Moving to Australia
Since 1969, OSS have provided complete global door to door moving services. That’s 50 years of specialist international moving, and over 200,000 moves.
Moving and Living in Australia
Australia withholds a strong reputation for its high standard of living, modern lifestyle and beautiful natural landscapes. Often featured as one of the best places to live and move to, Australia has one of the most diverse populations, an excellent climate and a wide range of flora and fauna. Described as having a friendly and accommodating culture due to the large number of people who move to Australia for the lifestyle, there are plenty of expat communities and groups of like-minded people to meet.
Outdoor activities are a large part of the Australian lifestyle, with an array of beaches to enjoy activities such as surfing and swimming, including world-famous Bondi Beach as well as hidden and secluded beaches and swimming holes. Whilst Australia typically has a warmer climate which is what attracts most tourists and visitors, the country is also home to ski fields such as Perisher and Thredbo in New South Wales and Falls Creek in Victoria.
Australian cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are hosts to a wide variety of activities such as watching Australia’s most popular sport (AFL), visiting bars and restaurants and walking along stunning coastal boardwalks. Out of the main cities, there are many attractions to see, including the 3 Sisters in the Blue Mountains, exploring National Parks, visiting Cradle Mountain and driving along the Great Ocean Road.
Australia is a beautiful country with many naturally stunning spots, of which includes the Whitsundays. The Whitsunday Islands are located in Queensland and offer some of the world’s finest sailing opportunities thanks to the calm seas, beautiful waters and perfect winds. The 74 islands, of which only 5 are habited offer yachting and day tour opportunities, with plenty of resorts to stay at. If you’re looking to explore the Red Centre of Australia, hop on a luxury train as it travels 2979 kilometres from Darwin, NT to Adelaide, SA on one of the world’s greatest rail journeys. Travelling across red desert sands and rugged mountains in the Flinders Ranges, sights include some of Australia’s most diverse and natural landscapes. Stops include tours of Katherine and Alice Springs to learn about Australia’s Aboriginal heritage.
Moving to Australia with OSS
For over 50 years OSS World Wide Movers has been assisting individuals, business people, and Corporate clients to relocate to Australia. Moving to Australia with OSS provides you with the professional service and advice that only comes from choosing a quality specialist international moving company.
Described as having a friendly and accommodating culture due to the large number of people who move to Australia for the lifestyle, there are plenty of expat communities and groups of like-minded people to meet.
Moving your household goods to Australia
OSS World Wide Movers are specialist international removalists. When moving to Australia from anywhere overseas, OSS is your reputable resource. Being Australia’s only specialist international mover, OSS World Wide Movers can ensure a regularity of shipping to Australia that others cannot. For over 50 years OSS World Wide Movers has been assisting individuals, families, business people, and Corporates, with the professional service and advice that comes from choosing a quality international moving specialist.
Coupled with the expertise and training of our staff, potential costly delays can be avoided. For your piece of mind and protection OSS World Wide Movers is a FIDI FAIM accredited company as well as being a member of Americas International Association of Movers (IAM). Australia has some tight quarantine laws, particularly around food, plant and animal material. There are also other restrictions on what you can bring into the country and in some cases permits may be required. To be safe, it is best to check with customs before deciding what to bring with you when moving to Australia.
Can I pack my own goods when I move to Australia?
It is recommended that you do not ship items to Australia which have been “owner packed” as they will attract stringent inspection by Customs on arrival. It is advisable to have your goods packed by your moving company to ensure the clearance process can be conducted with a minimum of fuss.
Can I move my pet to Australia?
It is recommended to send your pet through a registered pet transportation agent who will be able to contact all the relevant agencies in Australia. More information about relocating pets can be found by clicking here or speaking to an OSS World Wide Move Consultant.
How do I move my car to Australia?
Moving motor vehicles and motor bikes to Australia is possible provided Customs criteria are met. This service is usually depot to depot, meaning the motor vehicle will be collected by you from our partners depot in Australia following customs clearance. Customs may require evidence that the owner of the vehicle has lived abroad for 12 months or longer, so a copy of your passport with date stamp showing arrival in Australia, or a copy of the lease or rental agreement on in Australia would be sufficient.
Tax implications when moving to Australia
If you are considering a move to Australia then it’s very important that you understand the tax differences between the two nations. It is vital that you understand and obtain specific accounting and taxation advice suitable to your individual circumstances prior to your arrival.
How long will my move to Australia take?
When moving your household goods to Australia by sea freight, this will typically take 2-12 weeks for an FCL service, depending on your original destination. For services such as LCL and shared container services (i.e. groupage), these will take longer to reach your destination as your goods will need to be consolidated with other consignments heading to the same destination. Please discuss these options & shipping times with your removal consultant, as shipping times will vary greatly for each destination when using this type of service over an FCL service.
What insurance should I have when moving to Australia?
OSS offers a full range of moving insurance options depending on your needs. Although your shipment to Australia will be packed to export standards (designed to withstand the the longest journey), the small cost of insurance gives you complete peace of mind with regard to the exposure and rigours that are always inherent when moving from one side of the world to the other. Ask us about MoveCover, our Marine Transit Insurance product.
Restricted and Prohibited items when moving to Australia
When looking to relocate to Australia you will need to consider the extensive list of restricted and prohibited items. The following is a sample of the extensive list you can see via this PDF: Moving to Australia – FIDI Guide
Can I move my boat to Australia?
Moving a boat to Australia has similar requirements to moving a car to Australia when it comes to registration requirements and process.
Electrical Goods and Compliance when moving to Australia
For Australia, the associated plug type is I, which is the plug that has three flat pins in a triangular pattern. Australia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Visa and Immigration Information
When travelling or moving to Australia, make sure your passport and visas are correct and valid. Check these links to find out some of the latest requirements.
Consulate / Embassy
Contact the Australian Embassy by the local Embassy in your country of origin.
Visa Information
General visa information can be found here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing
Passport Information
Passport information can be found here: https://www.passports.gov.au/
Immigration Information
Immigration information can be found here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/
Australian Quarantine Inspection Service
AQIS is Australia’s first line of defence, protecting our unique environment against exotic pests and diseases. They inspect incoming luggage, cargo, mail, animals and plants and their products, and provide inspection and certification for a range of exports.
Quarantine restrictions apply to many raw foods and certain processed foods brought either by air freight, sea freight or carried as personal hand luggage to Australia.
The following items are prohibited:
- eggs and egg products
- dairy products
- uncanned meat
- seeds and nuts
- fresh fruit and vegetables
Quarantine of personal effects and household goods.
Personal effects and household goods include furniture, carpets and rugs, crockery, cutlery and kitchen appliances, food, shoes and clothing, books, garden tools, lawn mowers, bicycles, vacuum cleaners, dried flower arrangements, Christmas decorations (including pine cones), souvenirs and a range of other personal or household items. These items might be transported to Australia by a returning resident or a new resident of Australia as unaccompanied sea or air freight.
Why is Quarantine interested in these items?
Australia’s unique environment and important agricultural industries are free from many pests and diseases found in other parts of the world – but the movement of personal effects is one way these could be introduced. For example, outdoor furniture could harbour timber pests or be contaminated with soil or exotic weed seeds, while animal products such as meat, eggs, milk or cheese could contain diseases that could be transmitted to humans and other animals. AQIS – the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service – works to protect Australia’s natural and economic assets from these risks while facilitating the international movement of people and goods. Because of these risks you must advise AQIS of specific items in your consignment. If necessary, AQIS will undertake an inspection of your goods, treat items that could contain pests or diseases, or seize and destroy prohibited items. You may also choose to re-export items of value.
Common items of quarantine concern include:
Wooden items, Soil on garden tools, Carpets, Dried flowers, Skins, Toys containing cotton waste, sand, straw or water, Food, Vacuum cleaners with un-emptied dust bags, Christmas decorations, Seeds, Feathers, Equipment used with horses or other animals.
Australian Customs Service
Customs manages the security and integrity of Australia’s borders. It works closely with other government and international agencies, in particular the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and the Department of Defence, to detect and deter unlawful movement of goods and people across the border.
The agency is a national organisation employing over 4,800 people in Australia and overseas, with its Central Office in Canberra. It has a fleet of ocean-going patrol vessels and contracts two aerial surveillance providers for civil maritime surveillance and response.
Protecting the Australian community through the interception of illegal drugs and firearms is a high priority and sophisticated techniques are used to target high-risk aircraft, vessels, cargo, postal items and travellers. This includes intelligence analysis, computer-based analysis, detector dogs and various other technologies.
Clients of Customs include the Australian community, the Government, industry, travellers and other government agencies.