Are you moving to the land of kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies? There are a number of steps to take before moving to Australia.
This post lays out the actions you need to take before you take the plunge. Read this guide so your move to Australia can be smooth and hassle-free.
Keep Quarantines in Mind
When you’re moving internationally, one of your first steps should be to decide what you’re taking with you and what you’re leaving behind. However, that becomes a bit more complex when you’re moving to Australia. Australia has very strict quarantine laws. These laws vary by state, so what’s allowed in one state might not be allowed in another. Check the rules in the state to which you’re moving to determine what you can and can’t bring. While people think of quarantines, pets are the first thing that comes to mind. However, quarantines apply to more than just pets.
That being said, we’ll take a minute to discuss quarantines on animals. Bear in mind that only dogs and cats that have been in an Australian Quarantine Inspection Services-approved country for an entire six months before moving are allowed to enter the country. Other animals are subject to approval or rejection.
Decide What’s Making the Move
Shipping your belongings around the world won’t be an inexpensive undertaking. It makes sense (and cents) to figure out whether it’s more economical to ship your belongings or to buy new furniture in Oz. Remember that Australia runs on different voltage than North America. Your appliances won’t work there without a transformer and an adapter. It’s not worth shipping your fridge across the world.
What You Need to Know before Shipping
Once you’ve decided what you’re going to ship, you should be aware of what you can ship without paying duty. Personal and household items that you’ve owned for a year before moving can be shipped duty-free.
You can ship furniture, crockery, cutlery, linens, clothing (not furs), books, jewelry, musical instruments, antiques or family heirlooms, stamp and coin collections, paintings, sculptures, power tools and sporting equipment as long as you’ve owned it for a year or longer before moving to Australia.
The Australian government will charge duty on motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts, caravans, boats, trailers, aircraft, machinery, plant equipment and fur clothing.
Orbit International Moving Logistics Ltd.: Your International Moving Experts
If you’re moving to Australia, contact Orbit International Moving Logistics Ltd today. We have experience shipping people’s goods across the world. Some of our clients like us so much, they’ve used us more than once. Why do we get repeat customers? They appreciate our customer service. No question is too small for our customer service representatives, and our moving crews arrive on time, with all the equipment they need to get the job done right the first time. We treat your belongings as though they were our own. To learn more about what makes Orbit different, contact us today at 416-661-4228.
By Adi Shaked
