Moving from the US to Australia: customs, papers and what you can't pack

Bringing your things in duty-free

Things you've owned and used overseas for 12 months or more come in free of duty and tax. Anything newer must be declared and is assessed. Use form B534.

The papers customs wants

• Form B534 (Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement)
• A packing list, boxes numbered to match it
• Passport copy
• The bill of lading or air waybill, and the delivery order
• A statutory declaration if someone else clears it for you

Inspection and clearance

Biosecurity inspects, by appointment, billed by the hour — clear lists and labeled boxes cost less. Clean every speck of soil off outdoor furniture, pots, tools, mowers, bikes, shoes, barbecues and camping gear. Empty the vacuum. Check wooden furniture for borer holes. Don't reuse produce boxes. No broker needed — you can clear it yourself.

Don't pack these

• Fresh fruit and vegetables, live plants, bulbs, soil, seeds and spices
• All food must be declared
• Most tobacco
• Firearms, replica guns and spring knives
• Medicines, including herbal ones, must be declared
• Cash of A$10,000 or more must be declared

Bringing a car

You need an import approval before you ship a car.

Bringing a dog or cat

Start at least 6 months ahead. Australia is the hardest country in this app to bring a pet into.

ISO microchip (not starting 999), rabies shot, then a rabies blood test (RNATT) at a recognized lab. The pet can't leave until 180 days after the lab receives the sample.

An import permit through BICON — about A$603 for the first pet and A$288 for each more, paid when you apply. Allow 20 to 40 business days.

Dogs also need Leishmania, Brucella and Leptospira tests or vaccines within 45 days, and a canine influenza vaccine. Flea, tick and worm treatments on a fixed schedule before leaving.

Fly into Melbourne only, as manifest cargo. Quarantine at Mickleham for 30 days — or 10 if a vet checks the pet's identity before the blood test — at A$53 a day.

Banned: Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier, Presa Canario, several wolf-dog breeds, and Savannah, Safari, Chausie and Bengal cats.

Duty and tax on everything else

GST is 10%, on the value plus freight, insurance and duty. Customs duty runs from free to 5% depending on the item — look it up in the Australian tariff.

Duty and taxes apply to imported goods over A$1,000.