What Are Unaccompanied Personal Effects?

Unaccompanied Personal Effects (UPEs) are personal and household belongings that arrive in Australia separately from you.

This commonly includes belongings transported by shipping container, Less than Container Load (LCL), Groupage or shared container, or air freight.

Typical UPEs can include furniture, clothing, books, kitchenware, personal belongings and other household goods that you have owned and used overseas.

Motor vehicles, commercial goods, internet purchases and some other categories of goods are treated differently and may require separate import processes.

Can My Household Belongings Enter Australia Duty and GST Free?

Many personal and household belongings can qualify for a duty and GST concession when they’re being imported as eligible unaccompanied personal effects.

Generally, personal goods that you’ve owned and used overseas for at least 12 months may qualify for duty and tax concessions, subject to Australian Border Force requirements.

Goods you’ve owned for less than 12 months, commercial goods, alcohol, tobacco and certain other items may attract duty, GST or other charges and must be declared.

Your individual circumstances and the type of goods being imported determine how Customs will treat your shipment. We’ll provide you with the relevant Customs documentation and information as part of your move.

The Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement – B534

To clear eligible household belongings through Australian Customs, you’ll generally need to complete an Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (B534).

The form provides Australian authorities with information about your identity and arrival in Australia, how your belongings are arriving, the goods contained in your shipment, items you’ve owned for less than 12 months, alcohol and tobacco, vehicles and other separately regulated goods, biosecurity-risk items, goods that belong to someone else, and commercial goods.

The B534 is a legal declaration, so it’s important that the information provided is complete and accurate.

Our Imports team will provide the relevant documentation and can explain what information is required before your shipment is presented for clearance.

What Happens When My Shipment Arrives?

1. Arrival & Documentation

We receive the shipment information and ensure the necessary Customs and shipping documentation is available.

2. Customs Clearance

Your shipment is presented for Australian Customs clearance using the relevant documentation and declarations. If Customs requires additional information, duty or GST to be paid, we’ll contact you and explain what is required.

3. Biosecurity Process

Once the Customs requirements have been addressed, your shipment proceeds through the applicable Australian Biosecurity inspection process. Our quarantine-approved personnel screen the inventory and our Imports team manages the inspection and any directed treatment through our approved Brisbane facility. Learn more about Australian Biosecurity & Quarantine

4. Delivery

Once Customs and Biosecurity requirements have been completed and the shipment is released, we’ll arrange delivery to your new home or storage if required.

Bringing Newer Goods to Australia

If you’ve purchased belongings overseas relatively recently, they may not qualify for the same duty and GST concessions as belongings you’ve owned and used for at least 12 months.

These items need to be declared, and Australian Border Force may assess duty and/or GST depending on the goods and their value.

If you’re unsure whether something needs to be declared, tell us before your shipment is cleared rather than leaving it off the documentation.

Alcohol & Tobacco

Alcohol and tobacco are treated differently from ordinary household belongings and may attract duty, GST and other applicable taxes or charges.

If you’re including alcohol or tobacco in your shipment, let us know before packing so we can explain the documentation and declaration requirements. These items should always be accurately declared.

Commercial Goods & Online Purchases

The Unaccompanied Personal Effects concession is intended for personal and household belongings.

Commercial goods, goods intended for sale, business stock and online purchases may need to be imported using a different Customs process.

If your shipment includes anything that isn’t simply your own household or personal belongings, let us know so we can determine how it needs to be handled.

Importing a Vehicle into Australia

Vehicles are not treated as ordinary household belongings and are subject to separate Australian import, Customs, Biosecurity and registration requirements.

Before shipping a car, motorbike or other road vehicle to Australia, the appropriate vehicle import approval must be obtained through the Australian Government process.

Because the requirements depend on the vehicle and your circumstances, we recommend checking eligibility and approval requirements before arranging shipment.

Our team can help with the international shipping side and explain the Australian arrival process.

Learn move about Importing Vehicles to Australia

Customs & Biosecurity Work Together

Australian Customs and Biosecurity are separate processes, and your shipment needs to satisfy the applicable requirements of both before it can be released for delivery.

Australian Border Force deals with matters such as Customs declarations, duty, GST and regulated imports.

Australian Biosecurity focuses on protecting Australia from pests, diseases and biological risks associated with imported goods.

Overseas Packers & Shippers manages these destination processes as part of your Australian move, giving you one experienced Imports team coordinating your shipment through to delivery.

Let Us Manage the Australian Arrival

Australian Customs and Biosecurity requirements can seem complicated when you’re organising a move from overseas.

Our Imports team handles international household shipments every day and can manage the Australian destination process from arrival and Customs clearance through Biosecurity inspection, storage if required and final delivery.

If you’re moving to Australia, contact us before your belongings leave origin and we can coordinate the move from your current home through to your new home in Australia.