So the beaches, weather and relaxed lifestyle have convinced you that it’s time to make a change and you’re moving to Queensland, the sunshine state of Australia. Maybe one of those lucrative mining jobs is calling. Perhaps you’d like to try your hand in the primary industries, in tourism or hospitality? Whether you’re trying to secure a working visa under the skills shortage program, or you’re here for two years enjoying your youth, there’s a few considerations beyond visas and passports. Moving to Queensland from overseas presents a feast of opportunities. Now that the decision is made, the ‘To Do’ list will be filling up fast, and one of the biggest concerns will likely be: What will I do with all my stuff?!
Do you pack it all? Can you even bring it all? What are the rules? Well, let’s take a look …
The General Rule for Importing Possessions
You can bring your used personal items and household goods into Australia without having to pay customs duty or GST, as long as:
- The goods are your personal property;
- You have owned and used them for at least 12 months before shipping them out to Australia.
While simple personal items such as clothes and toiletries won’t be subject to the 12-month rule, more expensive items like perfumes, jewellery and household items will. That means this is definitely NOT the time for a shopping spree to purchase new furniture – wait and buy that when you arrive. Moving to Queensland from overseas is expensive, shipping to Australia, is expensive – when you do the maths, it probably works out cheaper to just buy it here.
Any movement of goods may also facilitate the entry of pests or bugs, and Australia has some of the strictest customs and quarantine laws in the world. All items will have to undergo biosecurity screening in order to enter the country, and there are several items that are automatically excluded from the above general rule.
What Not to Bring into Australia from Overseas
Some of the items on the exclusions list include:
- Any goods made from seeds including dried flowers and pine cones (often used in Christmas decorations).
- Any raw or untreated timber.
- Some animal products such as skins.
- Fresh fruit, vegetables, and foods containing, meat or dairy products.
- Vacuum bags left in vacuum cleaners.
- Items made of endangered species.
More information about the items that are specifically excluded can be found on the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
Other Items
Certain types of belongings and household goods, while not excluded, will be closely inspected. For example:
- outdoor furniture and tools;
- sports equipment and shoes;
- lawnmowers;
- bicycles;
- kitchen appliances;
- carpets and rugs.
Packing for your Move to Queensland
The items that you pack should be empty, drained, washed and dried to ensure that there is little chance of any pests being carried in your goods.
If in doubt, it’s best not to pack them – the costs associated with having them dealt with by biosecurity officials, in addition to shipping, will often far outweigh the actual cost of the items.
Making the move to a new country – especially to somewhere as beautiful as Queensland, Australia is hugely exciting!
The best advice – from one who has ‘been there, done that’ – it to just pack the essentials and items with sentimental value. Everything else can be purchased once you’ve arrived.
Moving to Regional Queensland from Overseas?
Queensland is full of opportunities, from the reef or beach lifestyle to lucrative mining work. Choosing the right place to move to in Queensland will depend on your goals. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.
