International Removals to Australia (2026)
Moving to Australia is one of the longest, most tightly regulated relocations you can make from Europe. Between deep-sea freight that takes weeks, strict Australian Border Force customs rules and some of the toughest biosecurity controls in the world, it is not a job for a general courier or a man-with-a-van. Flyto Relocation is a European international mover that ships household goods to Australia by sea and air, door to door, with one dedicated coordinator managing your entire move from collection in Europe to delivery at your new Australian home. You get honest advice, full insurance and a team that knows exactly how to pack for Australian quarantine, so your belongings arrive without nasty surprises at the border.
How Flyto works
Flyto is a European mover with our own logistics hubs across Northern, Central and Southern Europe. For Australia, we do not pretend to have an office in Sydney or Melbourne. Instead, we combine our European hubs with a network of carefully vetted destination partners in Australia, all coordinated by a single point of contact who stays with you from start to finish. This “hubs plus partners, one coordinator” model is the honest, efficient way to run an intercontinental move: your goods are collected, packed and consolidated at our European hub, loaded into containers, and shipped deep-sea to Australia, where our local partners handle port clearance, biosecurity presentation and final delivery. Deep-sea freight from Europe to Australia typically takes around 6 to 10 weeks in transit, and you deal with one person throughout rather than a chain of anonymous handlers.
Our services to Australia
We offer a full range of shipping options so you only pay for what your move actually needs:
- Full container load (FCL): a dedicated 20ft or 40ft container for larger homes. Fastest handling and the most secure option, as your goods travel alone.
- Shared container / groupage (LCL): your consignment shares a container with others. More economical for smaller shipments, with slightly longer timelines as the container is consolidated and deconsolidated.
- Air freight: for urgent or smaller consignments where speed matters more than cost.
- Door-to-door service: collection and professional export packing at your European address, all the way through to delivery and unpacking at your Australian home.
- Professional packing: export-grade materials and biosecurity-aware packing so quarantine-sensitive items are prepared correctly.
- Storage: secure storage in Europe or at destination if your dates do not line up.
We ship to all major Australian ports, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle/Perth and Adelaide, with onward inland delivery to your final address anywhere in the country.
What shipping to Australia costs
We do not publish fixed prices, because an honest quote depends entirely on your specific move. The main cost drivers are the volume of your goods (measured in cubic metres), whether you take a sole-use container or share one, your collection point in Europe, and your destination port and delivery address in Australia. Because Australia is one of the longest deep-sea routes from Europe, transit distance is a significant factor, and access at both ends (stairs, lift, parking, narrow streets) can affect handling. Additional services such as packing, storage, insurance and any biosecurity treatment charges are quoted separately so there are no surprises. Tell your Flyto coordinator what you are moving and where, and you will receive a clear, itemised quote.
Customs and biosecurity: the part that catches people out
Customs. To bring your household goods into Australia you must complete the Australian Border Force B534 Unaccompanied Personal Effects (UPE) statement. This is the mandatory declaration for belongings that arrive separately from you, such as furniture, clothing and sports equipment shipped by a removals company. The good news: personal effects that you have owned and used for at least 12 months before import are generally admitted free of customs duty and GST. Proof of ownership may be requested, so keep documentation handy. New items, or goods owned for less than 12 months, may attract duty and tax. Your coordinator will help you complete the B534 correctly, because errors and vague descriptions cause delays.
Biosecurity is critical. Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) runs some of the strictest quarantine controls on earth, because imported household goods can carry pests, seeds, soil and diseases. DAFF assesses the B534 and packing list for every shipment and frequently inspects goods on arrival. To pass cleanly:
- Clean everything thoroughly. Anything that has touched soil, food, plants or animals must be spotless and free of contamination before packing.
- Expect scrutiny of high-risk items: outdoor and garden furniture, untreated timber, wicker, rattan, cane and bamboo, sporting and camping gear, gardening tools, footwear and vacuum cleaners are all common targets. Check wooden and natural-material items for bark, insect holes, soil, cobwebs and plant debris.
- Be aware of treatment costs. If DAFF finds a risk, your goods may require cleaning, fumigation, gamma irradiation or another approved treatment, carried out in Australia by a department-approved provider who charges for it. In the worst case, non-compliant items can be re-exported or destroyed.
- Declare everything. Full, honest declaration is always the right choice. Concealing items or under-declaring risks penalties, delays and extra fees far greater than declaring in the first place.
Visas. You will also need the right to live in Australia, most commonly through a points-tested skilled visa or an employer-sponsored visa. Flyto does not provide immigration advice, but we time your shipment around your visa and arrival so your goods are not sitting at the port before you can receive them.
Why choose Flyto
Families and professionals across Europe choose Flyto because we make a hard move feel manageable:
- 4.9 from over 500 reviews — a track record built on doing intercontinental moves properly.
- Fully insured door-to-door transit cover, so your belongings are protected across the whole journey.
- English-speaking team and clear communication at every stage.
- Biosecurity-savvy packing — we pack with Australian quarantine rules in mind, reducing the chance of inspection delays and treatment fees.
- One coordinator from your European hub through to your Australian doorstep, so you always know who to call.
How long it takes
Deep-sea freight from Europe to Australia typically runs around 6 to 10 weeks in transit, depending on your route, departure port and destination. That is only part of the story: the full door-to-door timeline also includes collection and packing in Europe, container consolidation, Australian customs clearance, biosecurity inspection and inland delivery. Allow roughly 8 to 14 weeks from collection to final delivery, and start planning early. Air freight is far quicker if you need essentials sooner. Your coordinator will give you a realistic timeline for your exact route.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to ship my belongings to Australia?
Deep-sea transit is typically around 6 to 10 weeks, and the full door-to-door timeline, including packing, customs and biosecurity clearance and inland delivery, is usually about 8 to 14 weeks from Europe.
Do I have to pay customs duty and tax on my household goods?
Generally no. Personal effects you have owned and used for at least 12 months before import are usually admitted free of duty and GST when declared on the Australian Border Force B534 statement. New goods may attract duty and tax.
What is the B534 form?
It is the Australian Border Force Unaccompanied Personal Effects statement, the mandatory declaration for belongings shipped to Australia separately from you. Your Flyto coordinator helps you complete it correctly.
Why is Australian biosecurity such a big deal?
DAFF enforces very strict quarantine controls to keep out pests and diseases. Everything must be thoroughly cleaned, and timber, wicker, outdoor, gardening and sports items are closely inspected. If a risk is found, cleaning, fumigation or other treatment may be required at your cost, so careful packing matters.
Should I take a full container or a shared one?
A full container (FCL) suits larger homes and offers the fastest, most secure handling. A shared container or groupage (LCL) is more economical for smaller shipments but takes a little longer due to consolidation. Your coordinator will advise based on your volume.
Does Flyto have its own office in Australia?
No, and we will never claim otherwise. Flyto operates its own hubs across Europe and works with vetted local partners in Australia, all managed by one dedicated coordinator, so you get accountable, door-to-door service without the pretence of a local branch.
Get your Australia moving quote
Ready to plan your move to Australia with a team that knows the route, the customs rules and the biosecurity traps? Speak to a Flyto advisor for honest guidance and a clear, itemised quote.
Get your free quote from a Flyto advisor