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CAN YOU SEND FOOD TO AUSTRALIA?

 

Australia’s hot weather, beautiful beaches and laid-back culture has long attracted Brits, with many making the move to the land down under. While the Australian diet is pretty similar to the UK, there remains a few food items that aren’t easily available over there, leaving British ex-pats missing chocolate, biscuits and tea from back home. The good thing is, you can in fact send gifts to Australia in the form of food – but you’ll need to be wary about exactly what it is you’re sending.

If you have a friend or family member who has moved to Australia, it may be cheaper than you think to send a care package filled with their favourite foods from the UK. In this guide, we run through the best way of sending food to Australia from the UK – from what you can and can’t send down under, to the best way to package to ensure it reaches the destination safely.

 
 

How much does it cost to send to Australia?

 

So, you can send food to Australia – but how much does it cost? Posting parcels and sending gifts to Australia prices depend on the size of the parcel delivery. Find out how much it could cost below:

 

 

Price

1kg Parcel Delivery to Australia

£43.13* - Book

5kg Parcel Delivery to Australia

£66.17* - Book

10kg Parcel Delivery to Australia

£94.97* - Book

25kg Parcel Delivery to Australia

£181.37* - Book

*Prices quoted in the above table are based on mainland UK Depot Drop off and worldwide air delivery with parcel dimensions of 10cm x 10cm x 10cm and £50 contents cover included.

 
 

What you can and can’t send

 

 

Some of the most popular food items that ex-pats miss include gravy granules, baked beans and cheese and onion crisps – but what foods are you actually allowed to send to Australia?

Australia’s customs and import rules are stricter than a lot of other countries, due to the country’s reliance on farming. For this reason, Australia is extremely careful about what can and can’t be imported into the country. Look at our list below of what you can and can’t send to Australia:

 

Can't send:

  • Perishables
  • Fruit and vegetables
  • Seeds and nuts
  • Eggs and egg products
  • Dairy products
  • Meat, chicken or fish products
  • Baby formula (milk powder)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Liquids
  • Homemade food (which tends to be perishable)

 

Can send:

  • Chocolate and sweets
  • Biscuits (shop bought and packaged)
  • Tinned goods
  • Spreads and preservatives (including jam, marmalade, and Marmite)

 

Note: All food should be in the original packaging and unopened. A full list of ingredients should be clearly displayed on the label, and it must have a shelf life of over six months from the date of dispatch.

For a full list of restricted items, see our prohibited items page.

 
 

Customs in Australia

 

As Australia is an international destination, a pro-forma or commercial invoice should accompany your parcel. This tells Australian customs officials exactly what is inside your parcel, the value of goods and information about the sender.

The information you give in the ‘Customs declaration’ section of the International booking form is used to automatically generate an invoice. This can then be printed along with your shipping label and affixed to your parcel.

 

Follow our simple guide below to ensure your parcel clears customs without any delays.

 

1. List all food items and the quantities of each

2. Give a detailed product description and include the brand name if applicable

3. Avoid using local names that a customs official wouldn't understand e.g., 'Welsh cakes'

4. Securely attach the invoice to your parcel. It's also a good idea to include a copy inside the parcel in case the parcel gets separated from the invoice

5. Give the country of origin - this is where the product was originally produced or grown and can usually be found on the packaging

6. Provide an approximate value for the goods

 
 

How to package food

 

When sending food to Australia from the UK, it needs to be packaged correctly in order to ensure it reaches the destination safely and isn’t damaged in transit.

We recommend using a sturdy box (ideally double-walled). You should wrap each product in plenty of bubble wrap and fill any unused space in the box with packing chips or newspaper. Finally, use strong tape to seal the parcel.

Please note that wood is a prohibited item when sending gifts to Australia so you should avoid sending food in a wooden crate or straw box.

 

 

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