Shipping from Germany to Australia: auction purchases, art and parts, door to door.
Australia is far and otherwise straightforward: art and antiques are duty-free, GST is 10 %, and consignments over AUD 1,000 clear on a full import declaration. We collect in northwest Germany, pack for the long journey, prepare the export documents and ship insured to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or anywhere else in the country.
Shipping to Australia: what to expect.
3 to 5 working days door to door with DHL Express, UPS or FedEx, plus clearance.
0 %: chapter 97 (paintings, sculptures, prints, collectors' items, antiques over 100 years) is free in the Australian tariff.
0 % or 5 % depending on the tariff line. The EU-Australia free trade agreement was concluded in March 2026 but is not yet in force.
10 % on the value plus freight, insurance and duty, collected at the border for consignments over AUD 1,000.
Consignments up to AUD 1,000 clear on a self-assessed declaration without duty or border GST. Above AUD 1,000 a full import declaration with duty, GST and processing charge.
With our export declaration and EU exit confirmation the German auction house or supplier refunds the German VAT to you.
Facts checked October 2026. Rates and thresholds are set by Australian authorities and can change; your quote states what applies on the day.
From the hammer or the supplier to your door in Australia.
Auction purchases
Paintings, prints, sculptures, porcelain, glass, clocks, watches, coins, books and collectors' items from German auction houses. We collect with your authorisation, photograph the condition and pack each piece for its own risk.
Antiques and furniture
Chests, chairs, mirrors, small furniture and decorative objects up to about 1.3 m and a few hundred kilograms, in made-to-measure wooden crates from our workshop. Larger pieces we route to a specialist forwarder and tell you so in advance.
Spare parts and industrial goods
Machine parts, components, samples and small equipment from German suppliers, collected, consolidated, export-packed and shipped with commercial invoice, packing list and the origin statement where a trade agreement saves you duty.
Four steps from Germany to Australia.
- You write to us
Auction house and lot number, or supplier and order, plus your delivery address in Australia. We reply within one working day with a quote that covers collection, packing, export documents and transport.
- We collect
With your authorisation at the auction house, or at the supplier, across northwest Germany. Items are photographed on arrival in Hannover.
- We pack and declare
Made-to-measure packing or a wooden crate, export declaration with EU exit confirmation, commercial invoice with the right HS codes for Australian customs. You pay our invoice after packing, by card or PayPal.
- Delivery to your door
DHL Express, UPS or FedEx with tracking, insured on request for the value you name. Import duty and tax are collected by the carrier on arrival; this page tells you what to expect.
Importing into Australia: duties, VAT and rules.
General information for buyers and importers, not tax or legal advice. Duties and taxes are assessed by the customs authority of Australia on the day of import and collected by the carrier; we prepare the documents so that assessment goes smoothly. Checked October 2026; sources at the end of this page.
Art, antiques and collectors' items
The Australian Customs Tariff lists chapter 97 as free: original paintings and drawings, sculptures, prints, collectors' items and antiques over 100 years pay no duty. GST of 10 % is still charged on the value plus freight and insurance for consignments over AUD 1,000. Investment-grade gold, silver and platinum are GST-free, but collectable and proof coins are taxed like any other goods.
The AUD 1,000 threshold
Consignments with a customs value up to AUD 1,000 are cleared on a self-assessed clearance declaration and are generally free of duty and border GST (tobacco and alcohol excepted). Above AUD 1,000 the carrier lodges a full import declaration and you pay duty, GST and the import processing charge before release. Most auction purchases are above the threshold.
Spare parts and industrial goods
Most machinery and parts carry 0 % or the general 5 % rate depending on the tariff line. The EU-Australia free trade agreement, concluded in March 2026, will remove nearly all tariffs on EU goods once it enters into force; until then the general rates apply. Companies import under their ABN; private recipients receive a client identifier from the Border Force, so no registration is needed in advance.
German VAT refund
If the auction house or supplier charged German VAT, our export declaration with the EU exit confirmation and the commercial invoice are what the seller needs to refund it to you.
Restricted items
Items containing ivory, tortoiseshell or other CITES materials need permits on both sides. Since July 2026 antique handguns made before 1900 are category H firearms and need written permission; we do not ship weapons or militaria in any case. Coins and currency over AUD 10,000 may need an AUSTRAC report.
Frequently asked questions.
Is there duty on art or antiques imported into Australia?
No. Chapter 97 goods are duty-free. You pay 10 % GST on the value plus freight and insurance if the consignment is worth more than AUD 1,000.
How long does express from Germany to Australia take?
3 to 5 working days door to door after dispatch, plus clearance. Air freight for pallets takes about a week longer.
Do you insure shipments to Australia?
On request, for the value you name, hammer price and premium included if you wish. We recommend it for anything fragile or valuable; it is quoted as a separate line so you can decide.
Do I need an ABN or import licence as a private buyer?
No licence is required. Private recipients are identified by a client number the Border Force assigns during clearance; the carrier handles it. Companies import under their ABN.
Can you ship a clock, porcelain or a painting bought at a German auction?
Yes, that is our daily business. We collect from the auction house with your authorisation, pack each piece individually, insure it on request and ship by express.
Will the EU-Australia trade agreement change the duties?
Once it enters into force, nearly all tariffs on EU goods disappear. Art and antiques are already duty-free. We update this page when the agreement starts applying.
Question not listed?
Ask us directlySources and date checked
Shipping from Germany, question by question
Practical answers for companies buying in Hannover and northwest Germany: spare parts, suppliers who do not export, packing, customs, trade fairs, industrial auctions.
Other destinations
Country pages with the same facts for the other countries we ship to.
Something to ship from Germany?
Tell us what needs shipping, where it is now and where it is going. A photo or a catalogue link helps. You receive a personal quote by email from the person who will handle your shipment.
Thank you, we have your request.
We will reply by email within one working day.
Or message us directly on Telegram:
BFF Logistics is the international shipping service of BFF Business Services GmbH (HRB 209217, Amtsgericht Hannover). We run Mail Boxes Etc. centre 0051 in Hannover, which is why our email address ends in @mbe.de.
Your contact: Michael Leikine, Managing Director. We reply within one working day, in your language: write to us in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese or Arabic.
Günther-Wagner-Allee 13-17, 30177 Hannover, Germany.