Top Tips For Shipping Your Belongings To Australia
Making the move to Australia can be stressful, but you can make it much easier if you know what you’re taking with you to your new home and how to get it there safely.
It’s important that you take into consideration the local import laws. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) have strict regulations on the import of food, plants and animal materials into the country in order to prevent pests and diseases entering and affecting the natural environment. This is relevant whether you’re moving to Perth, Sydney, Melbourne or any other part of Australia.
Prohibited Items
The following types of items will be seized and destroyed by AQIS, so don’t try to ship them!
• Any dairy products (unless listed as being from a country confirmed free of foot and mouth disease)
• Live plants (including potted, bare rooted, roots and bulbs)
• Seeds and nuts (including cereal grains, popping corn and pine cones – including those in decorations!)
• Uncanned meat products (from any animal, including preserved or dried meats)
• Refrigerators, air conditioners or anything else containing CFCs or HCFCs
Also, AQIS will disapprove of any item covered in mud such as boots or camping equipment, so make sure you clean and disinfect everything from top to bottom, inside and out before packing, including:
• Shoes and footwear (soles must be properly sterilised)
• Clothing used in countryside areas that could carry seeds, plant bits or soil
• Sports equipment and clothing (including golf gear, fishing equipment, bicycles, etc.)
• Camping equipment (tents, stoves, bedding, etc.)
• Gardening equipment (lawn mowers, patio furniture, gardening tools, etc.)
• Outdoor toys and other play equipment (swing sets, paddling pools, outdoor rockers, etc.)
Packing Tips
To make sure you get your belongings to your new home safely and secure, follow these packing tips:
• Keep a note of the contents of each box by labelling each one. It might be a chore, but if you’re desperate for a cup of coffee and you can’t find the kettle, you’ll only have yourself to blame
• Check both locations in the UK and Australia to determine where the best place will be to park the removal lorry or container. There may be parking restrictions you don’t know about at your new home
• Wrap your treasured possessions tightly in bubble wrap rather than just draping a bit of bubble wrap over them. Your boxes are going halfway round the world in various forms of transport so wrap all fragile items as well as possible
• Before you make the effort to pack TVs and other electrical devices, check whether they’ll even work in Australia. You may find that it’s a pointless task once you arrive and settle in.
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