring 2.25 liters of alcohol and one unopened packet of up to 25 cigarettes (or 25 grams of tobacco) duty-free. Boxes sent separately get no allowance.
General goods (travelers only)	AUD 900 per adult (AUD 450 under 18) for goods carried in your luggage. Boxes sent separately use the AUD 1,000 rule or the moving concession instead.
Cash	AUD 10,000 (about $7,100) or more sent or received by mail, courier, or freight must be reported to AUSTRAC. Couriers won't carry cash in boxes.

What you can't send to Australia6 7 8 9

Not allowed

Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
Vaping goods of any kind, with or without nicotine, even with a prescription
Cigarettes, loose tobacco, shisha, and heat-not-burn products without an ABF import permit, and never by mail
Pepper spray and other anti-personnel sprays
Steroids and growth hormones
Objectionable material, and counterfeit medicines or payment cards
Soil, soiled goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, live plants, and unidentified seeds (including spices)
Uncanned meat and whole eggs without an import permit, and pork jerky or biltong

Allowed with conditions

Outdoor gear, shoes, bikes, and sports equipment: Clean them thoroughly, including tents, poles, pegs, and backpacks. Anything that has touched soil, plants, animals, or water may be cleaned, treated, sent back, or destroyed at your cost.
Wooden, cane, and plant-material items: Allowed if free of bark, insects, and borer holes. Declare them, and expect an inspection. Decorations made with plant material are often destroyed.
Dairy and other food: Cheese, butter, and other dairy are allowed for personal use if commercially packaged, from a country free of foot-and-mouth disease, and declared. Declare all food, and check BICON before packing.
Seeds: Must be commercially packaged and labeled with the full botanical name, and come with a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country's government.
Medicines: Up to a 3-month supply at the maximum prescribed dose per shipment, and no more than a 15-month supply in 12 months. Prescription medicines need a valid Australian prescription, in paper form. Keep them in original packaging. Controlled substances are not allowed.
Knives, batons, imitation guns, and laser pointers: Many need police certification or ministerial permission before import. Daggers and throwing knives need a Police Certification (form B709B).
Alcohol and tobacco: Taxed at any value, and the moving concession doesn't cover them. Cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff up to 1.5 kg are exempt from the tobacco ban but still pay duty.

Sending from Australia

Shipping boxes out of Australia6 10

Sending used belongings out of Australia is simple. Personal effects don't need an export declaration, and there are no export duties. A declaration is needed only for goods worth more than AUD 2,000 (about $1,420) that aren't personal effects, or for anything that needs an export permit, whatever its value.

Documents

A packing list with values, marked as used personal effects
Copy of the sender's passport or ID
An export permit for any protected cultural object or native wildlife product

Can't leave the country

Protected cultural objects, such as some Indigenous art, heritage furniture, historical documents, and stamps, need an export permit, and some can never leave Australia
Native plants and animals, and products made from them, need a wildlife export permit unless the species is on the exempt list
Prescription medicines subsidized under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme may be prohibited from export
Cash of AUD 10,000 or more sent by mail, courier, or freight must be reported to AUSTRAC before it is sent

Before pickup

Check the destination's rules before packing food, wooden items, or medicines.
Clean outdoor gear before sending it to countries with strict biosecurity, such as New Zealand.
If you're unsure whether older art or antiques count as protected cultural objects, check with the Office for the Arts before shipping.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the unit and street number, the street name, then the suburb, state abbreviation, and 4-digit postcode on one line. Include a mobile number for the courier.

Maria ExampleUnit 5, 21 Example StreetFitzroy VIC 3065Australia+61 400 000 000

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast.

Remote areas: The Northern Territory, outback Western Australia and Queensland, Tasmania, and islands can add several days and a remote-area surcharge.

Biosecurity checks can add time to any shipment. Perth and Darwin are farther from the main entry hubs than the east coast.

When things slow down

Christmas to mid-January is peak season, and many businesses close for the summer holidays. Easter, Australia Day (January 26), and Anzac Day (April 25) also slow customs and deliveries. Student arrivals in February and July add volume.

Advice for your situation

Students

International students usually hold temporary visas, so clothing and toiletries don't get the concession. Furniture, household goods, and electronics owned and used for 12 months can, if you arrange the shipping before you fly. Otherwise, shipments worth AUD 1,000 or less usually pay nothing at the border.

Returning home

Australians coming home can use the concession: clothing and toiletries with no ownership period, and furniture and household goods owned and used for 12 months. Book before you fly and lodge form B534. Goods you first bought in Australia and are bringing back are not charged GST.

Expats and relocations

People moving on a temporary visa can still bring furniture and household goods owned and used for 12 months duty-free. Leaving Australia? Personal effects need no export declaration.

Tips for a smooth delivery

Scrub shoes, camping gear, bikes, and golf clubs before packing. Soil is the biggest biosecurity problem, and cleaning at the border is at your cost.
Moving there? Book the shipment before you fly. Goods arranged after you arrive lose the concession.
Complete form B534 in English and describe what each item is made of: wooden chair, cane basket, metal frame.
Keep receipts or dated photos that show you have owned your furniture and household goods for 12 months.
Don't use straw, wood shavings, or other plant material as packing filler.
Leave out food, seeds, and plants unless you have checked BICON.

Shipping to and from Australia: questions

Do I pay duty on used belongings sent to Australia?

Not if you are moving there, have owned and used them for 12 months, arrange the shipping before you fly, and lodge form B534. Otherwise, shipments worth AUD 1,000 or less usually pay nothing at the border, and larger ones pay duty, 10% GST, and processing charges.

What is form B534 and how do I lodge it?

It is the Australian Border Force statement for unaccompanied personal effects. It claims duty and GST relief and is also a legal declaration to the biosecurity department. Lodge it in person with a 100-point ID check, by email to your state's Border Force office, or through a customs broker.

Can I send a gift to Australia duty-free?

Yes, if the shipment is worth AUD 1,000 or less and has no alcohol or tobacco. There is no separate gift allowance, so a gift worth more pays duty, GST, and charges like any other goods.

How long does shipping boxes to Australia take?

Express door to door usually takes 4-7 business days from Asia, Europe, or North America, and 2-4 from New Zealand, plus customs and biosecurity checks.

Can I send vapes, cigarettes, or medicines to Australia?

Vapes, no: all vaping goods are banned from personal import, even with a prescription. Cigarettes need an import permit and can never come by mail. Medicines are allowed up to a 3-month supply, with an Australian prescription for prescription medicines.

What can't I send to Australia?

Soil and dirty outdoor gear, fresh fruit and vegetables, live plants, unidentified seeds, uncanned meat, vapes, cigarettes, and pepper spray. Courier bans such as aerosols and loose lithium batteries also apply.

Do I need a permit to ship my things out of Australia?

Not for everyday used belongings: personal effects need no export declaration. Protected cultural objects and native wildlife products need a permit, and some cultural objects can never leave.

Official help in Australia

Australian Border Force: telephone enquiries (opens in a new tab)
Global Service Centre: 131 881 within Australia, or +61 2 6196 0196 from overseas.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: contact us (opens in a new tab)
Biosecurity questions: 1800 900 090 within Australia, or +61 3 8318 6700 from overseas.

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in Australia makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

1.
Australian Border Force
Unaccompanied Personal Effects (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
2.
Australian Border Force
Import declarations (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
3.
Australian Border Force
Import Processing Charges (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
4.
Australian Border Force
GST and other taxes when importing (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
5.
Australian Taxation Office
GST on low value imported goods (opens in a new tab)
Tax authority · checked September 26, 2026
6.
Australian Border Force
List of prohibited items (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
7.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Moving to Australia or importing personal effects/household goods (opens in a new tab)
Biosecurity · checked September 26, 2026
8.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Bringing or mailing goods to Australia (opens in a new tab)
Biosecurity · checked September 26, 2026
9.
Therapeutic Goods Administration
Personal Importation Scheme (opens in a new tab)
Health regulator · checked September 26, 2026
10.
Australian Border Force
Export requirements (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026

What would your boxes to Australia cost?

Get my price