Country Guide

Shipping Luggage to Australia from South Africa

Shipping luggage and personal effects from South Africa to Australia: form B534, strict biosecurity inspections, documents and timing.

WhatsApp 068 058 2700

Call Johannesburg 011 972 1111

Duty-free personal effects

Personal effects you have owned and used for at least 12 months are generally duty-free. Keep receipts for anything newer, and for electronics.

Form B534

Australian Border Force requires the Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (B534), signed by you, plus a passport copy, the airway bill and a detailed inventory in English. 'Misc' or 'packed by owner' is not accepted.

Biosecurity

Shipments can be physically inspected by biosecurity officers, which can take up to about two weeks. Clean shoes, bicycles, tools, camping and garden gear thoroughly, and do not pack food, plants, seeds or animal products.

Address

Customs needs a physical address in Australia; a PO box or email address is not accepted.

Checklist

Documents for Australia

South African citizens: a copy of your ID (customs wants the ID, not the passport)

Foreign nationals: a copy of your passport

If you ship for someone else, a copy of their ID or passport as well

A signed clearing instruction for customs, which we send you to sign

A valued inventory list of what is in each piece (complete it online)

Full addresses in South Africa and at the destination on the inventory

Contact details at the destination: telephone, mobile and email

Describe what is in every bag or box: many countries reject inventories that just say 'misc' or 'packed by owner'

Your visa or residence permit, and any customs relief form Australia requires

Two Options

Door to Airport or Door to Door

Door to airport (CFR): recommended

Includes collection, customs clearance in South Africa, airline handling in South Africa and transport to the destination airport. You clear it and collect it at the destination.
Excludes destination clearance, depot or terminal charges at the destination, storage and examination fees if stopped, and AMS filing for sea freight to the USA.

Door to door (DAP)

Available to some countries only, and much more expensive. Includes collection, delivery to your door abroad, customs clearance in South Africa and at the destination, airline handling and all transport fees.
Excludes storage and examination fees if customs stops the shipment, and AMS filing for sea freight to the USA.

Our tip: save by clearing it yourself

Door to airport is by far the cheaper option. You pay the airline handling fee at the destination, process customs yourself with your passport and the inventory, and collect your baggage at the airport. Ask us for both prices and we will tell you what the destination's customs office will ask for.

Customs rules change. We confirm the current requirements for Australia when we quote.

Questions

Shipping Luggage to Australia: Questions

Tap a question to open the answer. For anything else, WhatsApp us.

Do I have to be in Australia when my baggage arrives?

You need to provide the signed B534 and your passport details, so plan the shipment around your arrival.

Can I send wooden items?

They may be inspected or treated. Declare them, and make sure they are clean and free of bark.

Can I send biltong?

No. Meat products are not allowed into Australia.

Collection

We Collect Across South Africa

More Destinations

Other Country Guides

Sending Luggage to Australia?

WhatsApp 068 058 2700 with the number of pieces and your destination city.