Moving Guide to Australia

Moving home often proves a daunting task. Whether you are relocating locally or your move will span several borders, it will require a good deal of planning ahead and systematic preparations. And as the moving day approaches, what was once sheer excitation is starting to give way to a sense of urgency. But there is no need to worry. If it is Australia you have set your mind on, we have got exactly what you are looking for. In our moving guide to Australia, we have set out how you could approach the preparations and what specific benefits there are for you, if you hire our professional removal company to Australia.

Preliminary work

Every project, regardless of its size and scope, begins with the small opening step. And that is an honest look at your belongings. Surely, a move to the antipodes will necessitate a step-by-step approach. Intensifying efforts in the month preceding the move will only spell trouble and likely result in some sort of failure. After all, moving to OZ comes with a pile of paperwork and requires making timely arrangements well in advance. Let’s take a look how you could tackle it responsibly.

3 months before moving to Australia

At the outset, you will need to consider what sort of accommodation you will be moving into in Australia and to what extent it will be furnished. This is crucial in determining what to take and what to sell or put into storage, if your visit to OZ is on a temporary basis. With this in mind, it is a good idea to make a list of the bare necessities and compare it to what you know will be available in your new pace.

Consider getting professional assistance. Organising a move abroad is not a piece of cake, and there are specialist who do it on a daily basis so that you don’t have to. A pre-move survey will answer all the urgent questions that may arise while trying to determine what is worth taking with you. Sizeable consignments to Australia will not only take a long time to deliver – unless shipped by air freight to Australia – but will likely require dedicated paperwork that has to be prepared in advance and in accordance with a given country’s requirements. Some items are downright banned from importing while on most other personal belongings you will have to pay customs duties and tax. Your removal team will have just the information and experience you need to make the right decisions.

Next in line are the electric appliances. Here, it is the operating voltage and socket type that matter. Have a look at your equipments to see what you will need and check its practicability in Australia, bearing in mind these fundamental differences.
Here is what you will need to consider first:

the duration of your stay – moving permanently or for a short time?
furnishings available in the new accommodation
your essential goods – the absolute minimum you will need
banned imports in Australia
customs duties and taxation
a detailed, itemised packing list updated since day one
local property market in your destination, especiall if you are considering buying house in Australia

2 months to go

What better time than now to start pawning all that surplus furniture? Unless your visit to Australia will be a short-term project, it’s no use renting storage space for things that you will never use again. And the extra quid in your pocket can go towards refurnishing your new abode. Consider donating what you cannot sell. Decluttering has all sorts of positive effects on.

At this point, it is good practice to gather all the necessary documentation. Set up a folder and make sure you have got copies of:

your passport
birth and marriage certificates
medical and dentist records
travel documents for all the pet friends

If you consider driving in Australia, now is the time to research whether you will be required to apply for an international driving licence. You may be perfectly fine with your UK permit, in which case, just make sure it is up to date. Likewise, ensure your pets are prepared for the long journey abroad. Consulting your vet will give you all the answers regarding potential quarantine periods, vaccinations and travel documents. The sooner, the better.

1 month before the departure

As the moving day approaches, it is time to book your removal dates and get round to proper preparations. Start by cleaning all the outdoor furniture. Empty all the service liquids from your gardening tools, if you are taking any with you. It is crucial your equipment is import packed, clean and dry. Otherwise, it may not be possible to ship it.
On the institutional side of things, make sure that you:

notify schools and nurseries of your departure
inform HM Customs and Revenue of stays abroad exceeding one year; this will help prevent double taxation on your UK income and sort out your National Insurance
cancel subscriptions and policies
redirect mail

A fortnight to go

At this moment, you will need to confirm your removal dates. In case you haven’t arranged for a professional packing service, now is the time to begin preparing and packing your goods import-ready. We will give you some good packing tips later on.
Bearing in mind the length of time needed to terminate certain contracts and services, it would be advisable to notify the relevant service providers and inform them of your departure. Before departure, you will have to sort out the following:

TV / broadband licence
electricity / gas
water rates
local council
credit cards
lease and loan companies
electoral register
pension scheme

Tomorrow’s the day

If you will be shipping white items, now is the time to prepare them for the journey. Make sure to:

empty and defrost the fridges
clean them on the inside
fasten the washing machine drum
strap items secure to prevent accidental opening

Note, that any documents containing personal data cannot be shipped. It is, therefore, just the right moment to confirm you have got all the documentation needed for travel. So, separate your hand luggage from anything you need air-shipped. It is essential to store the belongings that need to be transported separately from anything that will be staying behind. Mark and label all the packagings that will be loaded on the move day.

Off you go!

Once the movers have finished the loading job, you will be asked to confirm the completeness of your shipment by signing the waybill. Before you do, however, take that one last walk around the property to double check nothing has been left behind that needs to be shipped.
Then, it’s just a matter of taking mere readings and turning off mains for electricity, gas and water. See you in Australia!

How to pack your goods?

Moving house to Australia which involves shipping household items should be done in accordance with import/export standards. Failure to comply with them may result in staling or impounding of your goods at customs. There are precisely defined rules on what to pack, how to pack it and, crucially, how to label your goods appropriately.

Cleaning

It is essential that any items of outdoor furniture that may have come into contact wit animals, plants, soil and water are treated with a disinfectant. Jeyes fluid is a recommended choice. Milton disinfectant will help you clean your shoes. Here’s a list of all that needs disinfecting before import packing:

clothes: wetsuits, shoes, horse riding equipments
sports equipment: golf clubs, fishing rods, etc.
animal bedding and grooming equipment
waste bins, brooms, vacuum cleaners

Packing

It is highly recommended to use professional international packing services. Our expertise here will ensure a smooth transition through customs. If, however, you wish to go it alone, we will supply appropriate packaging materials and instructions on how to prepare an itemised inventory of your effects and label the packagings.
A few points to consider while packing:

pack carton boxes to capacity placing heavy items on the bottom and cushioning some loose items with excess packing paper
pack items posing a biosecurity threat separately from anything else
do not pack flammables, dangerous items or any items banned from importing into Australia
do not pack half-opened packages of foods
use permanent marker to label boxes
on boxes, write only numbers that correspond with the itemised inventory
label contents specifically

Insurance

A few more words about insuring your shipment. While we provide our clients with professional packing materials, such as carton boxes, tapes and bubble wrap, if you should decide to take care of packing on your own, the insurance will then be limited to “total loss”. You are covered for “all risks” only if your goods are import packed by professionals. To avoid potential issues, please, do not underinsure your items. Instead, provide an accurate calculation of the total worth and insure your shipment for full replacement value at destination. Note that insurance premiums are subject to Insurance Premium Tax.

Covid-19 impact on moving to Australia

How to move safely during Covid-19? All international travellers to Australia must be able to present proof of a full course of vaccination against Covid-19. Arrivals from other countries attempting to enter Australia will have to provide written or electronic proof of vaccination that:

has been issued by an authorised vaccination provider
written or translated into English (certified translation)
must contain:

name as it appears in the passport
date of birth, passport number or national ID number
the vaccine brand name
dates of stages of immunisation