The Complete Moving to Australia Checklist
Relocating to the other side of the world has a lot of moving parts. This checklist breaks the process into clear stages so nothing important slips through the cracks.
Quick answer
Work backwards from the date you want to land, not forwards from today. Sea freight from the UK runs 8–12 weeks on its own, so collection sits about three months before arrival and booking earlier still. Two things cannot be compressed at all: a pet needs a rabies titre test drawn at least 180 days before departure, and a vehicle needs 12 months of prior overseas ownership. The planner below puts real dates against your own arrival date and tells you when one of them has already made it impossible.
Build your move plan
Tell us when you want to land and what you're bringing. Every date below is counted back from your arrival, using the sea transit time for your corridor rather than a generic one — and it will tell you when a date is already impossible.
Sea freight on this route runs about 12 weeks, which is what sets your collection date.
So the plan can sequence around the wait. We don't advise on which visa to apply for — that needs a registered agent.
Start these first
Long lead times that can't be recovered once missed.
- 4 Aug 2027Packing and collection
Your plan — 14 steps
| Date | Step | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 2026 | Gather civil and qualification documentsBirth and marriage certificates, qualifications, employment references, police checks.Skills assessment | Visa |
| 31 Mar 2027 | Complete health examinations when asked for themRequested at a point in the process you do not control, so leave the diary open rather than planning around a date. | Visa |
| 9 Jun 2027 | Book a pre-move surveyIn-home, video or self-survey. This is what turns a guess at your volume into a firm price.Pre-move surveys | Shipping |
| 7 Jul 2027 | Compare quotes and confirm your moverEarlier than most people think, because the sailing you want may not have space left.Shipping to Australia | Shipping |
| 21 Jul 2027 | Decide what is actually goingVolume is the single biggest lever on the price. Everything you do not ship is money you do not spend.Volume calculator | Shipping |
| 4 Aug 2027 | Packing and collectionThe last date the shipment can leave and still be delivered around the time you land. Many people deliberately collect a few weeks later so the shipment follows them rather than waiting on a doorstep they haven't rented yet.Shipping to Australia | Shipping |
| 4 Aug 2027 | Decide on Australian health coverNew migrants get a twelve-month window before the Lifetime Health Cover loading starts counting against them.Health insurance | Admin |
| 18 Aug 2027 | Give notice on work and housingWhichever of the two has the longer notice period sets this date, not the move itself. | Admin |
| 1 Sept 2027 | Check your shipment against the prohibited listSoil on garden tools and untreated wood hold up more shipments than anything exotic.What you can't ship | Shipping |
| 1 Sept 2027 | Set up the currency transferYou need a BSB and account number before a transfer will land; opening the account first avoids a scramble.Sending money to Australia | Admin |
| 15 Sept 2027 | Complete the B534 unaccompanied effects statementYour answers on this form, not the packing list, are what decide whether the container gets inspected.B534 form guide | Shipping |
| 6 Oct 2027 | Close and redirect everything with your name on itUtilities, insurance, subscriptions, mail redirection, and anything on a rolling contract. | Admin |
| 27 Oct 2027 | Arrive in AustraliaCarry your passport, visa grant notice, pet paperwork and the B534 copy in hand luggage. | Admin |
| 27 Oct 2027 | Shipment cleared and deliveredCollected on the date above, a door-to-door shipment lands around now — biosecurity assessment and any inspection that follows are already inside that window, not added to it.Customs and quarantine | Shipping |
Your collection date is the one with money attached — it depends on volume, and volume decides the price. Work out your cubic metres, or get a quote for this move.
2–3 months before you leave
This is when the big logistical decisions are locked in. Booking your international removalist early secures better rates and your preferred shipping dates, which matters because sea freight to Australia typically takes 6–12 weeks in transit depending on your origin.
Who does what
This checklist is your side of the move. For the same timeline from the mover's side — what happens at each stage and what we need from you — see our move process.
- Confirm your visa grant and check the conditions attached to it
- Get quotes and book your international removals shipment
- Research your destination city and neighbourhoods
- Notify schools and request academic records and references
- Start de-cluttering — shipping less reduces your costs
| When | The thing that has to happen | Why it cannot slip |
|---|---|---|
| 6–12 months out | Pet import planning, if you have one | The RNAT blood test must be at least 180 days old on arrival — see [moving pets to Australia](/removals/pets) |
| 2–3 months out | Book the shipment and start de-cluttering | Volume sets the price, and sailings fill in the northern summer peak |
| 2 months out | Request school records and references | Australian enrolment usually wants them before the January school year starts |
| 1 month out | Open the bank account, certify documents, arrange currency | You need funds landed before a rental bond is due |
| Packing week | Clean everything that has touched soil | Treatment on arrival is charged to you and holds the whole container — see [what you can't ship](/removals/prohibited-items) |
| First week in Australia | Tax File Number, Medicare, superannuation fund | Income received before your TFN registers is taxed at a higher rate |
Understanding customs and biosecurity
Australia has strict customs and biosecurity rules, so understanding them early shapes what you pack. To bring household goods in duty- and tax-free as unaccompanied personal effects, you generally need to have owned and used them for at least 12 months before shipping.
You declare your goods to the Australian Border Force using the B534 Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement. Every shipment is subject to mandatory biosecurity inspection by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, so clean any items that have touched soil, plants or animals — outdoor gear, footwear and garden tools are common flags.
- Own and use goods for 12+ months to qualify for duty-free entry
- Complete the B534 statement for unaccompanied personal effects
- Thoroughly clean outdoor equipment, shoes and tools before packing
- Never ship prohibited items such as fresh food, seeds or untreated wood
The final month
With the move approaching, focus shifts to documents, finances and tying up loose ends at home. Getting your banking and currency arrangements sorted now means money is ready to access the moment you land.
- Open an Australian bank account online (you can do this up to 12 months ahead)
- Organise a currency transfer for your savings, comparing the total cost
- Gather and certify key documents (birth, marriage, qualifications)
- Arrange short-term accommodation for your arrival
- Confirm pet and vehicle import arrangements if applicable
- Cancel or transfer home utilities, insurance and subscriptions
What to carry in your hand luggage
Some things should never go in your shipping container, because you'll need them before it arrives — remember your sea freight may be weeks behind you. Keep originals and certified copies of critical documents with you in your hand luggage.
- Passports and visa grant notices for every family member
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Qualification certificates, transcripts and references
- Medical and vaccination records, and any prescriptions
- Driver's licences and an international driving permit if needed
Your first weeks in Australia
Once you land, a handful of admin tasks will get you set up as a resident and ready to start everyday life. Tackling them in the first week or two removes friction from everything that follows, from getting paid to renting a home.
- Apply for a Tax File Number through the ATO
- Enrol in Medicare if eligible
- Activate your bank account in a branch with your passport
- Get an Australian SIM and mobile plan
- Begin your long-term rental search
- Note that customs and quarantine clearance of your shipment can take a further 3–14 working days after arrival
Sources & further reading
- Australian Border Force — Unaccompanied personal effects
- Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Bringing goods into Australia
Figures are indicative and were last reviewed on 7 October 2026. Always confirm current fees and requirements with the relevant official authority before acting.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book international removals?
Aim to book your removalist around two to three months before departure. This secures better pricing and your preferred shipping window, and sea freight can take 6–12 weeks in transit plus several days for customs and quarantine clearance.
What documents should I bring with me?
Carry originals and certified copies of passports, visa grants, birth and marriage certificates, qualifications, references and medical records in your hand luggage rather than in your shipment, since your container may arrive weeks later.
Can I bring my household goods in duty-free?
Generally yes, if you've owned and used the items for at least 12 months before shipping. You declare them on a B534 Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement, and all shipments undergo a mandatory biosecurity inspection.
How long until my shipment clears customs?
After your goods arrive in Australia, customs and quarantine clearance typically takes a further 3 to 14 working days, depending on inspection requirements and whether any items are flagged for cleaning or treatment.
Related guides
Chosen because they cover the next decision after this one. For everything else, see all moving to Australia guides.
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