Destination: Australia
Immigration & Visa Information
Investigating and arranging Immigration and Visa procurement for your pending relocation, can often be time-consuming and confusing. Allow Wridgways to remove this burden and handle all your Visa and Immigration requirements, we do it for our valued clients everyday. Wridgways relocation consultants offer extensive experience in this field of expertise and can provide advice and reassurance every step of the way.
Whether you require a work visa, a temporary entry visa or re-entry stamps, our consultants will provide you with all the necessary forms and information in order to complete this seemingly, daunting task. After-all, that's what we are here for.
» Email us for further details.
General Visa Information
Non-Australian citizens require a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enter and spend time in Australia. With the exception of New Zealand citizens, all foreign nationals must obtain a visa/ETA before travelling to Australia. New Zealand citizens are issued with a visa on arrival in Australia.
Visas are available from Australian visa offices, such as Australian embassies, high commissions and consulates. They are also available, in ETA form, from travel agents and airlines in certain countries. With an ETA, you don't need a stamp in your passport, as they are confirmed electronically on your arrival.
Standard three-month tourist visas, valid for multiple entries over one year, are issued free. Six-month visas incur a fee. If you're on a three-month visa and want to stay longer, you can extend your visa - contact the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Remember to apply at least a month prior to the expiration of your visa.
Citizens from Britain, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea, Malta, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Hong Kong aged between 18 and 30 and without children can also apply for a 12-month working holiday visa, which allows the holder to work for up to three months with any one employer.
Company Sponsorship Visas allow companies to sponsor overseas residents for full-time positions in Australia. The position is usually of a highly skilled nature, and the applicant must possess the necessary training and experience to fill the position. A Business (Long Stay) Visa will allow you to travel freely to and from Australia, and to take up a full-time position with an Australian company. The visa can be valid for up to 4 years, and may be extended, if necessary. As this visa is granted on the basis of sponsorship, you will need permission from the Department of Immigration if you wish to change employer or occupation, which will involve lodging a new visa application. Applications may be made in overseas countries or whilst temporarily in Australia, provided your existing visa will allow it.
Visas should always be arranged several months prior to travel to Australia, plan well ahead.
For more information regarding migrating or visiting Australia or other Visa issues please visit:
» Australian Immigration Department
Quarantine - Prohibited items into Australia
Due to strict Australian quarantine and customs regulations, there are various items that are prohibited from entering Australia. We have listed some of these items to assist you. Email us – we are always happy to assist with your enquiry. Should you have any specific questions relating to prohibited items into Australia, please visit
» Department of Agriculture
When importing goods into Australia all foodstuffs should not be included. Equally important, all traces of soil and other foreign matter should be removed from items such as vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, golf clubs, garden tools, wheelbarrows, etc prior to your removal uplift day.
The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) maintains a high level of physical inspections on incoming consignments into Australia of personal and household effects. AQIS applies a fee for services accordingly and these fees are recovered from the importer upon arrival of the consignment in Australia. Fumigation and other AQIS inspection treatments will also attract a fee.
To clear your goods through Australian Customs you will need to complete a B534 Customs Form and provide a photocopy of all stamped pages of your current passport. This can be done either in Australia or at your point of origin.
To obtain a copy of the B534 form (Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement), visit:
» Department of Agriculture and click on TOOLS and then FORMS or contact:
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
GPO Box 858
Canberra, ACT 2601
Phone: (02) 6272 3999
Fax: (02) 6272 5888
E-mail: importweb@aqis.gov.au
Prohibited Goods - The following goods must be declared:
- Seeds and nuts - includes commercially packaged seeds, seed ornaments and necklaces (some seeds are prohibited), nuts out of shell such as salted nuts, in foil or roasted
- Plant products - straw packaging, wooden articles, artifacts, handicrafts and curios - includes wreaths and decorations made of cereal or grain, articles stuffed with seeds or straw, carvings, items made from palm fronds or leaves (items made from banana leaves are prohibited)
- Animal products - includes any items made with rawhide, such as drums, shields, artifacts, dog chews; and any treated skins, hides, furs, hair or feathers (some may be prohibited under international wildlife legislation)
- Food - includes cooked, uncooked and ingredients
- Dried fruit and vegetables
- Herbs and spices of any kind - includes herbal medicines and remedies, tonics, teas
- Biscuits, cakes and confectionery - includes chocolate, sweets, crisps, nuts, pretzels
- Noodles and rice - includes processed and instant meals (noodles containing meat are prohibited)
- Teas, coffees, and milk based drinks
- Bamboo, cane or rattan basketware and mats - including coconut carvings, cane baskets
- Wooden articles - includes painted and lacquered items
- Fresh flowers and leis - (flowers that can be propagated such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemums, are prohibited)
- Dried flower arrangements
- Pine cones and potpourri - includes natural and decorative products such as wreaths
- Shells or coral in any form - includes jewellery, curios and souvenirs (some may be prohibited under international wildlife legislation)
- Feathers, bones, horns and tusks - must be clean and free of blood, skin, dung or soil
- Stuffed animals - must be accompanied by a certificate stating that they have been prepared by a taxidermist (some may be prohibited under international wildlife legislation)
- Wool (unprocessed) and animal hair - includes yarns, crafted rugs and clothing. Wool must be scoured and hair cleaned
- Animal equipment (used) - includes clothing, footwear, grooming and veterinary equipment, saddles, bridles and birdcages
- Sporting and camping equipment - includes tents, footwear, hiking boots, golfing equipment and bicycles
- Bee products
Goods you cannot bring:
- Dairy, eggs and egg products
Includes whole, dried and powdered egg and some products with egg as an ingredient (infant formula accompanying an infant, and NZ dairy products are allowed) - Live animals
Includes birds, birds' eggs, fish, reptiles and insects - Meat and meat products
Includes all uncanned or fresh, dried, frozen, smoked or salted meat - Seeds and nuts
Includes raw unroasted nuts, raw peanuts, chestnuts and popping corn - Fresh fruit and vegetables
Includes all fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables - Live plants
Includes cuttings, roots, bulbs, corns, rhizomes and stems - Handicrafts and souvenirs that contain or are made from seeds
- Salmon and trout products - ask about special import conditions (canned salmon is allowed)
- Biological materials - includes human/animal vaccines and therapeutic goods (ask about special import conditions)
- Deer horn/velvet, edible birds nest packaged products - deer horn and/or antler from NZ are allowed (with certification)
- Soil and sand - includes items filled with soil or sand (rocks free of soil and sand are allowed)
NOTE: Information in this guide is correct at the time of publishing. Quarantine conditions may change without notice. For accurate and detailed information, please visit the
» Department of Agriculture
Communication
Australia offers a high-quality communications network throughout the country. Public pay phones are conveniently located in all towns and cities, in hotels, railway stations and in most public places. Local telephone calls are a fixed rate and are not timed, they are usually charged at 40 cents per call. Most phones accept coins, pre-paid phone cards and some accept major credit cards. Mobile phone coverage in Australia is also extremely good.
To make an international call to Australia, the international country code is 61, followed by the appropriate city code for (ie Sydney is 2, Melbourne is 3, etc), followed by the local number. When making an international call from Australia, you will be required to dial 0011+ the country code + area code (minus the 0) + phone number. For assistance, call International directory assistance on 1225.
Driving in Australia
New residents are permitted to drive on an overseas licence, for the first three months of arrival to Australia. However, after this period a test must be taken (usually oral) if you already hold an International licence.
Australians drive on the left hand side of the road and seatbelts are compulsory. Random police breath testing is common place on Australian roads, as the laws relating to drink driving are extremely strict in all Australian states and territories.
Speed limits vary from state to state, although generally built-up or suburban areas are 50km per hour or 60km (30-35 miles) per hour and 100km (62 miles) per hour on open roads and freeways.
Emergency Services
Emergency Numbers:
Fire, police, ambulance: 000
Lifeline counselling service: 13-11-14
Poisons information: 13-11-26
Currency $
Australia has a decimal system with 100 cents to the dollar (AUD$). Coins have values of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and AUD$1 and AUD$2; notes have values of AUD$5, AUD$10, AUD$20, AUD$50 and AUD$100.
Banks and foreign exchange
In general, Australia's banking hours are Monday to Thursday 9.30am-4pm and Friday 9.30am-5pm. All the major banks, such as Westpac, ANZ, Commonwealth and National, have offices in most capital cities. Many of the smaller towns in regional Australia offer banking facilities from the local post office or newsagent. In Australia, all main banks are equipped to exchange foreign currency. You can also exchange foreign currency any day or night at the airport, or during normal business hours at most Thomas Cook or American Express outlets.
Bank cash-dispenser machines, known here as Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are widespread, as is the use of Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPOS). Credit cards are widely accepted.
Tipping
Tipping is not as widespread in Australia, as it is in USA or Europe. It is usual to pay a ten per cent (10%) gratuity on top of the price of a restaurant meal, if the diner feels the service warrants the additional payment.
In taxis, it is accepted to 'round-up' the fare to the nearest dollar, but not obligatory. Bar staff, hospitality workers, etc are usually only tipped to reward outstanding service and at the discretion of the tipper.
Pet transport
The issue of bringing your precious pet into Australia can be quite involved and requires serious consideration. The regulations pertaining to pet importation to Australia vary, depending on the country of origin.
Allow Wridgways to carefully plan and transport your precious pet anywhere worldwide. Wridgways relocation consultants can provide advice and reassurance every step of the way: email us.
Information on importing dogs and cats into Australia, including information sheets, quarantine fees, application process, approved countries, and quarantine accommodation is available from the
» Department of Agriculture
Vehicle Transport
When importing a vehicle into Australia, you are required to obtain an import permit from the Department of Transport & Regional Services in Canberra, Australia.
You must apply for and be granted the permit before shipping the vehicle to Australia. Under no circumstances should you make arrangements to ship your vehicle until you are absolutely sure you have been granted this import permit. It is now an offence to ship a vehicle to Australia without the required permit.
Please note that 15% duty will be payable on the vehicle plus 10% GST calculated on the Australian Customs value of the vehicle, transport and insurance costs. Also 25% luxury tax may be applicable for vehicles. These duties/taxes will be required to be paid to Australian Customs before they will release the vehicle.
Further information is available from the following websites:
» Dept of Transport & Regional Services
» Aust. Customs (PDF document)
» Information on Importing Vehicles into Australia
Customs Regulations
Prior to landing on Australian soil, you will be handed an immigration form to fill out, as well as Customs and Agriculture Declaration forms. Australia has particularly strict quarantine laws - you must declare all goods of animal or plant origin, and you're not allowed to bring into the country fresh fruit or vegetables. If you're concerned about bringing any items into Australia, declare them. And if you've been snacking on the flight, place any leftovers in the amnesty quarantine bins available in the arrival area or on the way to the luggage collection bay.
Unaccompanied goods, including your household effects, are sometimes subject to the payment of duty/tax if you have not both used and owned the goods for 12 months or more, prior to shipment. Brand new items are subject to payment of duty/tax. If you require clarification on this issue please email us or visit
» Australian Customs.
Real Estate & Accommodation
If seeking short term accommodation in Australia, contact our expert relocation consultants, who are happy to assist you in finding the perfect rental home or apartment. They can even arrange temporary furnishings and fittings until your household shipment is safely delivered. Email us for further information or visit the following sites:
» Accommodation Australia
» Australian Tourism
Relocation Solutions
Wridgways recognises that there is so much more to moving employees around the globe than just handing them an air ticket and offering to move their personal and household goods. Companies are now recognising the need to be competitive with their expatriate and domestic relocation programs which does not necessarily involve cash remuneration.
A more sophisticated approach in rewarding employees for moving to another city, state or country can be achieved by offering comprehensive relocation services to aid and enhance the family's experiences. Services such as cross cultural briefing, language lessons and home search are considered essential items.
Many corporations recognise that managing a relocation process is not a 'core' business function and that human resource staff are better deployed in more strategic areas. Hence the popularity of outsourcing or total assignment management with a business partner who understands the company's goals and strategies and can act as an outside business unit working co-operatively towards these strategies.
Wridgways relocation division, Move Solutions solves the relocation jigsaw by offering a total management program delivered by professional, experienced and innovative consultants who are as passionate about your employees success as you are.
Wridgways Move Solutions programs have been designed to offer a comprehensive service for transferring employees and their families. Email our expert consultants for further details or
» Visit our Wridgways Move Solutions website
Services Include:
- Comprehensive destination services
- Orientation
- Education advice and school search
- Settling In Service
- Departure programs
- Repatriation programs
- Cross cultural and diversity briefings
- Visa and migration assistance
- Home Sale/Purchase/Management programs
- Car Sale/Purchase/Lease
- Human resource services
- Assessment and selection of mobility candidates
- Housing differential reports
- Cost of Living differentials
- Partner career counselling
For further details about our relocation services,
» visit our Wridgways Move Solutions website
» Review our services: packing, cleaning, storage, valet, vehicle transport
» Find your nearest branch or storage facility
» Email us
