Shipping Your Belongings To Australia Checklist, important documents

Emigrating to Australia can seem like a vast task, but with plenty of preparation there are relatively stress free ways to make the move downunder getting you ready for your new Aussie lifestyle.

Read our Australia shipping checklist below and start making your move to Australia today…

  1. Only ship things you really, really need and or want. Remember, it’s not like they don’t have shops in Australia!
  2. Only ship things that are going to be really expensive to buy again such as heavy duty furniture – although they do have sites such as Gumtree, Ebay and IKEA if need be! But weigh up the costs before as it may end up being cheaper to use a shipping company.
  3. Don’t go mad on bringing electricals – the outputs and of course plugs will all be different if you’re moving from the UK to Australia so those are things you may want to buy in Australia.
  4. Ship personal items such as photographs, artwork etc. these are obviously things you can’t simply buy and replace.
  5. Which leads us on to buying insurance cover for loss or damage of your belongings whilst they are in transit. You may want to consider wearing any jewellery on your person or packing it in your suitcase or daybag on the plane.
  6. Pick a reputable shipping company such as Seven Seas Worldwide or PSS – they are experienced companies who also do door to door service – again this really eliminates stress out of the equation of emigrating to Australia.
  7. Check if the freight company you are using also offer a packing and unpacking service – again it may help make the move that little bit easier and leave you more time to get other things sorted.
  8. Make sure you pack all items you are shipping securely before they make the journey – you do not want to unpack items to find they have been broken in the process – so invest in that bubble wrap and tape ahead of time!
  9. Label all boxes or bags before they get shipped so you can locate things quickly ahead of time.
  10. Check on the ACBPS website to make sure everything you are intending on shipping is allowed in. Again you don’t want your items to arrive only to be banned.

Important Documents to bring to Australia Checklist

If you’re planning on moving to Australia there’s a fair few documents you will find handy to have whilst you are being processed. And of course if you’re staying in hotels or hostels you may want to consider keeping these in a bank safety deposit box until you’re into a secure home of your own in sunny Australia. Here’s a handy checklist to tick off before jumping on the plane.

 

  1. Birth certificates and passports for yourself and all the family if you’re bringing them.
  2. Marriage, divorce or separation documents if applicable to you.
  3. Medical records, including dental, prescriptions and x-rays – again if applicable to you!
  4. Immunisation records for your children – these will be imperative to enrolling your children in any Australian schools or childcare facilities.
  5. Your driving licence and international driving license – make sure it’s valid ahead of arrival in Australia.
  6. All your qualification certificates – such as Degrees, A-Levels or whatever is applicable to your profession.
  7. Travel insurance is also a good idea to cover you for your first few weeks in Australia.
  8. Reference letters from your previous employers – get these written ahead of time if need be.
  9. Car insurance papers may also help you to get a low previum if you have a good record in your country of origin.
  10. Financial records that document your credit history and rating – again these could really come in handy if you’re applying for any credit whilst in Australia.

 

Importing Valuables into Australia

Migrating to Australia as a permanent resident? You may want to bring personal items of value with you. It’s worth noting that you can bring valuables with you if you have owned them for over 12 months tax free. When it comes to sentimental valuables just because your moving to Australia it doesn’t mean you’ll want to be without them.

 

You may want to ship your goods to Australia, but may be unsure of what you can and can’t bring into the country. The items you want to bring may not all have receipts as they may be family heirlooms, but it’s worth saving and filing receipts for any items of substantial worth if you are planning on bringing them with you to Australia.

 

 

Here’s a handy checklist of allowable valuables to tick off below before you make the move to Austraila:

 

  1. Antiques and family heirlooms
  2. Jewellery (wedding rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets
  3. Wristwatches
  4. Artwork (paintings and sculptures – check what they are made of to make sure its compliant with Aussie rules)
  5. Apply for a permit to import works of art or archaeological items and heritage listed pieces – all information can be found on the Australian Customs and Border Protection Website.
  6. Cash
  7. When it comes to foreign currency there is no limit on what you can bring into Australia – however if it amounts to over $10,000 Australian Dollars then you must declare it.
  8. Valuables should be assessed by a professional valuer in your country of origin.