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Australia is one of the most popular long-haul relocation destinations for British movers. Emigration, work visas, family reunion and lifestyle moves generate a consistent high volume of UK to Australia removals each year. Moving to Australia is fundamentally different from any European destination: all household goods travel by sea freight over 25 to 40 days, Australia has the world's strictest biosecurity inspection regime, all pets face mandatory quarantine, and Australian customs uses its own framework entirely separate from the EU Transfer of Residence system.
What follows is the ten checks that separate a good Australia route mover from a poor one. On this route they matter more than on any other, because a firm that gets the biosecurity preparation wrong can cost you more in DAFF treatment charges than you saved by choosing them. The companies that carry out our Australia moves are named further down this page.
International Removals Companies is a free enquiry matching service operated by Darren Benjamin since 2010. We match each Australia enquiry with one suitable accredited removal company based on your UK origin, Australian destination state, timeline and volume. Your details are not passed to several firms at once. One contact. One quote.
UK to Australia moves use sea freight, priced by cubic metres in either a shared LCL container or a dedicated FCL container. Prices vary by volume, destination state, service level and season. These are indicative guides only. The matched removal company gives the confirmed price after a home survey.
LCL shared container
Sydney / Melbourne: from approx. £2,000 to £3,200
Perth: from approx. £1,800 to £2,800
20ft FCL dedicated container
Sydney / Melbourne: from approx. £3,800 to £6,000
Perth: from approx. £3,200 to £5,200
40ft FCL dedicated container
Sydney / Melbourne: from approx. £5,800 to £9,000
Perth: from approx. £5,000 to £7,500
Typically included: Professional export packing to DAFF biosecurity standards, UK port delivery, sea freight, Australian customs clearance, biosecurity inspection, destination delivery and goods-in-transit insurance. Biosecurity treatment costs such as fumigation or cleaning are additional if ordered by DAFF and are not included in the removal price. Confirm exact inclusions before booking.
All prices are indicative planning guides only. The matched removal company confirms the actual price after a home survey. Perth is often less expensive than East Coast destinations because it is closer by sea.
A list of firm names is easy to write and tells you almost nothing about how your move will actually run. These ten checks do. Australia is the least forgiving route we cover: the container is at sea for a month, biosecurity can order treatment at your cost, and by the time anything goes wrong your goods are 10,000 miles away. Ask these before you book.
FIDI FAIM involves more than 200 independent quality checks and an EY audit every three years. BAR Overseas is the UK trade standard, and fewer than 100 firms qualify for that section. They are not the same thing and a firm may hold one, both or neither. Ask for the certificate number and the legal entity, then check it on the FIDI register at fidi.org or with BAR.
A good answer: the certificate number and the entity name, offered without hesitation.
This is the question that separates Australia specialists from firms that occasionally send a container. Wooden furniture, wicker, garden tools, hiking boots and camping gear all need cleaning to a standard before packing. A crew that knows the route cleans as it packs. A crew that does not leaves you paying DAFF to fumigate a container.
A good answer: describes what their packers clean and check, item by item, before it goes in a box.
Every item must be declared, including the risky categories. DAFF treats undeclared items far more harshly than declared ones. Some firms complete the declaration with you against the inventory. Others email you a blank form. If you fill it in yourself and get it wrong, the penalty and the delay are yours.
A good answer: they complete it with you, working through the inventory rather than leaving you guessing.
You do. Always. Treatment runs from a couple of hundred Australian dollars for a clean to several thousand for fumigating a full container, and no removal insurance covers it. What varies is whether the firm warned you, and whether they will tell you the likely cost before the container sails rather than after.
A good answer: states plainly that treatment is your cost, and flags anything in your inventory likely to trigger it.
Australia's duty-free concession requires goods to have been owned and used for at least 12 months. Not six, as in the EU. Anything newer is liable to 5% duty and 10% GST. If you have just bought a sofa for the new place, buy it in Australia instead. A firm working mostly European routes may quote you on the six-month assumption.
A good answer: raises the 12-month rule before you do, and asks what you have bought recently.
A shared LCL container is cheaper but waits until it fills, and that wait is where most of the unexplained delay on this route comes from. A dedicated FCL container sails on a schedule. Ask for the next actual sailing date rather than a transit time, because a 30-day crossing is no comfort if the box sits in Tilbury for three weeks first.
A good answer: gives a real sailing date and says how long consolidation typically takes on your volume.
Limited liability pays by the kilogram, typically £40 to £60. A 40kg sofa is worth 40kg, not what you paid. All-risks pays declared replacement value. On a month at sea through several climate zones, in a box that will be opened and inspected at the far end, all-risks is the only sensible level.
A good answer: states which level is in the price and quotes the upgrade.
Usually not, and on Australia it is worse than usual. Boxes you pack yourself are commonly covered for total loss only, and they are also the boxes most likely to contain something undeclared that a biosecurity officer finds. Packing your own kitchenware to save money can cost you the claim and the treatment charge.
A good answer: explains the exclusion up front and advises against self-packing on this route.
Someone has to clear customs, present the container for inspection and deliver inland. Ask who that firm is, whether they have a bonded warehouse at your port, and what happens if your rental is not ready. Inland delivery also varies hugely: Sydney CBD is a day from Port Botany, rural Queensland can be a week.
A good answer: names the destination agent and confirms storage arrangements at your port.
Ask for the claim window in days, who you notify, and whether the firm falls under an independent dispute service. BAR Overseas members come under the Furniture Ombudsman scheme. Ask specifically who you deal with if the damage is found on unpacking in Australia: the UK firm you booked, or their agent.
A good answer: names the claim window, the form, and who owns the problem at the Australian end.
All UK to Australia household removals travel by sea freight in an ISO shipping container. There is no road option. The journey is the longest of any destination we cover and requires the most planning time before departure.
DAFF biosecurity standards require thorough cleaning of wooden items, natural fibre products and all outdoor equipment before packing. Professional export packers at your UK address pack goods to Australian export standards: double-wall cartons, specialist wrapping for wooden furniture, custom crating for fragile items. Items identified as biosecurity risk must be declared.
Goods are loaded at Tilbury or Southampton into either an LCL shared container, consolidated with other customers' goods, or an FCL dedicated container. LCL departure schedules depend on consolidation; FCL can often depart sooner on a schedule you control.
Perth is often the cheapest Australian destination from the UK because of the shorter sea distance.
On arrival at the Australian port, goods are lodged with the Australian Border Force for customs clearance. For qualifying household effects with correct documentation, customs clearance typically takes 1 to 3 business days.
After customs clearance, inbound household goods containers are assessed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Containers are X-rayed or physically inspected. Items that trigger a biosecurity concern are subject to treatment such as fumigation or steam cleaning, washing, or destruction. Treatment costs are charged to the importer. This stage can add 1 to 14 days to the delivery timeline. Companies experienced with DAFF preparation significantly reduce the probability of treatment orders.
After biosecurity clearance, goods travel by road to your Australian address. Inland delivery times vary: Sydney CBD 1 day from Port Botany; regional New South Wales 2 to 4 days; rural Queensland 3 to 7 days.
Step 1, apply for an import permit: Apply to the Australian Department of Agriculture for a permit to import your pet through the BICON system. This typically takes 4 to 8 weeks to process. Without a permit, your pet cannot travel.
Step 2, microchip: ISO 15-digit microchip required. Must be in place before any vaccinations or treatments count.
Step 3, rabies vaccination: A primary course of rabies vaccination, followed by a booster, all given after microchipping.
Step 4, rabies serological blood test: A blood titre test confirming adequate rabies antibody levels must be taken at an approved laboratory. Results typically take 2 to 4 weeks. A 180-day waiting period after a successful blood test applies before travel.
Step 5, treatments: Dogs require tick, heartworm and tapeworm treatments to Australian specification within 14 days before departure. Cats require certain parasite treatments.
Duration: A minimum of 10 days mandatory quarantine at the Post-entry Quarantine Facility at Mickleham, 35 km north-west of Melbourne. All pets entering Australia regardless of origin must complete this quarantine. There are no exemptions.
Cost: Approximately AUD 2,000 to AUD 4,500 for 10 days quarantine accommodation per pet. This is in addition to all veterinary preparation and travel costs.
Limited spaces: The facility has limited quarantine capacity. Book your place at least 3 to 4 months before your travel date. Spaces fill quickly.
Approved airlines and routes: Pets must travel on a limited list of approved airlines and must arrive at a designated airport, typically Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. Confirm the approved route with your vet or a specialist pet relocation company.
Pets do not travel with household goods: The pet journey is entirely separate from the removal shipment. Specialist pet relocation agents handle Australian pet imports; your removal company can refer you to one.
Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has the strictest biosecurity regime of any country receiving international household removals. Every incoming container is assessed. Items found to pose a biosecurity risk face treatment, cleaning or destruction, all at the importer's expense and on top of the removal cost. Working with an experienced removal company that understands DAFF preparation is the single most effective way to reduce biosecurity treatment costs.
Clean everything before packing: Wooden furniture should be cleaned with a brush and damp cloth. All soil must be removed from equipment, shoes and garden tools. Wicker and cane items should be inspected for insects and cleaned.
Declare everything: DAFF treats undeclared items more severely than declared ones. Your inventory must list every item, including high-risk categories. Do not try to avoid declaring items.
Professional packing to biosecurity standards: Removal companies experienced with Australia know which items need additional cleaning, which should be packed for easier inspection access, and which items are best left behind rather than risking treatment costs.
Treatment costs: If DAFF orders treatment, costs can range from around AUD 200 for a simple cleaning to AUD 2,000 or more for fumigation of a full container. These costs are the importer's responsibility, separate from the removal invoice.
Biosecurity Declaration form: Must be completed accurately before shipment. Your matched removal company provides this form and assists with completion. Inaccurate or incomplete declarations can result in penalties.
Match with an Australia biosecurity-experienced removal company →
Australia uses the Australian Dollar (AUD), not EUR or USD. Your removal is quoted in GBP. All Australian property purchases, living costs and savings transfers are in AUD. Most people treat the move and the money as two separate jobs, and end up paying more than they need to on both.
Currency exchange is part of what we help with. We have helped customers exchange currency in any currency through trusted partners for many years, alongside arranging the move itself. Tell us at the enquiry stage that you have money to transfer and our partners can help with that side of it. There is no extra charge for the introduction.
Experts in currency exchange
No hidden fees
5-star consumer ratings
Competitive exchange rate
Australian property prices vary dramatically by city and suburb. Sydney and Melbourne have median house prices among the highest in the world relative to income. A 5% movement in GBP/AUD on an AUD 900,000 Sydney property changes the sterling cost by approximately £25,000 to £30,000 at typical exchange rates. Australian conveyancing from exchange of contracts to settlement typically runs 30 to 90 days depending on state, during which the rate can shift.
Non-residents and temporary visa holders generally require Foreign Investment Review Board approval to purchase Australian residential property. The rules are complex:
FIRB fees apply and have increased significantly in recent years. Seek Australian property law advice before committing to a purchase.
To receive AUD in Australia, you need an Australian bank account. Most major Australian banks allow non-residents to open an account online before arriving, provided you plan to move to Australia. You will need your passport and an Australian address. Opening before arrival means the account is ready to receive AUD transfers from the settlement date.
Australian property purchases are subject to state-level stamp duty, called Land Transfer Duty in Victoria and Transfer Duty in New South Wales. Rates vary by state and property value but are typically 3% to 5.5% of the purchase price for standard residential property. This is in addition to the purchase price and must be budgeted in AUD. Timing your GBP to AUD conversion to line up with settlement is worth planning early.
Regular Australian costs, including rent, council rates, utility bills and private health insurance, are all in AUD. The cost of living in Sydney and Melbourne is high; Perth and Adelaide are typically lower. A standing GBP to AUD payment facility reduces ongoing conversion costs.
Australia drives on the left, the same as the UK. Right-hand drive UK vehicles can be registered and driven in Australia without that being an issue. This is a significant difference from most intercontinental destinations and makes UK car imports practically workable here.
For vehicles under 15 years old, Australian Design Rules compliance is required. Most UK-market cars sold after around 2005 already meet the core requirements because of harmonisation with EU standards. For specific non-conformances, particularly lighting and speedometer display, modifications through a Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme facility may be needed. These workshops assess the vehicle and certify compliance before registration.
Vehicles manufactured more than 15 years ago can be imported under the Personal Import Scheme without full compliance work. This significantly simplifies the process for classic and vintage cars.
All imported vehicles must pass a biosecurity inspection on arrival. Tyres, undercarriage, wheel arches, engine bay and interior must be free of soil, seeds and plant material. Thorough cleaning before loading reduces the probability of a hold and a treatment charge.
Vehicles travel by roll-on roll-off vessel or in a dedicated container, which costs more but offers more protection. Transit to East Coast Australian ports takes 25 to 35 days; to Fremantle 20 to 28 days. SORN the vehicle with DVLA before UK export. Tell us at the enquiry stage if you have a vehicle, because only some firms handle combined household and vehicle shipping on this route.
UK storage is needed when your Australian visa is not yet confirmed, when your Australian rental or purchase is not available at the planned arrival date, or when your UK property sale completes before your departure. Options include:
Indicative UK container storage cost: from approximately £80 to £150 per container equivalent per month. Confirm with your matched removal company.
A bonded warehouse at the Australian port lets goods be held after arrival while biosecurity inspection and any treatment is completed, before domestic delivery. On this route that matters more than elsewhere, because it avoids goods moving between port and warehouse more than once.
Australian depot storage beyond the free period: approximately AUD 20 to AUD 40 per cubic metre per month. Confirm with your matched removal company.
Storage charges are separate from the removal price. Australian costs are quoted in AUD. Confirm inclusions, free period and costs with your matched removal company before booking.
1. Limited liability: Cover based on weight only, typically £40 to £60 per kilogram. For a 2-bedroom household at 2,000 kg this gives approximately £80,000 to £120,000, typically below replacement value. This is the default if you do not specify otherwise.
2. All-risks cover (full replacement value): Cover based on the declared replacement value. All-risks is strongly recommended for UK to Australia sea freight: goods spend 25 to 40 days in a container on the open ocean, experiencing significant movement and temperature variation from European winter through tropical waters to Australian summer. If a £2,000 item is damaged, it is replaced at £2,000.
The long sea transit and the biosecurity inspection handling both represent risk points beyond those present on shorter European routes. All-risks cover is the appropriate standard for any intercontinental container move.
Biosecurity treatment costs ordered by DAFF are a completely separate financial risk from goods-in-transit insurance and are not covered by any removal insurance policy. They are the importer's direct liability. The best protection is thorough preparation and working with a removal company experienced with DAFF requirements.
Australian customs is managed by the Australian Border Force, whose current guidance is published at abf.gov.au. Unlike EU destinations, Australia uses its own Schedule 4 concession framework for household effects and does not use a Transfer of Residence system. All goods are also subject to a separate and independent biosecurity assessment by DAFF regardless of customs concession status.
To qualify for the duty-free and GST-free concession at Schedule 4, Item 16, household goods and personal effects must have been owned and used for at least 12 months before importation. This is double the 6-month period required by EU countries. New items owned for less than 12 months are subject to 5% customs duty and 10% GST.
Match with an Australia customs-experienced removal company →
International Removals Companies was founded by Darren Benjamin in 2010, with more than 20 years in international logistics behind it. The company is registered in England and Wales and can be checked on Companies House. Firms used on the UK to Australia route are assessed against the three criteria below. Accreditations are verified independently on a rolling basis. We do not accept payment for placement, because there is no placement to buy.
British Association of Removers Overseas membership. Independent quality checks, Furniture Ombudsman dispute resolution and published industry service standards. Fewer than 100 UK firms meet the criteria for this section of the BAR.
The international quality standard for removal companies. More than 200 independent quality checks. Audited every three years by Ernst and Young for operational excellence, financial stability and customer service. Certificates are held by named legal entities and can be checked on the FIDI register.
Demonstrated UK to Australia sea freight operations. Expertise in biosecurity preparation and declaration, Schedule 4 customs clearance, bonded warehouse arrangements at Australian ports, container operations and domestic delivery across all Australian states.
Valid UK passport, Australian visa or permanent residency documentation, proof of prior UK residence for 12 or more months, a complete numbered inventory with replacement values for all items, and a Biosecurity Declaration form listing every item. All goods entering Australia must be declared to DAFF for biosecurity assessment. Your matched removal company confirms the full list for your visa type and Australian state before you book.
UK to Sydney and Melbourne: 28 to 40 days door-to-door on a shared container; 25 to 35 days on a dedicated one. UK to Perth: 25 to 35 days. UK to Brisbane: 30 to 42 days. Add at least 10 days buffer for biosecurity inspection at the Australian port. Air freight takes 4 to 8 days but is very expensive for household volumes. Plan accommodation from at least 45 days after UK collection for East Coast destinations.
Household goods owned and used for at least 12 months may enter Australia duty-free and GST-free under the Schedule 4, Item 16 concession. Items owned for less than 12 months are subject to 5% customs duty and 10% GST. All goods are also subject to biosecurity assessment by DAFF regardless of duty concession status. Biosecurity treatment costs are separate from customs duty and are the importer's liability. Check current rules at abf.gov.au.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry inspects incoming household goods containers for biological risk. Items commonly triggering treatment orders include wooden furniture with soil residue, cane, wicker and bamboo, used outdoor and camping equipment, hiking boots with soil, sports equipment and any food. All items must be declared. DAFF can order fumigation, steam cleaning or destruction at the importer's cost. Working with a removal company experienced in DAFF preparation is the most effective way to reduce treatment costs. More detail at agriculture.gov.au.
Yes, but all dogs and cats face mandatory minimum 10-day quarantine at Mickleham in Victoria, with no exceptions. Pre-approval must be obtained months in advance via the BICON system. Requirements include microchip, rabies vaccination, a rabies blood test with a 180-day wait after a satisfactory result, parasite treatments and an approved health certificate. Quarantine costs approximately AUD 2,000 to AUD 4,500 per pet. Spaces are limited; book at least 3 to 4 months ahead. Begin the full process at least 6 months before travel.
Yes. Australia drives on the left, so right-hand drive UK cars can be registered. Vehicles under 15 years need Australian Design Rules compliance via an approved workshop. Vehicles over 15 years qualify for the Personal Import Scheme. Import duty at 5%, GST at 10% and Luxury Car Tax at 33% above the threshold apply. All vehicles must pass biosecurity inspection, with tyres, undercarriage and engine bay clean of soil and seeds. Tell us at the enquiry stage if you have a vehicle, because only some firms handle combined household and vehicle shipping on this route.
Australia uses AUD. A 5% GBP/AUD rate movement on an AUD 900,000 Sydney property changes the sterling cost by approximately £25,000 to £30,000. Australian conveyancing runs 30 to 90 days depending on state. FIRB approval is required for most non-residents and temporary visa holders. Stamp duty rates vary by state, typically 3% to 5.5%. A forward contract locks in today's GBP/AUD rate for settlement. Currency exchange is part of what we help with. We have arranged currency exchange in any currency through trusted partners for many years, alongside the move itself. Mention it at the enquiry stage and our partners can help with the money side. Your partner confirms the rate, the fees and the terms before any money moves.
UK depot storage costs from approximately £80 to £150 per container equivalent per month. At the Australian end, a bonded warehouse at your port lets goods be held after arrival pending biosecurity clearance, which avoids extra handling. Ask whether your destination agent has bonded facilities at your port. Most full-service moves include 30 days free Australian storage. Ongoing Australian depot storage runs from approximately AUD 20 to AUD 40 per cubic metre per month. Confirm with your matched removal company before booking.
International Removals Companies works within the AGM Group network. Bishop's Move, Abels Moving Services, Gerson Relocation, Gerson Moving Services and Anglo French Euro Removals are part of that group and handle a share of the Australia moves that come through this page. We also work with independent firms outside the group where a route suits them better, and on Australia that happens often because some firms run the route far more than others. Which one your enquiry goes to depends on your UK origin, your Australian destination state, your volume and your dates. We do not rank firms or take payment for placement, and we do not send your details to several companies at once. One firm contacts you, confirms the scope and gives the price. The service is free.
Most sites in this trade will not tell you who turns up. You send your details, someone rings, and you find out on collection day. We would rather say it up front, because on a route where your things spend a month at sea, knowing who packed them matters more than usual.
AGM Group network
A nationwide relocation company running 24 branch locations across the UK. On a container move the origin packing decides how the biosecurity inspection goes at the far end, and that packing comes from a local branch team rather than a subcontracted crew booked for the day.
Suited to: households anywhere in the UK, and especially outside London and the South East.
Holds: Founding member of the British Association of Removers. BAR Overseas Group. BAR Advance Payment Guarantee. BAR Commercial Moving Group, certified to BS 8522. EUROMOVERS International. Movers Trading Club, an NVOCC registered with the US Federal Maritime Commission. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001.
AGM Group network
Abels handles residential moving for private customers going from the UK to Europe and further afield. The work is aimed at households rather than corporate mobility programmes: one point of contact, a proper pre-move survey, export packing by their own crews, and a delivery plan agreed with you.
Suited to: private households paying for the Australia move themselves.
Holds: FIDI FAIM Plus, listed on the FIDI affiliate register. BAR member number A001. BAR Overseas Group, a section fewer than 100 UK firms qualify for. BAR Advance Payment Guarantee. International Association of Movers. Movers Trading Club. ISO 9001:2015. Royal Warrant for removals and storage services.
AGM Group network
Gerson runs as two arms of one business. Gerson Relocation supports large multinational employers and manages mobility programmes end to end, which suits assignments to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth on fixed contract start dates. Gerson Moving Services handles individuals and families emigrating on their own account.
Suited to: employees relocating to Australia on a company programme, and separately, families emigrating privately.
Holds: FIDI FAIM Plus, with operations and management systems independently audited by EY. BAR Overseas Group. OMNI, the Overseas Moving Network International. EuRA, the European Relocation Association. Employee Relocation Council.
AGM Group network
Anglo French runs cross-Channel road freight as its main business. On an Australia move that makes it relevant chiefly at the front end, for anyone moving from a French address to Australia, where the household first has to reach a UK or European port before the container is loaded.
Suited to: moves to Australia starting from France rather than the UK.
Holds: British Association of Removers member. Guild of Removers and Storers member. Running UK to France removals since 1984, and part of the AGM Group network since November 2024.
No commercial relationship. Listed because they are good on the Australia route.
Formed in 1978 and working from London, Manchester and Glasgow. Australia and New Zealand are its highest-volume routes, which on this page counts for more than it does anywhere else: biosecurity preparation is learned by doing it repeatedly. Also handles vehicle shipping alongside household goods.
Holds: IAM member. FIDI accredited.
Founded in 1884 and working on international moves only, so surveyors and packers deal with export standards every day. Runs a shared container part-load service, which on a route this expensive is often the difference between shipping your things and selling them.
Holds: FIDI FAIM. BAR Overseas Group. BAR Advance Payment Guarantee. OMNI. IAM Trusted. Movers Trading Club.
Trading since 1871 and one of the largest privately owned removal firms in the country, with its own containerised storage in 19 UK locations. That storage matters here, because Australian visa dates and property dates rarely line up with when your UK house sells.
Holds: Founder member of FIDI, operating to the FAIM standard. Founder member of OMNI. BAR member with Advanced Payment Guarantee. BS EN 12522.
Moving households since 1895 and a member of both FIDI and OMNI, which gives it established agent relationships at the Australian end. Offers a choice between a dedicated container on a fixed schedule and a shared load at lower cost with a delivery window.
Holds: FIDI FAIM, independently audited by EY. BAR Overseas Group with Advanced Payment Guarantee. Founder member of OMNI.
Started in 1977 as a fine art and antiques mover and kept that specialism while growing into full international removals. Builds custom export crating for individual pieces, which matters on a month at sea and where Australian customs want itemised values.
Holds: FIDI FAIM. BAR Overseas Group. IAM.
Founded in 1929, with branches across England and Scotland and its own international packing teams rather than subcontracted crews. Covers sea freight to the main intercontinental destinations, and handles office moves as well as households.
Holds: FIDI affiliate, FAIM accredited, listed on the FIDI register. IAM. BAR Commercial Moving Group.
Tell us your UK origin and Australian destination state. We match you with one accredited removal company from our network. One contact. One confirmed quote. The service is free.
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