Guide
Moving household goods to Australia
When your household goods are moving to Australia separately from you, they clear customs and biosecurity before they are delivered. This guide covers the papers and the preparation that make that go smoothly: the B534 statement, what to declare, how to clean things for biosecurity, and who handles the clearance.
Rules change. The official forms, and our guide to importing into Australia, are on our Resources page. Always use those, and ask us if anything is unclear.
The B534 statement
The main paper for your goods is the Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement, known as the B534. It is a declaration to the Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry about what you are sending.
- Fill it in in English.
- It must be signed by the owner of the goods. No one else can sign it for you.
- Download the B534 with our cover page and tips, or the statement on its own as a form you can fill in on screen.
Start with our guide to importing into Australia. It says which papers to send for every shipment, including identity documents, shipping documents and a packing list.
Alcohol and tobacco
Alcohol and tobacco must be declared on the B534, even a few bottles. Give a description, the price in Australian dollars and the date of purchase. They are assessed when the goods arrive, and duty and GST can apply. If you are not sure whether to send them, ask us first.
Biosecurity: clean before you pack
Every shipment of personal effects is checked for biosecurity risk. Officers look for anything that can carry pests or disease, such as soil, plants, seeds, wood, food and animal products. The best thing you can do is clean before you pack.
- Outdoor furniture and barbecues, free of soil and leaves.
- Bikes, including the tyres and the frame.
- Garden tools, pots and the lawn mower, with no soil or plant material left on them.
- Shoes and boots, especially sports and hiking shoes.
Our download of Items of Biosecurity Concern lists the household, kitchen, garden and general items officers look at, so you can clean them or leave them out. A clear packing list helps too: number each box and list what is in it and what it is made from, such as a wooden chair or a cane basket.
Antiques
Antique furniture and timber items have their own checks and paperwork. Read the Importing Antiques fact sheet before you pack them. It explains what counts as an antique and the papers that help prove its age.
Identity and your passport
Clearing your goods needs proof of who you are. Our Evidence of identity form lists the documents to send. Send a copy of your passport only when we ask for it, by email to info@impactandslick.com. Never put passport details on a public form.
Customs clearance
Customs clearance is arranged through licensed customs brokers. You do not need to find your own. Once your signed B534 and papers are in, the clearance is lodged, and any duty and GST is shown to you first. When Customs and biosecurity release the goods, we deliver them to your door. See Customs and quarantine for how it works.
Your price covers packing, shipping, clearance and delivery. If something like duty cannot be known yet, we tell you before you book, not on the invoice.
Questions
Can my partner sign the B534 for me?
The B534 must be signed by the owner of the goods. If the goods are yours, you sign it. Our cover page on the B534 download explains how to fill it in.
Do I have to declare a few bottles of wine?
Yes. Alcohol and tobacco must be declared on the B534, however small the amount. Duty and GST can apply, and it is better to know before the goods arrive.
What happens if biosecurity finds soil on my things?
Items with a biosecurity risk may need to be cleaned or treated before release, and the cost of that is yours. Cleaning outdoor furniture, bikes, garden tools and shoes before they are packed is the simplest way to avoid it.
Where do I find the latest forms?
On our Resources page. We keep the official forms there, each with a cover page from us explaining what it is for and how to send it back.
Talk to us about your move
Tell us where your goods are coming from, what is moving and when you arrive. We send one price up front, before you book. Call 0420 247 109 or use the online form. See International removals for sea and air options.