Two things decide how smoothly your belongings get into Australia: what the shipment is worth, and whether anything in it could carry pests, seeds or soil. Customs looks at the first. Biosecurity officers look at the second, and Australia takes it very seriously.
In short: a shipment worth AU$1,000 or less generally pays no duty or GST, unless it contains alcohol or tobacco. Above that, your belongings go through the unaccompanied personal effects route, with form B534. Whatever the value, dirty boots, food and untreated wood cause most of the trouble, and they are the part you can control.
The AU$1,000 line
Australia sets a value line of AU$1,000 for duty and GST at the border. Goods in a shipment at or below that value are generally free of both. Alcohol and tobacco are the exception: they are taxed whatever the value. The Australian Border Force confirmed in its customs notice on low-value goods that this AU$1,000 border threshold did not change when GST rules for online shopping did (ABF Customs Notice 2018-13, checked on 3 October 2026). Its fact sheet on self-assessed clearance says goods at or below AU$1,000 arriving by air or sea cargo are declared on a self-assessed clearance declaration (ABF fact sheet, checked on 3 October 2026).
Three things to keep in mind:
- It is the value of the shipment, not of each item. Add up every line on your packing list.
- Value honestly. Give what each item is worth now, allowing for age and condition. Shaving values to get under AU$1,000 is a false declaration, and officers do open boxes. Our guide to packing lists and customs declarations shows how to value used things fairly.
- Biosecurity applies at any value. A AU$50 box with muddy football boots in it still gets stopped.
Belongings that travel separately from you are called unaccompanied personal effects. When a shipment goes over the AU$1,000 line, the form you will hear about is the B534, the Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement. Here is what the current form (the JUL15 edition) covers, as checked on 3 October 2026:
- Who you are. It asks for the owner's passport number and country of issue, and which group you fall into. The groups run from visitors and temporary residents to people taking up permanent residence and returning Australians.
- The 12-month rule. The form says any goods you have owned for less than 12 months must be declared, and will be assessed for duty and taxes. Your older, used belongings are the ones that benefit.
- Dutiable goods. It flags cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, alcohol, motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers and boats as goods that attract duty.
- Biosecurity questions. It asks about food, wooden furniture, plants, soil, animal products, used animal equipment and packing materials.
Who can claim the duty and GST concessions, and how the timing works around your own arrival, is set out on the Australian Border Force page on unaccompanied personal effects. The form asks which group you are in for a reason, so read that page for your own situation before you send. The form itself is on the ABF website.
On our side, you list your items on the booking form's packing list, and that list is what customs see. The booking page shows any notes and documents we know Australia needs, and we will tell you if anything else is needed for your shipment.
Biosecurity: what the inspectors look for
Australia's Department of Agriculture keeps a list of items that can bring pests or disease into the country. These are the groups on its personal effects page, in summary (Department of Agriculture, checked on 3 October 2026):
| Group | Examples |
|---|
| Camping gear | Backpacks and day packs, boots, camping chairs, tents |
| Clothing and footwear | Farm and outdoor clothes, gumboots, footwear with wooden parts |
| Sporting goods | Bicycles, scooters and other sports equipment |
| Garden equipment and tools | Barbecues, garden tools, seeds, fertiliser, anything with plant material on it |
| General household | Brooms, brushes, vacuum cleaners and their bags |
| Wooden items | Furniture, especially antiques, and cane or wicker baskets |
| Kitchen and food | All food and pantry items, food containers and utensils |
| Festive decorations | Christmas trees (real or artificial), pinecones, blown eggs |
| Pet and animal equipment | Pet beds and bedding, grooming kit, leads, saddlery |
| Ornaments and souvenirs | Anything made with bone, antler, feathers, hair or hide |
| Toys | Toys filled with sand, soil, seeds or water |
| Poorly described goods | Anything not clearly described on the packing list |
This is a summary. The department's page has the full list and is the one to check before you send.
Clean, dry and describe
Most biosecurity problems come down to dirt, damp and vague paperwork. Work through these steps before collection day.
- Clean anything that has been outdoors. The department asks for risk items to be free of animal and plant material, insects and soil. That means boots, trainers, bikes, tents, camping gear, sports kit and garden tools. Our guide to cleaning outdoor gear for Australia and New Zealand goes through it item by item.
- Let it dry fully. Damp kit can go mouldy in a sealed box, and it holds on to dirt.
- Check wooden furniture. The department warns that small holes or powdery shavings can mean wood borers are inside. If you see them, do not send the piece.
- Use new boxes. Do not reuse fruit and vegetable cartons, meat boxes or egg boxes, or any bag that has carried plant or animal material. Our guide to packing a box for shipping covers what makes a good one.
- Number every box and suitcase and match the numbers on your packing list.
- Say what things are made of. "Wooden chair", "cane basket", "metal bed frame" and "plastic photo frames" all tell an officer what they need to know.
- Declare it. The department says failing to declare risk items can lead to prosecution. If in doubt, declare it.
What happens if something is dirty or not allowed?
If officers find something that is a risk, the department says it may need cleaning or treatment before it is released, or it may be destroyed or sent back out of Australia. You pay for that. There is also the delay while it is sorted out.
One detail from the department stands out: Christmas decorations containing plant material are among the most common items handed over for destruction. Pinecone wreaths and straw ornaments are best left behind.
Food, medicines and vapes
Food. All food is on the department's list of items of concern. Some foods are allowed and others are not, and the department points people to its import conditions system, BICON, to check. Our honest advice is to leave food out of your shipment altogether. It is the simplest way to avoid a hold-up, and you can buy it when you land. Our guide to sending laptops, toiletries, food and medicines explains the wider picture, and the prohibited items list shows what we cannot carry.
Medicines and vaping products. Australia controls these through its own medicines regulator, and the rules for sending them are tight. Check the current rule on the Therapeutic Goods Administration's personal importation page before you pack any.
Bigger moves
If you are sending a lot, sea freight may suit you better than a courier service. It takes longer, and the same customs and biosecurity rules apply when it lands. Our guide on choosing between courier, air freight, sea freight or excess baggage sets out the trade-offs.
Questions people ask
Is there duty on a box of used clothes worth less than AU$1,000?
Generally no. A shipment at or below AU$1,000 is generally free of duty and GST at the border, as long as there is no alcohol or tobacco in it. Biosecurity checks still apply, so clean any shoes and leave out food.
Can I send walking boots and a tent to Australia?
Yes, as long as they are properly clean and dry and you declare them. If an officer finds soil or seeds, the items may need treatment at your cost, or may be destroyed. Clean them well and say on the list that they are cleaned.
What if I bought some things new before I left?
List them on their own lines, marked new, at the price you paid. Form B534 says goods you have owned for less than 12 months must be declared and are assessed for duty and taxes. On a smaller shipment under AU$1,000, the low-value line generally applies instead.
Can I reuse supermarket boxes?
Not ones that held fruit, vegetables, meat or eggs. The department advises against boxes that have carried plant or animal material. Buy new ones.
What to do next
Clean and dry anything outdoorsy, write your packing list as you pack, and number each piece. When you are ready, measure and weigh everything and get a price on the quote page.
Official pages used in this guide
Checked on 3 October 2026 unless noted. Rules change, so check the official page before you send.
