Sea Freight Customs Clearance

Backed by a Duty Minimisation Guarantee

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How it Works

Step One

You will be notified that your shipment or container has arrived at a port in Australia, by either your freight forwarder or shipping line.
To get your sea freight customs clearance underway, click the button on this page to complete the online form and submit all supporting documentation, including your commercial invoice and packing declaration.

Step Two

Your goods are assessed and the Sea Freight Customs Broker team at ACC apply duty minimisation strategies, so that the duty and GST payable on your sea freight is as low as legally possible. Your declaration is then lodged electronically with Customs for the quickest possible turnaround.

Step Three

We receive notification of clearance from the Australian Border Force / Customs and Biosecurity. If you have requested us to arrange your final mile transport, we will do so; or if you are arranging your own, we will advise you once your shipment is clear for collection.

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What you need for a Sea Freight Customs Clearance

Your supplier commercial invoice or purchase receipt.

If you do not have a receipt or commercial invoice,
please download this document to make your Personal Declaration.

Certificate of Origin (for Free Trade Agreement purposes and if available)

Suppliers Packing declaration (template here)

Bill of Lading (from your freight forwarder or shipping line)

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What it Costs

Select your service

Customs & Government Fees

Goods ‹ $1,000 = Nil (Conditions apply)
Goods > $1,000 = 5% Duty, 10% GST + $83 Gov Fee
Goods > $10,000 = 5% Duty, 10% GST + $152 Gov Fee

We Guarantee Duty Minimisation for 4 years.

Duty and/or GST exemptions may apply. Over 82% of import trade into Australia can potentially gain duty free entry – but a sea freight customs broker has the knowledge to make sure this is applied correctly.

As a guide, if duty were to apply, allow 5% Customs Duty + 10% GST (excluding excisable goods such as alcohol and tobacco products, as these are much higher and based on weight / litres).

Duty is calculated on the price paid for your goods, plus any costs to get your items to the port in country of origin. Convert these charges to Australian dollars using the exchange rate for the day your goods left the Country of Origin, as this is the amount you pay your duty % on. GST is charged @ 10% on the Cost of Goods + Freight + Insurance + Duty.

Additional charges for sea freight customs clearance services may apply.

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Full Container and LCL Customs Clearance

Importing goods via sea can be a long and daunting process. Whether you are importing a full container load (FCL) or less than a container load (LCL), our sea freight customs broker team have the expertise to:

get your goods signed off as quickly as possible;
and minimise the amount of duty and GST you need to pay.

At ACC, we have a sea freight customs broker team ready to assist you at all major ports in Australia, including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantle.

Once your goods have arrived in port, you can submit your documents via the button on this webpage and leave it in our capable hands. You will receive an email notification with collection instructions once they have cleared customs.

Shipping goods by sea already takes a great deal of co-ordinating. Clearing your goods through Customs (and sometimes Quarantine) makes it an even more complicated process - particularly if you require LCL customs clearance.

When you choose ACC for your sea freight customs clearance, your shipment becomes our priority - and our services are backed up by our duty minimisation guarantee.

Ready to begin? Simply click "Begin Clearance" and fill in the online form to get the process underway. You will be required to provide information about all imported goods, as well as personal details and consignment information.

Once our customs broker team has all the relevant information, we can take care of the process and expedite clearance for you.

Contact ACC today for all your sea freight customs clearance needs.

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FAQ

What documents should I present at the depot when collecting my goods?

You will need a copy of the Air Waybill (AWB) and photo ID. You are not required to present any customs documentation as we utilise the same Customs Integrated Cargo System as the airlines so your AWB will be flagged in the system as customs cleared.

We recommend that you contact the airline bonded warehouse if you are collecting on behalf of another individual or company. In general, you are required to present a ‘letter of authority’ if you are collecting a consignment on behalf of another entity. Airline bonded facilities differ in their collection process and 3rd party requirements, so clarification is required prior to pick-up to ensure you have the correct documentation to prevent unnecessary delays.