International Removals to Australia - click here for a free online moving quote
This article will explain some of the costs involved when moving to Australia. These include shipping/removals to Australia, the price of flying you and your family over to your new home, the transportation of pets and vehicles and the cost of visas / medical tests.
Removals / Shipping Costs
The three types of services for international removals to Australia are: container shipping, groupage services and air freight.
Full household loads are usually shipped in either 20 ft or 40 ft dedicated containers, depending on the size and quantity of the load Container shipping is often seen as the most secure form of international removals as your household contents are transported door to door in a container assigned exclusively for your use.
Groupage services are a good choice when you don't have a large enough consignment to fill a dedicated container. So instead your furniture and possessions are packed securely in a container with other part loads. Groupage services cost less than the use of a dedicated container but may take longer to arrive.
Air freight is a third option of shipping your belongings to Australia. It is used for cargo that is required quickly, such as personal belongings, clothes and important paperwork. Air freight is the most expensive form of transportation, so it is usually reserved for a few essential items in conjunction with either dedicated container shipping or groupage services.
For all of your international removals to Australia requirements, contact us today for a free Australia removals quote.
Notes on Choosing a Removals Company
When moving to Australia, it is not just the removals or shipping costs that you have to consider when picking a removals firm. Whilst a competitive quote is important, other things to think about include reliability, experience and choosing a a company who has a good track record / history of many satisfied clients. After all, moving house internationally is stressful enough - you want to at least know for sure that your treasured possessions are in safe hands and will arrive on time and in tact!
Check references and enquire about their experience and length of trading history. Also find out how regularly they ship to Australia and whether they hold appropriate accreditations such as with BAR / FAIM. This will help you to select a high quality and reliable removals service.
Personal Transportation To Your New Home
This is another thing that you will have to budget for moving to Australia. As well as the removal and shipping costs, you will need to transport you and your family to your new home.
A good tip is to check details of flights and compare prices on the internet to get the best available deals. It is also worth bearing in mind that booking flights in advance often works out much less expensive than if you leave it until close to your departure date. Moving out of season will help to bring down the cost of your air fare too, if this is an option for you.
You will also need to include the cost of transportation to and from the airport.
Transporting of Pets
Pets are usually transported by air. But a word of warning, if you intend to bring your dog or cat over to Australia, be prepared as the flight ticket is more costly than for a family member.
The overall price of transporting your cat or dog depends on its size, the time your pet spends in quarantine and also the additional cost of any vet bills.
At the time of writing, it costs around £1500 to import a small breed of dog (such as Yorkshire Terrier) or £3500 for a large dog (such as a Golden Retriever). The approximate cost of quarantine in Australia is $800 AUD for 30 days.
There are strict rules about bringing pets into Australia but as a general guide cats, dogs and horses can be imported, subject to quarantine control. Certain breeds are not allowed so check with your removals company prior to your move and pets such as guinea pigs, hamsters and caged birds are also denied.
The procedure to import your pet is as follows:
- Your pet needs to be micro-chipped and you need to get a permit to import. This permit gives details on the veterinary certificates needed and other information on how to go about bringing your pet over.
- It is advisable to book quarantine well in advance as there can be a high demand for it. A UK government approved vet will be required to carry out general vaccinations before you leave, such as kennel cough and a blood test (for dogs).
- Parasite treatment and Veterinary Certificate A is to be completed within four days of your pet’s flight and Veterinary Certificate B is generally completed on the day your pet leaves the country.
Transporting of Vehicles
If you decide to take your car or other vehicle with you to your new home in Australia, this will also incur shipping and importation costs. Import duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) is payable on arrival in Australia, so you will have to consider whether it is economical to bring your car over from the UK.
To import your vehicle you will need an Australian customs form (B357), a vehicle registration form (V5), a sales or buyer invoice and service record. You must also get import approval on all cars, motorbikes, motorised caravans, lawn mowers and quad bikes before bringing them over to Australia. Although non motorised caravans, boats and trailers are import duty and GST free, you will still need the import approval.
There is no equivalent to the MOT certificate in Australia but the car will be inspected on arrival to make sure it is road worthy. You may need to make changes to your vehicle to make sure it complies with Australian safety standards.
Your vehicle’s chassis and wheels should be steam cleaned before shipping and the vehicle must be shipped with the minimum amount of fuel in the tank.
Visa and Medical Costs for Gaining Entry into Australia
There are several different types of visas for moving to Australia from the UK. One of these is the skilled application visa, which is suitable for those under the age of 45 years. To obtain this type of visa you need to speak English well and have skills listed on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List or Employer Nomination Occupation List. There are also subcategories within this visa and these include temporary and permanent visas. If the Skilled Independent pass mark is reached, sponsorship is not needed.
The employed sponsor-visa is another type of visa which also contains sub-categories including permanent and temporary. The employer makes this application once the migrant is offered a job.
There are also family visas which enable children, spouses, parents and other family members can come over to join a related Australian citizen or permanent resident of the country.
For up to date visa costs, please check with the Australian embassy.
It is a requirement to be healthy before applying for a visa and in some cases medical tests must be taken. The candidate must bear the cost of these medical tests, even if they don’t get the go ahead for a visa.
Most applicants need to have a health examination before permanent entry to Australia and passing the health examination does not mean that a visa is automatically granted. If you are applying for a permanent visa application, all immediate family members and dependants, even if they don’t intend to move their with you, should meet the health requirements. This includes all children under the age of 18 years, whether or not they live with you.
International Removals to Australia - contact us now to discuss your move
