Five Things to Know When Exporting to Australia for the First Time
When you first start exporting products to any country, there are many things to consider. Every nation will have its own set of specific rules, regulations, and fees that need to be adhered to strictly. There is a lot of work that goes into importing products and goods internationally, but we’ve made the research easy. Here are 5 of the most relevant things to keep in mind when importing to Australia.
Importing laws and government regulations
Always check in on government websites to make sure that you have a thorough understanding of the laws and regulations for imports. There may be specific restrictions or prohibitions on products you can import, taxes or duty on values over a certain amount, and even extra fees. Government websites are also full of useful advice and guidelines for first-time importers, so this is an essential resource to help make your import to Australia as easy as possible.
Quarantines and Restrictions
Before importing goods, you need to thoroughly research the quarantines and restrictions that are in place and that customs officials will be on the lookout for. Australia is famous for its strict border security, and if you aren’t prepared with all the up-to-date information regarding quarantines and restrictions, you could potentially lose your incoming import to officials. There are also licensing, quarantine and imports permits that are specific to the category of the goods that you are looking to import.
Extra Fees
To make your import to Australia successful, you need to have a strong understanding of all the fees you will need to pay. These include tariffs, taxes, import duty, as well as goods and service sales tax.
Customs broker
If all these fees, tariffs, and restrictions seem overwhelming and confusing, you can hire a customs broker to make sure you tick all the boxes when it comes to importing. A customs broker can be an essential partner when you are first importing goods to Australia, and hiring one in the early stages can give you the confidence and knowledge to importing independently later down the line.
Foreign Currency
If you don’t have an Australian bank, also keep in mind that you will have to pay in Australian dollars, and you should always notify your bank to avoid causing suspicion.