Moving to Australia

International moving to Australia

Certain materials — particularly untreated wood, some plant-based items, and outdoor equipment — face additional inspection or treatment requirements, so preparing an accurate inventory in advance matters more here than on most routes.

Australia's distance from Europe means this is generally the longest transit on our network, and its biosecurity rules are among the strictest of any destination we serve. Neither of these makes a move to Australia difficult, but both make early, accurate planning more important here than almost anywhere else we ship to.

How the moving process works

Every international move we plan follows the same core stages, adapted to your route and volume. See our full explanation of how it works for detail on each stage — assessment, planning, packing, collection, international transport, and delivery.

Moving options

Shared or dedicated containers are both used for moves to Australia depending on your total volume; we advise based on your estimate and timeline. Given the long transit involved, we recommend confirming your container option well ahead of your intended moving date rather than close to it.

Read more about the difference between groupage / shared load and dedicated transport.

Packing services

We use export-grade packing for the longer sea transit, and flag any items that may need cleaning or treatment before shipment to satisfy Australian biosecurity requirements. Outdoor and gardening equipment, in particular, is inspected closely on packing day so any cleaning needed happens before the shipment departs rather than at the Australian border.

See our full packing service for what is included.

Storage

If your Australian address is not ready, storage can be arranged at destination. This is common for skilled migration and corporate moves where a start date is confirmed before permanent housing is secured.

Read more about our storage service.

Transit considerations

Sea freight to Australia involves one of the longer transit times on our network; we set realistic timelines based on your departure port before you commit to a moving date. Perth, on the west coast, is generally served by different routes than the eastern cities, which can affect both transit time and cost.

Customs & documentation

In addition to a standard customs entry, Australia applies strict biosecurity rules through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Items such as untreated wood furniture, some plant-based decorations, outdoor and gardening equipment, and certain foodstuffs may require cleaning, treatment, or in some cases will not be permitted entry. An accurate, itemised inventory submitted in advance helps avoid delays at inspection. We help prepare this documentation, and go through your inventory item by item before packing so nothing unexpected surfaces once the shipment has already left port.

Cost factors

For Australia, container type, volume, port pair, and biosecurity inspection are the main cost and timeline factors — see our costs page for detail. Any items needing cleaning or treatment before shipment add a small amount of preparation time, which is far preferable to a hold-up during inspection at the Australian border.

See our full guide to international moving costs.