First Time Importers
Private/ First Time Importers
Goods
If you are importing goods for personal use or have been told by Customs that your ‘personal effects ‘ or ‘unaccompanied baggage’ are not personal effects then you will need a SAC declaration completed to facilitate your Customs clearance
SAC declarations are not used for carnets, personal effects or goods that are sent through the post.
For a SAC to be used to clear goods they must have a Customs value of AUD$1,000 or less and have arrived into Australia by air or sea freight.
Have you
- bought something on Ebay,
- order books for study,
- had a friend or family member send you a gift
then you need a SAC declaration.
If this sounds like you then I will complete your Customs clearance for you. I will ensure that the process is completed efficiently and professionally.
Once you have received notice of your shipment you need to contact me and provide your shipment details.
Once I have received all relevant information from you, I will complete your Customs clearance usually within the hour. Once the Customs clearance is confirmed, subject to AQIS (Quarantine), you can collect your goods.
Please note that a SAC declaration must be lodged before AQIS clearance can take place.
Sea Freight
It may take one to three weeks for your goods to be available for collection if they have arrived by sea freight. This depends on which port the goods have been discharged in, which depot does the unpack and the final destination of your goods. (The goods may have been discharged in Melbourne but the unpack and final destination is in Sydney). Sometimes Customs may place a Border Protection hold on the cargo (Customs endeavours to complete these holds within three working days). If AQIS needs to inspect the goods and further action is required then this will take additional time.
Most depots will usually give you 3-5 days free storage (you will need to confirm this with the depot holding your goods) for the above procedures to be finalised. This is generally sufficient time for these procedures to be completed.
You will also need to collect the deliver order (DO) and pay the local charges to enable collection of your goods.
The basic process for goods that have arrived via sea freight is:
- You receive a pre-alert or arrival notice.
- Local charges need to be paid and Deliver Order collected from the shipping company.
- A SAC declaration needs to be lodged to complete the Customs clearance.
- Once Customs and AQIS clearance is complete you will be able to collect your goods from the depot holding them.
Air Freight
If your goods arrive as air freight the process is generally quicker and the goods can usually be collected on the same day that they arrive.
Most depots will give you 3-5 days free storage (you will need to confirm this with the depot holding your goods) for you to organise your clearance.
The basic process for goods that have arrived via air freight is:
- You receive an arrival notice or phone call from the Cargo Terminal Operator (CTO).
- A SAC declaration needs to be lodged to complete your Customs clearance.
- Local charges need to be paid to the CTO (eg QANTAS, Menzies, Patricks or Australian).
- Once Customs and AQIS clearance is complete you will be able to collect your goods from the CTO holding them
Hints and Tips to make the Process Easier.
If you goods have arrived by sea freight ensure that you have a packing declaration, fumigation certificate (if required) invoices and the Delivery Order.
If your goods have arrived by air freight ensure that you have the arrival notice/airway bill, treatment certificates (if required) and invoices.
Give me as much advance notice as possible for your shipment. This is particularly important with sea freight shipments.
Try to get your shipment details before the free storage period expires otherwise you will incur storage charges from the depot/CTO.