In short: to move from the UK to Australia you ship your household goods by sea container to one of the main ports (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle or Adelaide), clear customs and biosecurity, then a vetted FIDI-certified mover delivers to your door. Plan on roughly 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the route and whether you share or fill a container.
Typical cost: about £1,200 for a small shared load up to £12,000 or more for a four-bedroom 40ft container, indicative and partner-confirmed after a survey. We match you with one mover free; we are not a removal company.
Moving from England to Australia? We are not a removal company; we match households across the United Kingdom with one vetted removalist for the route, free of charge.
Australia is one of the most popular destinations for people leaving the UK, and for good reason. The trouble is that an international move has a lot of moving parts: containers, customs, biosecurity, costs and timing all at once. This page pulls it together in one place, so you can plan with confidence and find the right mover without the legwork.
Here's the important bit about us. We're a free matching service, and we are not a removal company ourselves. Instead of leaving you to ring round and compare a dozen firms, we connect you with one vetted, FIDI-certified mover that fits your move. They give you a firm written quote, and you decide in your own time. There's no charge for the introduction and no obligation to go ahead.
Below you'll find every shipping option explained, real cost guidance, a customs and biosecurity walkthrough, and a full list of destinations across every Australian state. Whether you're sending a few boxes or a four-bedroom house, start with the option that fits, then get matched.
No ringing round, no hard sell. Three steps and you've got a real price to compare.
Your home size, your UK postcode, your Australian destination and rough dates. Takes a minute.
We connect you with one vetted FIDI-certified mover that suits your move. No spam, no list of cold callers.
They survey, give a firm written price, and you decide. No fee to us, no obligation to you.
Pick the route that matches your load. Each one has a full guide with costs, timings and what's included. Not sure which fits? Get matched and your mover will recommend the right one after a survey.
Almost everything moves by sea. Containers leave from UK ports such as Southampton, Felixstowe, Tilbury and London Gateway, and arrive at the main Australian ports near each big city: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle for Perth, and Adelaide. From there your goods are cleared and delivered to your door.
As a rule of thumb, the sea crossing takes around 6 to 9 weeks, and door to door is a little longer once you add collection, customs, biosecurity and final delivery. A shared container can take longer than a sole-use one, because it waits to be filled and is unpacked at a depot on arrival. If your dates are tight, a sole-use container is the safer bet.
For most people the timing means shipping a few weeks before you fly, then living light until your goods arrive. Your matched mover will give you a realistic schedule for your exact route and the time of year.
A quick guide by home size. These are indicative, not quotes, since price follows your volume, access and destination. For the full picture, see the cost of removals to Australia page, then get matched for a firm figure.
£1,800 to £5,000
£3,500 to £6,500
£5,500 to £9,000
£8,000 to £11,000+
Two checks meet your shipment in Australia. Customs is usually kind to movers: belongings you've owned and used for over a year normally clear free of duty and the 10% GST as personal effects, with your mover lodging the B534 statement for you. Biosecurity is the strict one, because Australia guards hard against pests and disease. Clean anything that's been outdoors, leave out all food, seeds and plant material, and declare honestly. Our full customs and biosecurity guide explains every step.
Used personal effects over a year old usually clear free of duty and the 10% GST.
No soil, food, seeds or untreated wood. Wash outdoor gear and declare everything.
Your FIDI-certified mover lodges the B534 and manages clearance for you.
We match movers for destinations right across Australia. The biggest demand is for Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, but we cover regional towns too. Choose your destination below, or simply get matched and tell us where you're going.
Town not listed? Tell us where you're heading and we'll match a mover.
We've been matching people with movers since November 2010, and in that time we've handled more than 850,000 verified customer enquiries. We're not a removal company, and that's the point: we've no van to fill, so our only job is to point you at the right firm for your move, not the one that pays the most.
Every mover we match you with holds FIDI FAIM, the international moving industry's quality standard, earned through an independent Ernst and Young audit of more than 200 criteria and renewed every three years. Many also hold BAR Overseas membership. It means proven, accountable firms handling your belongings, not a name pulled off a directory.
DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, company 07425576, ICO ZB022743. Norman House, Saint Saviours Estate, Abbey Street, London, SE1 3DH. Working Member of AGM Group since 2010.
Life in Australia is paid in Australian dollars, code AUD, so plan the exchange before you go. The airport gives the worst rates, so weigh a specialist such as Wise or XE against your bank, and think about an AUD account opened from the UK. Because the GBP to AUD rate moves daily, check XE.com close to when you transfer. For clarity, we match removals and we work with partners only, never as a currency exchange.
This guide is maintained by Darren Benjamin, who has run International Removals Companies since it launched in 2010 and has over 20 years in the logistics industry. Since 2013 he has also been Secretary and Manager of a UK removal company, a role verifiable on Companies House. In practice that means matching people moving abroad with the right certified mover, and knowing the customs and shipping detail behind an international move to or from Australia.
Our partner movers hold the industry's recognised credentials, including FIDI FAIM Certified (audited by Ernst and Young), BAR Overseas, IAM, EUROMOVERS and FEDEMAC membership. You can read more about who we are and how we vet partners on our about us page.
Most household moves land between about £1,800 and £11,000, set by how much you ship. A one-bed runs roughly £1,800 to £5,000, a three-bed around £5,500 to £9,000, and a four-bed house £8,000 to £11,000 or more. See our cost of removals to Australia page for the full breakdown, and get matched for a firm price.
By sea, plan for roughly 6 to 9 weeks at sea, and a little longer door to door once collection, customs and delivery are added. A sole-use container is usually quicker than a shared one, since it sails as soon as it's sealed rather than waiting to be filled with other people's goods.
We are a free matching service, and we're not a removal company ourselves. You tell us about your move, we connect you with one vetted FIDI-certified mover that fits it, and they give you a firm written quote after a survey. You pay us nothing, and you're never under any obligation to book.
FIDI FAIM is the international moving industry's quality standard, earned through an independent Ernst and Young audit of more than 200 criteria and renewed every three years. It covers how a firm packs, ships, handles customs and deals with claims. Choosing a FIDI mover means your belongings are in proven, accountable hands.
Sending less. For small loads, shipping boxes by sea is the cheapest start, then a shared container where you pay only for the space you use. A sole-use container suits a whole house. The biggest saving of all is a good declutter, since every route is priced by volume.
Usually not, if they are used household goods. Items you've owned and used for over a year normally clear free of duty and the 10% GST as personal effects. Australia's biosecurity rules are strict though, so anything with soil, food or untreated wood needs care. Our customs and biosecurity guide walks you through it.
All of them. We match movers for every state and territory, from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to regional towns across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory. Pick your destination from the list on this page, or just tell us where you're heading.
Yes. As well as household removals, we cover car shipping, and we guide you on pet transport, which travels via a specialist agent. We can also match a mover offering UK storage before your move. Each has its own page with the detail, costs and the rules you need.
None at all. Getting matched is free, and you're under no pressure to book. You receive a quote from one vetted mover, you compare it in your own time, and you only go ahead if it's right for you. If it isn't, you simply walk away. There's nothing to lose by asking.
Send your home size, your UK collection postcode, your Australian destination and your rough dates. We'll pair you with one vetted FIDI-certified mover who surveys the job and gives a firm, written price. It's free, and there's no obligation to book.
Get Matched Free WhatsApp UsOne FIDI-certified mover. DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, matching movers since November 2010.
We connect removals enquiries for Australia with one vetted FIDI-certified partner mover, free of charge. We are not a removal company. DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, company 07425576, ICO ZB022743. Norman House, Saint Saviours Estate, Abbey Street, London, SE1 3DH. Working Member of AGM Group since 2010.
All costs are indicative. Prices, transit times, customs and insurance are confirmed by your partner mover before booking.