Timeline
Generally 48 hours once all documents received, additional time will be required if entry is subject to Quarantine or other regulatory requirements.
Cost
Atlas Processing Fee – $85.00* +GST
Duty, GST and regulatory charges will be passed on at cost
More information can be found at:
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/busi/cargo-support-trade-and-goods/importing-goods/importing-by-post-or-mail
https://www.abf.gov.au/buying-online/importing-by-post-or-mail
If you receive parcels in the mail from outside Australia you are the importer of those goods, even if the goods were unsolicited.
All goods imported by post or mail (whether for commercial purposes or personal use) are assessed for community protection risks, permit and import requirements, duty, taxes and other charges.
If you receive gifts or donated goods through the mail, these are still subject to assessment for duty, taxes and other charges (where applicable).
This page provides details about the importing process for low value goods. For detail about the law applying GST to low value imported goods and how this is collected see Tax on retail sales of goods and services into Australia on the ATO website.
All imported goods are screened by the Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
If your goods arrive in Australia by mail and are prohibited goods under any Commonwealth law, we can hold the goods until you can produce a permit or approval to import the goods.
If you have imported prohibited or restricted goods, we will send you an Information Sheet (Seizure of Prohibited/Restricted Imports) advising that we are holding your goods and why, what you need to do, and who to contact for assistance.
Goods that arrive by mail and have a declared or assessed value of AUD1000 or less, there are generally no duties, taxes or charges at the border, unless they are alcoholic beverages.
However, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) may be collected by overseas vendors of such low value goods when imported from overseas by consumers in Australia (excluding alcoholic beverages). GST will be charged at the point of sale and not at the border.
For more information, see GST on low value imported goods.
Once cleared by us and Agriculture, these goods will be delivered to you by Australia Post.
Note: When goods are assessed for value, we may request evidence from you as to the value of the goods. In this case, you will receive a letter requesting you to provide evidence to substantiate the declared value.
If the declared value of your goods is accepted by us, your goods will be delivered to you by Australia Post.
If the declared value of your goods is not accepted by us, you will be sent a First Notice by Australia Post.
If the goods you have imported have a declared or assessed value of over AUD1000, you will be sent a First Notice by Australia Post advising that you will need to lodge an Import Declaration with us for the goods.
The Import Declaration will be assessed for duty and taxes and an import processing charge (83KB PDF) will also be applied. After you have lodged your Import Declaration, we will advise you of the amount you need to pay before your goods can be delivered.
Goods with a value over AUD1000 are unable to be to be delivered by Australia Post unless an Import Declaration is made and any duty, taxes and charges owing are paid in full
If you take no action within 30 days of receiving a First Notice then Australia Post may return the goods to the sender (excluding tobacco and tobacco products).
If you import alcoholic beverages by mail with a value of AUD1000 or less, we will send you an invoice advising the duty and taxes payable. You need to pay this invoice before your goods will be delivered to you.
If the goods have a value of over AUD1000 you must lodge an Import Declaration.
If you choose not to pay for the duty and GST on the alcohol products within 30 days of the payment advice, the goods may be returned to sender.
Most tobacco products are ‘prohibited imports’. This includes cigarettes, molasses tobacco and loose leaf tobacco. Exemptions to this prohibition apply for cigars, chewing tobacco and snuffs intended for oral use up to 1.5kg.
Prohibited tobacco products cannot be imported by international post or mail. The Australian Border Force will seize prohibited tobacco products that arrive by post as a prohibited import and the goods will be destroyed.
You must pay the applicable customs duty and taxes on any imported tobacco at the time of importation, in order to receive your goods. If you choose not to pay the duty and taxes within 30 days of the invoice, the goods will be treated as abandoned and will be destroyed.
Tobacco or tobacco products cannot be returned to sender.
Further information on the measures is available at Prohibited goods – Tobacco.
If a parcel (one consignment (324KB PDF)) addressed to you contains goods or packages for other people (such as your friends or relatives) and the parcel has a declared or assessed value of more than AUD1000, you will need to lodge an Import Declaration. Duty, taxes and charges, where applicable, are payable for all the goods in that parcel.
Customs law does not permit a parcel to be split or broken down into separate items for assessment, even when the items were imported for other people.
Some consignments through the Postal System will be subject to some form of biosecurity inspection. Agriculture will conduct this inspection.
Agriculture has information on their website about importing. This includes tips for cleaning your goods before you pack them. There is also details on Agriculture’s fees and charges.
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