Shipping from the USA to Australia

Ocean freight is 6–8 weeks port-to-port and 8–12 weeks door-to-door, depending on US origin port, sailing schedule, and your final Australian address. Air freight is 5–8 days in transit and roughly 2–3 weeks door-to-door once customs and biosecurity are factored in. Australia is one of the longer routes we run — we recommend starting 8–12 weeks before your move date.

If you qualify for the Unaccompanied Personal Effects (UPE) concession, your used household goods and personal effects can be imported duty- and GST-free. We prepare and lodge Form B534 with the Australian Border Force as part of our service. Alcohol, tobacco, motor vehicles and new items still in packaging are not covered by the concession and may attract duty and GST.

Cost depends on volume, weight and whether you choose air or ocean freight. Shared-container ocean freight is the most cost-effective for personal effects — you only pay for the space you use. We quote a flat, all-inclusive price covering pickup, export documentation, ocean transit, B534 customs entry, biosecurity declaration and door-to-door delivery. Biosecurity inspection fees are a separate government charge; we flag the likely cost up front so there are no surprises.

Yes, but it is a separate process. You need a Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) via the federal ROVER system before the vehicle ships, and the car must meet Australian Design Rules or qualify under a concession (e.g., personal import after 12 months of ownership and use). Biosecurity also inspects vehicles for soil, seeds and insect matter — the car must be spotlessly clean underneath. Talk to us early if a vehicle is part of your move.

Yes. We deliver to every state and territory — rural New South Wales, the Queensland coast, remote Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and across Bass Strait into Tasmania. If your address has a postcode, we can get your belongings there. Outback and remote deliveries take a little longer on the final leg; we confirm timing when you book.

Yes. Many clients send an air freight shipment with essentials first, followed by a larger ocean freight shipment with furniture and the bulk of their belongings. Each consignment is cleared separately under its own B534 and biosecurity declaration. We coordinate timing so paperwork lines up with your arrival in Australia.

You generally need to be in Australia, or due to arrive, when your goods clear customs — UPE is specifically for people transferring their effects to Australia. You do not need to be physically at the delivery address; you can authorise someone to receive the goods. We coordinate timing with your flight so customs clearance aligns with your arrival.

Shared-container (LCL) ocean freight is the most affordable option for household goods, because you only pay for the cubic volume your belongings occupy rather than a whole container. Flat-rate box packages and mini-move packages through a dedicated international shipper work out significantly cheaper than sending individual boxes through USPS, FedEx or UPS — those carriers charge per parcel and add customs brokerage fees separately. Air freight is faster but costs more per kilo; use it for essentials, not the bulk of your belongings.

Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world, enforced by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF, formerly AQIS). Almost every household shipment is inspected for soil, seeds, plant material, wood with bark, food, and animal products — anything that could introduce pests or diseases. Dirty goods mean delays, fumigation charges, or destruction of the offending items at your cost. The single best thing you can do is clean everything thoroughly before packing: shoes, bikes, camping gear, garden tools, vacuum cleaners. We prepare the DAFF declaration and flag likely inspection outcomes before your shipment sails.

For most people, the best answer is both. Ocean freight for the bulk of your belongings (furniture, kitchen, clothes you are not reaching for immediately) and a smaller air shipment for essentials you need in the first few weeks. Ocean is far cheaper per kilo; air is much faster. We build quotes around the split that makes sense for your move.

It depends on the furniture and where you are moving to. Inner-city apartments in Sydney and Melbourne are compact, with narrower doorways and smaller rooms than typical US homes. Oversized sectionals and king beds often do not fit. Suburban houses have more space. We recommend shipping items with sentimental or high monetary value, measuring your new home before deciding on bulky pieces, and replacing low-value flat-pack furniture locally. Our team advises on this during your free consultation.

Clean, clean, clean. Vacuum and wash shoes, especially hiking boots. Scrub all soil and plant matter off bikes, golf clubs, gardening tools, camping gear, tents and outdoor toys. Empty and clean the vacuum cleaner itself. Check wooden items for bark — remove it where you can. Do not pack any food, seeds, plants, animal products or soil. Declare wooden furniture, musical instruments and anything with natural materials (wool, feathers, leather) on your inventory. The cleaner the goods, the faster the inspection and the smaller the fee.