Moving from Australia to Germany
A long haul move from the far side of the world into Europe's largest economy. Here is the honest brief on the long sea crossing, the address registration that unlocks your tax number, and the permit Australians can apply for after arrival.
Costs are indicative ranges for 2026.
The honest summary of this move.
Shipping a household from Australia to Germany is one of the longer ocean lanes on the map, sailing from Australian ports up to the great German cargo ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven. For a 2 to 3 bedroom home, a shared sea container runs roughly 6,000 to 12,000 US dollars in 2026, arriving in about eight to twelve weeks door to door.
The distance is the defining feature. Containers leave Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Fremantle and sail for several weeks, often via Asian or Middle Eastern transshipment hubs, before reaching northern Germany. Because of that long lead time, almost everyone ships by sea and keeps a small air shipment or suitcases for the things they need on day one.
The paperwork in Germany turns on one step: the Anmeldung, your address registration at the local citizens office, the Burgeramt, within about two weeks of moving in. The Anmeldung triggers your tax identification number, the Steuer ID, which arrives by post, and without that registration you cannot easily open a bank account, start a job, or complete your health insurance. Australians are in a privileged group who may enter without a visa and apply for the residence permit at the immigration office after arrival.
Two practical notes. German rental homes often come without a fitted kitchen or light fittings, so factor that into what you ship and what you buy. And health insurance is mandatory, either statutory or private, so arrange cover as part of settling in rather than after the fact.
What this move really costs in 2026.
Cost is driven by your volume, your Australian port, the season, and the long ocean distance. The table shows indicative ranges in US dollars for the common home sizes and shipping modes.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in US dollars. East coast Australian origins such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane often differ from Fremantle on routing and price. The long distance, transshipment, and summer demand all move the number.
- + Best value for a normal 2 to 3 bed home
- + You pay only for the space you use
- ~ Slower, and the long lane means a wait for consolidation
- + Faster and more direct on a long lane
- + Worth it for a 4 plus bed home
- ! You pay for the whole box even if part empty
- + Fastest by far on a very long route
- ! Far more expensive per cubic metre
- ~ Best kept for essentials, not a full home
A realistic timeline for this move.
On this lane the sea transit is long, so book early. Australians can sort the residence permit after arrival, but the Anmeldung should be one of your first acts in Germany.
Plan the move and the route
Decide your German city and confirm you can enter visa free as an Australian. Because the sea leg is long, start gathering quotes and booking space early.
Get three movers to survey
Have movers run video or in home surveys for an accurate volume and a binding or not to exceed quote. Compare sailings from your Australian port and confirm your container slot.
Prepare documents and housing
Gather your passport, a valued inventory, and proof of your move for customs, and line up at least temporary accommodation so you have an address to register.
Pack, load, and sail
The crew packs and loads your container for the long ocean crossing. Keep a small air shipment or suitcases for the weeks before your sea freight arrives.
Do your Anmeldung
Register your address at the local citizens office, the Burgeramt. This triggers your tax identification number, the Steuer ID, and unlocks banking, work, and health insurance.
Apply for your residence permit
Book your appointment at the immigration office, the Auslanderbehorde, to apply for your residence permit, and clear your household goods through customs on arrival.
Bringing your household goods into Germany.
Because you are moving from outside the European Union, your shipment is a customs import, but used personal belongings can enter free of duty and import value added tax when you are transferring your residence to Germany.
Germany admits used household effects free of customs duty and import value added tax as transfer of residence goods, the relief for people moving their normal place of residence into the European Union. You must have owned and used the items for at least six months, be relocating your main home to Germany, and keep the goods for a period after arrival. German customs assesses the entry against a detailed, valued inventory and proof of the move.
You will typically need your passport, a valued packing inventory in German or English, proof that you are taking up residence such as a rental contract or registration, and evidence that you are giving up your Australian residence. New goods, items bought shortly before the move, and alcohol and tobacco beyond personal allowances fall outside the relief and can be taxed.
Restricted categories include weapons, certain foods and plants, and protected species products. Pets from Australia need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and the correct import paperwork, and Australia's own rules on departure should be checked too. Importing an Australian car is rarely worthwhile once you add European type approval and German registration, so most movers sell before leaving and buy in Germany.
Verify before you move. Transfer of residence conditions, the holding period, and the documents required change, and they interact with the European Union rules in force on your move date. Confirm the current position with German customs and your mover's destination agent before your goods ship.The realistic routes for this corridor.
Australian citizens can enter Germany without a visa and then apply for a residence permit after arrival, a privilege shared by only a handful of countries. These are the routes movers on this lane use most.
For people with a recognised qualification and a German job offer in a field that matches their training. Germany has widened its skilled worker routes, and recognition of your qualification is a key step.
For university graduates with a qualifying German job offer above a salary threshold. It is a fast and flexible route to longer term residence for higher earners.
For qualified people who want to come to Germany to look for a job, with proof of funds and qualifications. Australians can combine visa free entry with these options.
For spouses, registered partners, and dependent children of someone settled in Germany, subject to income, housing, and sometimes basic language conditions.
How to choose a mover for Australia to Germany.
We never name, rank, or recommend a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist that matters on this exact lane. Apply it to any quote, then request comparable quotes through the form below.
FIDI or IAM affiliation
Membership of the FIDI Global Alliance or the International Association of Movers signals audited financial stability and a complaints process you can lean on if something goes wrong.
Real corridor experience
Ask how many households the company has shipped on your exact route in the past year. A mover that runs the lane regularly knows the ports, the customs broker, and the paperwork by heart.
A binding pre move survey
Insist on a video or in home survey and a binding or not to exceed quote. A price built from a real volume estimate is the only quote you can compare like for like.
Clear insurance terms
Read how marine transit cover is calculated, what the deductible is, and whether valuation is by replacement value. Vague cover is the most common regret on an international move.
Verifiable reviews
Look for recent, specific reviews that name the destination, not just star ratings. Patterns in how a company handles claims tell you more than any single glowing note.
Written scope and timeline
Everything that matters belongs in writing: packing, customs clearance, delivery, unpacking, and debris removal, with who pays destination charges spelled out.
Get moving quotes for Australia to Germany.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from Australia to Germany?
For a 2 to 3 bedroom home, a shared container typically costs from about 6,000 to 12,000 US dollars in 2026. This is a long ocean lane, so distance, transshipment, and your volume drive the price, and summer carries a premium. Base your budget on a binding pre move survey.
How long does shipping take from Australia to Germany?
Plan on roughly eight to twelve weeks door to door for a shared container, including consolidation, the long ocean crossing, and customs clearance at Hamburg or Bremerhaven. A sole use container is a little faster, and air freight lands in one to two weeks at a much higher cost.
Do I pay duty on my furniture moving to Germany?
If you are transferring your residence from Australia, used household goods you have owned and used for at least six months are generally admitted free of customs duty and import value added tax, subject to a detailed inventory and proof of the move. Rules change, so confirm with German customs before shipping.
What is the Anmeldung and why does it matter?
The Anmeldung is your address registration at the local citizens office, the Burgeramt, due within about two weeks of moving in. It triggers your tax identification number, the Steuer ID, and you need it to open a bank account, start work, and finish your health insurance.
Do Australians need a visa before moving to Germany?
Australians can enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit after arrival at the immigration office, usually within the first ninety days. You still need a basis such as skilled work, so plan the permit alongside the move.
Should I ship my car from Australia?
Usually not. An Australian car needs European type approval and German registration, which is costly and slow, and right hand drive is impractical in Germany. Most movers sell before leaving and buy locally.