YOUR TRUSTED AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS CLEARANCE EXPERTS

Customs clearance is the mandatory process of declaring goods, whether for personal use or business purposes, when entering or exiting a country. It's like presenting your passport and bags at the airport, but for imported or exported goods.

This involves meeting all the rules and procedures set by customs authorities to ensure compliance with regulations, including biosecurity measures. This process also guarantees that all legal obligations are fulfilled, such as paying any required import duties or taxes. In Australia, customs clearance is handled entirely by the Australian Border Force. A licensed customs broker can help advise and even handle the paperwork and documentation needed for customs clearance.

For simpler imports, you might not need a broker. But if you are a business importing products to Australia or handling a complicated shipment, an experienced broker can make the customs clearance process smoother and easier, saving you time and frustration. Customs brokers and agents guide individuals and companies about import duties and taxes, classification of your goods through HS code system, valuations, and proper import/export declarations. Customs brokers communicate directly with individuals and occasionally with suppliers to gather all the needed information about your product. Even the smallest mistakes in paperwork can lead to delays and penalties, so engaging with a customs broker is a smart decision to ensure you don’t end up paying extra fees or surprise costs.

In Australia, using a customs broker for import clearance is entirely optional. You can legally handle the process yourself. The Australian law allows you to manage your own import clearance procedures. However, incorrect declaration or missing paperwork can result in delays, significant storage costs, fines, or even confiscation of goods. For those unfamiliar with the import process, consulting or hiring a licensed customs broker in Australia to work on your behalf can help ensure a smooth clearance process.

The documents required for customs clearance can vary depending on the specific situation, but here are some of the most common ones you might need:

• Bill of Lading (BOL) or Airwaybill (AWB): This document outlines your shipment's details, including origin, destination, carrier information, and goods descriptions.
• Packing Declaration (sea freight shipments only): This document is required by Australian Biosecurity and is used to access the packaging materials used with your goods. Without this document Australian Biosecurity will examine your shipment, this results in additional costs and possibly delays..
• Packing List: This provides a detailed breakdown of individual items within each package, including quantity, product descriptions, and weight/dimensions.
• Commercial Invoice: This document verifies the transaction between you and your supplier, including the value of the goods, currency, shipping terms and any discounts applied.
• Certificate of Origin (if applicable): This document verifies the country of origin of your goods, a certificate of origin is required to take advantage of Free Trade Agreements (FTA).

There may also be instances where you need further documentation such as:

• Manufacturer’s declarations
• Asbestos declarations
• Fumigation certificates
• Other certificates and declarations that will help the broker understand your shipment

Important: The more information you can provide the broker upfront about your shipment, the more accurate their quote will be and the less likely there will be surprises later (we don’t like hidden costs!).

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to how long customs clearance will take for your cargo in Australia. Straightforward clearances can be quick, but complex ones with permits or inspections may take longer. But, we’ve put a quick guide for you on the general time frames below:

• Straightforward shipments (low value, international small parcels, no permits needed): These can clear customs in as little as 24-48 hours if all the paperwork is correct.
• Average shipments: Most shipments with proper documentation can expect clearance within 3-5 business days from the time the cargo arrives in Australia. This includes the processing time by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
• Complex shipments (permits required, restricted items, inspections needed): These can take longer, anywhere from a week to several weeks depending on the specific requirements. The timeframe can also vary depending on different factors such as the complexity of your shipment, complete and accurate paperwork, cargo selection for inspection (this is usually randomly selected), and how quickly you pay any duties or taxes that are owed.

There are no guarantees for clearance times, Australian Border Force and Australian Biosecurity have the power to hold shipments until they are satisfied the goods are safe to enter or exit Australia.

You need to be aware of the import costs and charges you might have to pay when bringing goods into Australia. Apart from shipping costs, there are other charges when your cargo arrives at an Australian port. Depending on what you're bringing and iit's customs value, you'll need to budget for the following:

• Import Processing charges
• Port charges
• Storage Charges
• Handling fees
• Import Duties (depending on the country of origin, if Australia has a free trade agreement with a certain country, import duty may not be necessary)
• Customs User Fee
• Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• Additional tariffs for specific products and commodities
• Customs Brokerage fees
• Biosecurity fees * if required
• Transport costs/Final delivery to your door

This list can seem overwhelming at a first glance. This is why hiring a licensed customs broker can help sort out all the documentation for you. They can make the importing process way easier and less stressful (and you won't accidentally miss anything important).