Shipping from Europe to Australia
Ship parcels and freight from Europe to Australia — ABF customs clearance, A$1,000 GST threshold, strict biosecurity rules and the best carriers for EU-Australia shipping.
Australia is a major destination for EU exports — fashion, food, wine, electronics and machinery all ship regularly from Europe to Australia. The Australian Border Force (ABF) handles customs, and Australia has strict biosecurity rules enforced by DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) — food, plant material and wooden packaging require special attention. GST (10%) applies to all imports over A$1,000 for goods (B2C goods under A$1,000 have GST collected by the overseas seller since July 2018). Transit times are longer than US routes — typically 3–5 days express, 7–14 days economy. Australia has an EU-Australia FTA (AUSFTA) under negotiation — currently MFN duty rates apply for most goods.
Customs Process for Australia
Required Shipping Documents
| Document | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Invoice | Mandatory | Value in AUD or EUR, HS code, description, country of origin, number of items. |
| Airway Bill | Mandatory | Carrier tracking number linked to electronic cargo declaration in ICS. |
| Packing List | Conditional | Recommended for commercial shipments; required for full import declaration. |
| DAFF Biosecurity Declaration | Conditional | Required if shipment contains food, plant material, animal products or wooden packaging. Can be declared on commercial invoice. |
| Import Permit (DAFF) | Conditional | Certain food, plant and animal products require import permit from DAFF before shipping. |
| Full Import Declaration (FID) | Conditional | Required for commercial imports over A$1,000 — filed by customs broker or agent. |
| Certificate of Origin | Conditional | Required for products claiming FTA preferential rates (EU not yet in FTA with Australia — MFN rates apply). |
Import Duty & Tax Rates
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most goods (general) | 0–5% | Australia's tariff schedule has low duties on most manufactured goods. Electronics, machinery: 0%. Some textiles: 5%. |
| Clothing and footwear | 5–10% | Clothing Chapters 61–62 from non-FTA countries: 5%. Some footwear: up to 10%. |
| GST (all imports >A$1,000) | 10% | 10% GST on all imports above A$1,000. For B2C under A$1,000, GST collected at checkout by overseas seller. |
| Wine (2204) | 5% + excise | EU wine: 5% import duty + Australian wine excise ($1.21–$2.04 per litre depending on ABV). Very competitive market. |
| Food and beverages | 0–5% | Most processed food 0–5%. Fresh produce: restricted by biosecurity regardless of duty rate. |
| Luxury goods (over A$1,000) | Duty + 10% GST | Luxury watches, jewellery, designer goods: standard duty + GST on full value. |
Best Carriers to Australia
| Carrier | Service | Transit | Tracking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | Worldwide Express | 3–4 days | ✓ | Fastest EU–Australia. Singapore hub connection. DHL Australia strong domestic network. |
| FedEx | International Priority | 3–5 days | ✓ | Good EU–Australia route. FedEx hub in Singapore/Hong Kong for Asia-Pacific. |
| UPS | Worldwide Express | 4–6 days | ✓ | Solid B2B Australia delivery. Slightly slower than DHL/FedEx on some routes. |
| DHL Economy Select | Economy | 7–14 days | ✓ | Most cost-effective EU–Australia for non-urgent shipments. |
| Australia Post (AusPost) | Via postal partners | 10–21 days | ✓ | Economy postal. DHL eCommerce and Singapore Post connect EU parcels to AusPost for final mile. |
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Expert Tips for Shipping to Australia
- ▸Australia's biosecurity is the world's strictest — any food product, plant material or animal product in your shipment (even incidental, like straw packing material or wooden pallets) must be declared and may be detained for inspection. Always use ISPM 15 heat-treated wood pallets and declare all food items on the commercial invoice.
- ▸For EU e-commerce selling to Australian consumers, you are now required to register for Australian GST and collect 10% GST at checkout for shipments under A$1,000 (Low Value Imports scheme since July 2018). Above A$1,000, GST is collected by Australian customs at import. Check Australian Tax Office (ATO) guidance on non-resident GST registration.
- ▸Transit times to Australia are longer than US routes — typically 3–5 days express. Factor this into customer promise dates. DHL Express is consistently the fastest, routing via their Singapore gateway hub. December and January (Australian summer) see peak volumes — add 1–2 business days buffer.
- ▸Australia uses left-hand drive — electrical standards are AS/NZS 3112 (unique Australian plug). Electronics with EU plugs need adapters sold separately or AU-compatible plugs on the product itself. Mention adapter requirements on product listings to avoid return claims.
- ▸For wine exports from the EU to Australia: the Australian market is highly competitive (Australia is itself a major wine producer). EU wine faces 5% import duty + Australian wine excise. Despite this, premium European wines (French, Italian, Spanish) have a strong premium market in Australia. Use DHL Express for temperature-sensitive wine shipments to Australia.
- ▸Clearly label all wooden packaging material as ISPM 15 heat-treated — Australian biosecurity will detain and fumigate any uninspected timber at your cost (can cost A$500–A$2,000 per shipment). All pallets shipped to Australia must carry the IPPC mark showing heat treatment (HT).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Australia's biosecurity rules for imported goods?
Australia has the world's strictest biosecurity screening for imports, enforced by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). All international parcels are X-rayed or scanned at entry. Food, plant material (including wooden packaging), animal products, soil and seeds face mandatory screening. Contaminated or non-compliant items are treated (fumigated/heat-treated), re-exported or destroyed at the importer's cost. Always declare all food and plant material on the commercial invoice. Use ISPM 15 certified pallets for freight.
What is Australia's GST on imported goods?
Australia charges 10% GST on imports. Since July 2018, for B2C goods under A$1,000 (LVI — Low Value Imports), the overseas seller must register with the ATO and collect GST at checkout. For commercial imports above A$1,000, GST is assessed and collected by Australian Border Force at import. Most EU e-commerce sellers with more than A$75,000 in annual Australian sales must register for GST with the ATO.
How long does shipping from Europe to Australia take?
Express (DHL, FedEx, UPS): 3–5 business days including Australian customs clearance. Economy courier (DHL Economy Select): 7–14 business days. Tracked postal services: 10–21 business days. The routing is typically EU → Middle East/Singapore hub → Australia. DHL Express via Singapore hub is generally the fastest option for EU-Australia shipments.
What import duties apply to EU goods exported to Australia?
Australia's import duties are generally low — most manufactured goods from the EU enter at 0–5%. There is currently no EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement (under negotiation, not yet in force), so MFN (Most Favoured Nation) rates apply. Electronics: 0%. Machinery: 0%. Clothing: 5%. Footwear: up to 10%. Wine: 5% + excise. Most other goods: 0–5%. GST of 10% applies additionally to the combined value of goods + duty.
Can I ship food from Europe to Australia?
Some processed food can be shipped — but Australia's biosecurity rules are strict. Commercially processed, shelf-stable food in sealed packaging (chocolate, biscuits, olive oil, canned goods) can be exported from the EU to Australia but must be declared and may be inspected by DAFF. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy face significant restrictions or prohibition. Fresh produce requires a DAFF import permit, which is often not granted for the specific items EU producers want to export. Always check the Australian DAFF website for specific product import conditions before shipping.
Which carrier is best for shipping from Europe to Australia?
DHL Express Worldwide is the best overall carrier for EU-Australia routes — fastest transit (3–4 days) via the Singapore hub, strongest ABF clearance track record and widest Australian domestic delivery network. FedEx International Priority is a solid alternative. For economy, DHL Economy Select is the most reliable non-express option (7–14 days). Avoid using postal services (Australia Post via La Poste/PostNL) for time-sensitive or high-value shipments — clearance delays at Australia Post facilities can add 5–10 business days.
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