Everything you need to know — transit times, customs rules, import duties, carrier options and shipping tips for Australia.
| Carrier | Economy | Express |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | — | 2–4 days |
| FedEx | 5–8 days | 2–4 days |
| UPS | 6–10 days | 3–5 days |
| DPD | — | — |
| GLS | — | — |
Business days. Customs clearance time not included — allow 1–5 extra days depending on the goods.
Every shipment to Australia must include the correct documentation or it will be held at customs.
Required for all shipments. Must include HS code, declared value in AUD or EUR, country of origin, full description of goods.
Itemised list matching the commercial invoice — required by Australian Border Force.
Required for all plant material, wood packaging, seeds and certain food products under Australia's strict biosecurity rules.
Required for goods made from CITES-listed species (certain timber, leather, coral, feathers).
Import duties and taxes apply to all shipments to Australia. Duty-free de minimis threshold: AUD 1,000 (~€600) — goods below this are duty-free. GST (10%) still applies to B2C imports via the LVIG overseas vendor registration scheme.. VAT/local tax: 10% GST (Goods and Services Tax) — standard rate on all taxable goods and services..
| Product Category | Typical Duty Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most manufactured goods | 0–5% | Australia has relatively low tariffs on most manufactured goods — 0% on electronics, machinery; 5% on some consumer goods |
| Clothing and textiles | 5–10% | Textile and clothing imports: typically 5% for fabric, 10% for finished garments |
| Food and beverages (processed) | 0–5% | Most processed food imports are 0% duty; some agricultural products face higher rates |
| Wine | 5% + WET | Wine: 5% customs duty + Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) at 29% of wholesale value |
| GST on all taxable imports | 10% | GST applies to all taxable goods regardless of duty rate. Overseas sellers with AUD 75,000+ Australian B2C sales must register and collect GST. |
Duty rates are indicative. Actual rates depend on the HS code classification of your goods. Consult a customs broker for high-value or complex shipments.
The following items have import restrictions or are prohibited in Australia. Check carrier guidelines before shipping.
DHL Express is the most reliable carrier for Australia — excellent Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL) hub operations with consistent 2–4 day delivery.
Declare biosecurity risk items on your commercial invoice — even if you think they're benign. Items like wooden ornaments, dried herbs, or craft items with plant matter will be inspected. Undeclared items risk confiscation and fines.
Australia is a continent — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are the main commercial centres. Perth (Western Australia) is furthest from European hubs and may be 1 day slower than east coast cities.
Label all food exports in English — Australian import requirements mean French, Portuguese or other European language labelling alone is not accepted for consumer food products.
Track all shipments actively — Australian customs can hold parcels 3–7 days for inspection. Track via carrier and via the ABF import tracking portal to identify and resolve holds quickly.
LVIG scheme: if you sell AUD 75,000+ to Australian B2C consumers annually, register for Australian GST with the ATO (Australian Tax Office) — this lets you collect and remit 10% GST at point of sale, improving the customs experience for your customers.
Australia's de minimis is AUD 1,000 (~€600) — goods valued below this are duty-free. Above AUD 1,000: duties of 0–10% apply depending on product category (most manufactured goods 0–5%). GST at 10% applies to all taxable imports. There is no EU-Australia FTA, so EU goods face standard Australian MFN tariff rates.
Australia enforces strict biosecurity to protect its agricultural sector and natural environment from pests, diseases and invasive species. All incoming shipments are screened by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Items with plant or animal material (wood, seeds, food, leather, feathers) face mandatory inspection and may require treatment (heat, fumigation) or be destroyed. Always declare any such materials and obtain phytosanitary certificates where required.
LVIG (Low Value Imported Goods) is Australia's GST collection scheme for overseas online sellers. If you make AUD 75,000+ in B2C sales to Australian consumers annually, you must register with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) for GST and collect 10% GST at point of sale. Without LVIG registration, Australian customs may collect GST on import for packages above AUD 1,000. Registration is online at ato.gov.au.
Processed and packaged food can generally be shipped to Australia but faces strict requirements: FSANZ compliance, English-language labelling, and Australian Customs import clearance. Fresh produce, unprocessed meat, dairy and plant material face heavy biosecurity restrictions and are usually prohibited for commercial import without special approval. Portuguese wine, olive oil and packaged foods are regularly exported to Australia — engage a specialist food import broker for guidance.
DHL Express is the strongest carrier for Australia — excellent operations in Sydney and Melbourne, consistent 2–4 day delivery and good Australian customs clearance experience. FedEx International Priority is equally strong. UPS is competitive for larger parcels. DPD and GLS do not serve Australia.
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