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importing.com.au

6 min read · Updated October 2026

Illustration for the guide: Getting Started: Importing into Australia

Key takeaways

  • Check the ABF prohibited list and BICON before you buy — some goods need permits before shipping.
  • AUD 1,000 is the key threshold: below it most goods clear with no duty/GST at the border.
  • Border clearance is not product-safety approval — ACCC standards apply before you can sell.

Getting Started: Importing into Australia

Free download: First Import Checklist (PDF) — every step below as a printable one-pager.

The end-to-end process

  1. Confirm your goods are allowed. Check the ABF prohibited/restricted list and BICON for biosecurity conditions. Some goods need permits before shipping.
  2. Get an ABN. Commercial importers need an Australian Business Number; it identifies you to the ABF and ATO.
  3. Classify your goods. Find the tariff classification (HS code) in the Working Tariff — this determines the duty rate and any restrictions. See the HS codes guide.
  4. Calculate landed cost. Duty + GST + freight + insurance + charges. Use our landed cost calculator.
  5. Arrange shipping and Incoterms with your supplier.
  6. Lodge a declaration. Under AUD 1,000: Self-Assessed Clearance (SAC). Over AUD 1,000: full Import Declaration via ICS.
  7. Pay duty/GST (or defer GST via the ATO scheme).
  8. Biosecurity clearance. DAFF inspects or releases goods based on BICON conditions.
  9. Comply with product rules before selling: labelling, safety standards, RCM, TGA, etc.

Which importer are you?

Type Typical path
Personal online shopper Goods under AUD 1,000: usually nothing to do — GST collected at checkout by seller/marketplace. Over AUD 1,000: lodge an Import Declaration when Australia Post notifies you.
Traveller Incoming Passenger Card; duty-free allowances AUD 900 (adults) / AUD 450 (under 18), 2.25 L alcohol, 25 g tobacco. Declare everything.
Small business / e-commerce ABN + SAC/Import Declarations; check BICON, ACCC, labelling rules before ordering stock. See Importing for E-commerce.
Commercial importer (ongoing) ABN, ICS registration, customs broker, GST deferral scheme, tariff concession/FTA planning.

First-time importer checklist

  • Product checked against ABF prohibited/restricted list
  • BICON conditions checked (food, plant, animal, timber, used goods)
  • HS/tariff classification confirmed and duty rate looked up
  • ABN obtained (business)
  • Landed cost modelled (product + freight + insurance + duty + GST + charges)
  • Incoterm agreed with supplier (e.g., FOB, CIF, DDP)
  • Supplier provides commercial invoice, packing list, Certificate of Origin (if claiming FTA)
  • Import Declaration or SAC arranged (self or broker)
  • GST deferral scheme applied for (if eligible)
  • Labelling/product compliance sorted before sale

Use our interactive checklist generator to build a personalised version of this list.

Key thresholds

Threshold Consequence
AUD 1,000 Below: no duty/GST at border (except alcohol/tobacco); above: full Import Declaration required
AUD 900 / 450 Traveller duty-free general goods allowance (adult / under 18)
AUD 82.50 Minimum tax-invoice value to claim GST credits

Common mistakes

  • Assuming "asbestos-free" overseas certification means asbestos-free by Australian standards (it doesn't).
  • Shipping wooden packaging or goods with bark/soil without treatment.
  • Under-declaring value — ABF reassesses, penalises, and can seize goods.
  • Forgetting that GST applies to freight and insurance too (VoTI).
  • Selling imported goods that don't meet ACCC mandatory standards — border clearance is not product-safety approval.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to import goods into Australia?

There is no general import licence. You need an ABN if importing commercially, and specific permits only for restricted goods (weapons, medicines, tobacco, wildlife products) or biosecurity-controlled goods listed in BICON.

What is the first thing I should check before ordering stock from overseas?

Check the ABF prohibited and restricted goods list and search BICON for biosecurity conditions on your exact product and origin country. Some goods need permits before they ship, and some cannot be imported at all.

Do I need a customs broker as a first-time importer?

Not legally — you can self-lodge through the ICS with a digital certificate. But for goods over AUD 1,000, restricted items, or anything with biosecurity conditions, a licensed customs broker usually saves money by avoiding delays, storage fees and classification errors.

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