Moving from Australia to Iceland
A practical guide to shipping a home from Australia to Iceland by sea, the realistic timeline to Reykjavik, the customs relief on used household goods, and the residence routes that fit this corridor.
Australia to Iceland is one of the longest moves there is, and it hinges on the kennitala and the duty relief.
Moving a household from Australia to Iceland is among the longest ocean shipments anyone undertakes, joining two countries about as far apart as it is possible to be. Containers load at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Fremantle, sail to a northern European hub, and feeder onward to Reykjavik, where the Sundahofn terminal handles almost all container traffic. The transit is long and usually involves at least one transhipment, so patience and early booking are part of the plan.
Iceland is not in the European Union but is in the European Economic Area, and it grants duty free relief on used household goods for people moving their home, provided the goods have been owned and used for at least one year and arrive within six months of you establishing legal residence in Iceland. That relief, administered by the Icelandic tax and customs authority, is a major lever on your landed cost, alongside getting your kennitala, the national identity number from Registers Iceland that unlocks a bank account, a tenancy and almost everything else.
As an indicative range for 2026, a one bedroom move runs roughly A$7,000 to A$12,000 in a shared container, while a full three bedroom home in a sole use forty foot container lands around A$17,000 to A$26,000 door to door. Given the distance and Iceland's tight housing market, line up your home and your paperwork well before the box arrives.
What shipping a household from Australia to Iceland costs in 2026.
Indicative ranges in Australian dollars for 2026. Sea freight on this lane is priced by the volume you ship and the container you book, so the biggest decision is shared space versus a sole use box.
Indicative ranges for 2026, in Australian dollars. Real quotes depend on volume, the Australian load port, season, the Reykjavik clearance and the delivery distance from the capital.
- +You pay only for the space your goods occupy
- +Best value for a one bedroom
- −Consolidation and transhipment add weeks
- −Sailing date depends on the load filling up
- +Fits a typical two bedroom home
- +Your goods travel alone and are handled less
- +More predictable than waiting on a shared load
- −You pay for the box even if part empty
- +Space for a three or four bedroom home
- +Best cost per cubic metre for large volumes
- −Overkill for a small flat
- −Needs truck access at both ends
Get moving quotes for Australia to Iceland.
Tell us your size and timing. We pass your request to vetted international movers who run the Australia to Iceland lane, and you compare them on your own terms.
A realistic schedule for this route.
A conservative schedule for an Australia to Iceland move. The transit is long and involves transhipment, so the sailing date anchors everything and you should book early.
Book the move and take a survey
Get a binding in home or video survey of your volume from movers who run the Australia to Iceland lane, and lock a sailing while you sort your residence paperwork.
Sort documents and the relief
Assemble your passport, the packing and valued inventory, proof you have owned and used the goods for a year, and your evidence of legal residence in Iceland, which the relief needs.
Pack and load in Australia
Movers pack and load your container at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Fremantle, seal it and book it onto a vessel for the long run to northern Europe.
Ocean crossing and transhipment
The box sails to a northern European hub and feeders onward to Reykjavik's Sundahofn terminal. This is by far the longest and least visible stretch.
Customs clearance at Reykjavik
Your agent lodges the duty free relief and clears the goods with the Icelandic customs authority. Have your inventory and residence evidence ready to avoid delay.
Delivery and unpacking
The container moves by road to your home in or around Reykjavik, where the crew unloads, unwraps and removes the packing materials.
Bringing used household goods into Iceland.
Iceland grants duty free import of home inventory, meaning household equipment, appliances and personal effects, when you are moving your residence to the country, provided the goods have been owned and used by you for at least one year and you bring them with you or within six months of moving your permanent residence to Iceland or registering your legal residence there. The relief is administered by the Icelandic Directorate of Customs, part of the national tax authority, and you may be asked to prove you meet the conditions with a residence permit or an employment contract.
Newer items owned for less than a year fall outside the relief above a modest value threshold and can attract duty and tax, so list purchase dates honestly on your inventory. Goods that are not genuine household inventory, anything for sale or business use, and items with their own rules such as vehicles, alcohol and tobacco above allowances are treated separately. A detailed valued inventory is the backbone of a smooth clearance.
The routes in for this corridor.
Australian citizens can enter Iceland and the Schengen area visa free for up to ninety days in any one hundred and eighty day period, but living there means a residence permit from the Directorate of Immigration. The right route depends on why you are moving.
For people with a job offer from an Icelandic employer. You generally need a residence and work permit from the Directorate of Immigration, often arranged before you arrive, especially for specialised roles.
For spouses and close family of Icelandic citizens or legal residents. You apply for a residence permit on family grounds through the Directorate of Immigration.
Iceland has offered a long term remote work permit for higher earners employed abroad, subject to conditions and income thresholds that change. Confirm the current rules before relying on this route.
For students accepted at an Icelandic university, who apply for a study based residence permit before travelling and register their kennitala after arrival.
How to pick a mover for this route, without the guesswork.
We do not rank or recommend individual companies. We teach you the criteria that separate a safe international move from an expensive mistake, then put your request in front of vetted movers who run this lane.
Check the trade affiliation. Membership of FIDI or IAM is the clearest signal a mover is financially screened and bound to industry standards for international household goods. In Australia, look for movers affiliated with FIDI or IAM and ask directly about their consolidations to northern Europe and onward feeder to Reykjavik, their delivery network on the island, and whether they handle the Icelandic duty free relief routinely.
Insist on a binding pre move survey. A real video or in home survey of your volume is the only honest basis for a price. A quote given without one is a guess that tends to grow on moving day.
Compare like for like. Read what each quote includes: packing, materials, customs clearance, destination delivery, stair or long carry charges, and insurance. The cheapest headline number is rarely the cheapest move.
Understand the insurance terms. Ask whether cover is full replacement value or depreciated, what the excess is, and how claims are handled. Read the valuation clause before you sign.
Read recent reviews for this corridor. A mover can be excellent locally and weak on international shipments. Look for verified reviews that mention the actual route and customs experience.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from Australia to Iceland?
As an indicative range for 2026, a one bedroom move runs about A$7,000 to A$12,000 in a shared container, and a full three bedroom home in a sole use forty foot container lands around A$17,000 to A$26,000 door to door. Your real price depends on volume, the load port and the season.
How long does shipping take from Australia to Iceland?
Plan on roughly ten to fifteen weeks door to door for a sole use container and thirteen to eighteen weeks for a shared load. This is one of the longest corridors, usually with a transhipment in northern Europe before the feeder to Reykjavik.
Do I pay duty on my furniture moving to Iceland?
Usually not. Iceland grants duty free relief on used household goods owned and used for at least one year, brought in within six months of establishing legal residence. Newer items can attract duty and tax. Verify the current rules before you ship.
Can I bring my car from Australia to Iceland?
A vehicle is possible but follows separate rules from household goods, including registration and any duty or tax, and the distance makes it costly. Many people sell in Australia and buy locally. Confirm the current requirements before shipping a car.
What ID number will I need in Iceland?
You will need a kennitala, the national identity number issued by Registers Iceland. It is required to open a bank account, sign a tenancy, register with healthcare and handle tax. Apply for it as soon as you can after arrival.
Last reviewed: 14 January 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.