It can be challenging to understand your responsibilities if you’re unfamiliar with the customs clearance process and the complexities of importing goods into Melbourne. It can be difficult to understand your responsibilities and if you don’t ensure accuracy in this area, you could cost yourself time and money.
With ever-increasing regulatory requirements on imported goods, a licensed customs broker provides invaluable assistance, ensuring your goods enter into Victoria most efficiently — meeting all legal obligations while minimising costs. Our Melbourne customs brokers have built strong relationships with the Australian Border Force (ABF), Department of Agriculture, and other regulatory authorities to expedite your clearances.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) oversees Australia’s customs services and requires any items arriving via sea, air or post to be classified before being cleared and sent to the recipient. For more than 40 years, Worldwide Customs and Forwarding Agents (WWCF) has developed a solid reputation amongst Melbourne-based businesses and individuals seeking a professional customs brokerage service to identify the fastest and most affordable way to import their goods.
Think of us as a conduit between importers and the government. We work with companies across all industries, and of all shapes and sizes — from startups to long-established industry leaders, and everything in between — to ensure goods are classified correctly and all tax and border security obligations are met, in the most cost effective way.
The support of a licensed customs broker in Melbourne will help you navigate all complexities, avoiding unnecessary and costly delays. We tap into our team’s up-to-date knowledge and strong relationships to make sure your imports are charged at the correct rate, and all relevant duty concessions and free trade agreements are applied.
If you’re importing goods into Melbourne, a customs broker will be the one to look after all of your needs. They can take care of everything by finding ways to minimise import taxes and meet all of the highly regulated customs and quarantine requirements.
Completing all clearance requirements accurately will save you valuable time. Our Melbourne customs brokers handle all documentation, tariff classification, and compliance checks so you can focus on running your business.
Every imported item must be assigned the correct HS code (Harmonised System code) to determine applicable duties and taxes – our comprehensive guide to HS codes and tariff classification explains how this system works and why accuracy matters.
We process hundreds of clearances every week through Melbourne’s ports and Melbourne Airport, giving us deep expertise in local procedures and requirements.
We are well-versed at working with personal importers moving effects from overseas as they relocate to Australia, as well as those who make a one-off online purchase without realising the tax and import considerations needed. Whether you’re a large commercial importer or an individual bringing personal belongings into the country, our team provides the same level of professional service.
WWCF has been providing customs brokerage services in Melbourne for over four decades. Our team of licensed customs brokers are fully accredited by the Australian Border Force and maintain ongoing professional development to stay across the latest regulatory changes, free trade agreements, and tariff updates.
We handle all types of imports into Melbourne including commercial cargo, personal effects, motor vehicles, temporary imports, and goods requiring permits from agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Timeframes depend on the type of goods and mode of transport. Sea freight arriving at the Port of Melbourne typically requires 1-3 business days for customs clearance once documentation is in order. Air freight through Melbourne Airport can often be cleared within the same day or next business day.
Our customs brokers maintain direct electronic connections with the Australian Border Force’s Integrated Cargo System (ICS), allowing us to lodge import declarations and receive clearance notifications in real time. This means we can identify and resolve any issues immediately, keeping your cargo moving without unnecessary delays.
Any business or individual importing goods into Melbourne can benefit from professional customs brokerage services. Our clients range from multinational corporations with regular shipments to first-time importers navigating the process for the first time. Industries we serve include manufacturing, retail, automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, mining, and e-commerce.
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) is one of Australia’s busiest cargo airports, processing millions of tonnes of international freight annually. Our Melbourne customs brokers have extensive experience clearing goods through Melbourne Airport’s cargo terminals, including express clearances for time-sensitive shipments.
We maintain strong working relationships with cargo handlers, freight forwarders, and airline cargo departments at Melbourne Airport, ensuring smooth coordination throughout the clearance process. Whether your goods arrive via passenger aircraft belly-hold or dedicated freighter services, we have the expertise to manage your customs clearance efficiently.
Our Melbourne office is strategically located to service the Port of Melbourne, Melbourne Airport, and surrounding industrial areas. This proximity allows us to respond quickly to clearance issues, arrange physical cargo examinations when required, and provide face-to-face consultations with clients across greater Melbourne.
Visit our Melbourne office or call us on 1300 960 616 to discuss your customs brokerage needs. Our team is available to provide free quotes and expert advice on importing goods into Melbourne and Victoria.
Ideally, it is always preferable to contact us as soon as you receive your shipping documents. By doing this, we can help ensure that all paperwork is thoroughly filled out and submitted correctly and promptly, avoiding unnecessary delays due to incorrect or incomplete information.
When your items have arrived, allowing us to handle the clearance process, including communications with quarantine and customs officials, will make things much easier. We'll also ensure that any import taxes are correct, so you don't have surprises.
Next, you can choose to use our fast Melbourne freight forwarding service, that leaves straight out of Tullamarine airport. We'll safely transport your cargo straight to your door.
Our customs brokers are experts in importing goods into Melbourne and achieving fast customs clearance. Having been in operation for four decades, our team has a long-standing relationships with all major airlines and shipping companies, and we are trusted by clients and officials to get the job done properly. These pre-existing connections help streamline the customs clearance process.
With a wide and ever-changing range of available concessions, exemptions and trade agreements, you can count on our knowledge to make sure you don’t overpay import tax, and can take advantage of any applicable discounts and reductions. Our Melbourne customs clearance brokers will work with you to expedite the customs clearance of your shipments.
We’ll streamline and help navigate the complex processes when dealing with the ABF and Department of Home Affairs, and Department of Agriculture, to name just a few government bodies. We’ll also make sure factors including cultural heritage and biosecurity risks are properly considered and managed, so your goods will be cleared in a timely manner, without any unnecessary and costly hold-ups.
A customs clearance broker is just another term for a customs broker. There is no difference except for the title.
Under the Australian Customs Act, the owner of imported goods or licenced customs broker (licences are granted by the CEO of the Australian Border Force) are the only authorised people allowed to submit a declaration for imported goods.
Due to the complexity of the laws governing the importation of goods, plus the potential financial and other implications of incorrect information being included as part of a declaration, the majority of importers opt to work with a customs broker to avoid unnecessary costs and delays.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) is the body that oversees Australia’s customs services, and requires any items arriving via sea, air or post to be classified before being cleared and sent to the recipient.
For more than 40 years, Worldwide Customs and Forwarding Agents (WWCF) has developed a solid reputation amongst Aussie-based businesses and individuals seeking a brokerage service to identify the fastest and most affordable way to import their goods.
Think of us as a conduit between importers and the government. We work with companies across all industries, and of all shapes and sizes - from startups to long-established industry leaders, and everything in between - to ensure goods are classified correctly and all tax and border security obligations are met, in the most cost effective way.
The support of a licensed customs broker will help you navigate all complexities, avoiding unnecessary and costly delays. We’ll tap into our team’s up-to-date knowledge and strong relationships to make sure your imports are charged at the correct rate, and all relevant duty concessions and free international trade agreements are applied.
And it’s not just Melbourne businesses that we support with our customs brokerage expertise! We are well-versed at working with personal importers moving effects from overseas as they relocate to Australia, as well as those who make a one-off online purchase without realising the tax and import considerations needed.
All goods imported into Australia with a value of more than $1,000 must be cleared at customs, with a completed import declaration, and payment of all duty, GST and other applicable taxes and charges.
For all imports with a value of AU$1,000 or more, import taxes are applicable. The actual amount will vary depending on the specifics of the imported items.
Use our handy tax calculator to provide you with an estimate
While import duty is generally 5% and import GST is 10%, various free trade agreements and duty concessions can be applied to your imports, where applicable. Speak to one of our experts for guidance on which of these may be appropriate for your items.
Goods valued below AU$1,000 (except those arriving by post) can be cleared by the Australian Border Force using a simple self-assessment, or ‘SAC declaration’. In most cases your customs broker will be able to make this relatively straightforward declaration on your behalf.
On top of your expected customs duty and GST fees, there are usually two main costs that your customs broker in Australia may charge you:
1. A flat service fee: This can range anywhere from $75.00 for post customs clearance to $139.00 for sea freight customs, and $178.00 for air freight customs.
2. Government fees: You’ll also have to pay a $50.00 processing / Government entry fee and your customs broker will notify you of any additional Government fees that may apply.
A custom broker is there to take the headache out of managing your imports, and ensure that the necessary documentation is filled out correctly. They’ll work with you to submit an import declaration that allows you to import goods into Australia and ensure that you’re bale to bring your goods into the country in the first place. Upon receival of your clearance documentation, they check and ensure that it’s accurate, and classify your products so they get checked by the right Federal agency. They then liaise between yourself and the Government departments involved with your import on your behalf.
While there’s no legal requirement to use a customs broker, a licensed customs broker makes it easy to import goods into Australia. They work on your behalf to ensure your goods are imported in line with the Australian Customs Act 1901. They minimise any delays in your goods imports, calculate your import duties correctly, and reduce any risk of non-compliance, so you avoid any potential fines.
We recommend using a customs broker when possible. Australian import regulations can be convoluted, and easy to get wrong if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are complex laws to navigate, and lots of red tape involved. Your customs broker understands the legislation, and acts on your behalf to liaise with the necessary Government agencies to ensure your goods are imported correctly.
The difference between a customs broker and freight forwarder lies in where they sit in your supply chain.
A freight forwarder manages the logistics and transportation of your goods from one location to another and know the best companies to use to transport specific types of goods. They’ll also have relationships with suppliers and can negotiate better transport prices on your behalf.
On the other hand, a customs broker handles the next steps: they help ensure your goods can enter the country, that you pay the right import fees, and your import complies with all necessary Australian customs laws
Yes we do! We even have specialist brokers skilled in this specific area, due to the distinct complexities associated with bringing personal effects into the country from overseas.
You can pretty much clear any items, as long as they’re not illegal or prohibited! Narcotics, firearms and rare animal products are therefore out of the question. Other items may not be outright prohibited, but may require a permit. For instance, you couldn’t just order a dinosaur bone as an individual, but if you were a museum representative with the intention of displaying the bone, you may be eligible for a permit.
Broadly speaking, the answer is no. While you won’t generally need a license (or any form of ongoing permission) to import goods, depending on the nature of the items you may need to secure a one-off permit. This is particularly likely if you are importing items that could be seen to pose a biosecurity risk.
