Moving from Germany to Australia
It is one of the longest sea hauls there is, and Australian biosecurity is the step that catches people out. Here is the honest brief on container costs, the B534 declaration, the visa routes, and a timeline you can plan around.
The distance is long, but biosecurity is the gate.
A move from Germany to Australia goes by sea, usually from Hamburg or Bremerhaven to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, or Fremantle. It is one of the longest household routes there is, so a realistic door to door window is six to nine weeks. Air freight handles the things you need on arrival, but the household travels in a shared or full container.
The thing that surprises people is not the distance, it is biosecurity. Australia guards against imported pests and diseases, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry assesses every shipment of personal effects and routinely inspects them. Wooden items, wicker, garden tools, footwear, sports gear, and anything that has touched soil or food draw attention. Items found contaminated are cleaned, treated, or in the worst case destroyed, at your cost. Clean everything thoroughly and pack risk items together so they are easy to inspect.
Prices below are in euro and indicative for 2026. Australia uses the Australian dollar, so budget for currency on the far side, from your rental bond to replacing the appliances built for German power.
What it costs in 2026, by home size and container.
This is a long lane, so freight is a large share of the bill. Your cost turns on volume and whether you share a container or take a full one. The figures below are indicative ranges for 2026 in euro, door to door.
Indicative 2026 ranges in euro, door to door by sea, before any biosecurity treatment charges. Volume, season, port pair, and final delivery distance move the figure. Australia's peak runs over its summer.
- +Best value for a studio or a partial home
- +You pay only for the space you use
- −Slowest, because your goods wait for the consolidated load
- +Faster and sealed to your home only
- +The sensible choice for a full home
- −A large fixed cost on an already long lane
- +Fastest way to get essentials to Australia
- +Useful while your container is at sea
- −Rarely sensible for a full household
Get moving quotes for Germany to Australia.
Tell us your size and timing. We pass your request to vetted movers who run the long route from Germany into Australia, and you compare them on your own terms.
A realistic schedule for this route.
Working back from the day your container sails, here is a realistic schedule for a sea move from Germany to Australia.
Confirm your visa
Lock down your Australian visa before you book, because permanent and many temporary visa holders qualify for the duty and tax free import of unaccompanied personal effects.
Get surveys and quotes
Have movers do video or in home surveys for an accurate volume and a binding price. Compare a shared container against a full box.
Book and clean
Confirm your sailing, then deep clean everything. Wash and dry anything that has touched soil, food, or the outdoors, because Australian biosecurity will inspect it.
Pack and load
The crew packs and loads the container and prepares the B534 statement and packing list. Pack biosecurity risk items together and declare them.
Clear customs and biosecurity
Your agent lodges the B534 with the Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture assesses and inspects the goods. Once cleared, your shipment is delivered.
Clearing customs and biosecurity into Australia.
Australia has two checks at the border. The Australian Border Force handles duty and goods and services tax, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry handles biosecurity. People relocating can import unaccompanied personal effects free of duty and tax by lodging the B534, the Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement, provided you have owned and used the goods for the qualifying period and you are moving to live in Australia. Permanent residents and many temporary visa holders are eligible.
Biosecurity is the part that catches people. The Department assesses your B534 and packing list to find anything of concern and frequently inspects the container. Soil, plant and animal material, seeds, and food are the risks, so footwear, garden tools, outdoor furniture, wooden and wicker items, and sports gear are scrutinised. Failing to declare a risk item can lead to penalties, while contaminated goods are cleaned, treated, or destroyed at your expense. Clean to a high standard, dry everything fully, and group risk items so they can be checked quickly.
Bringing a vehicle is possible but involved and often expensive, because a car must be approved for import and meet Australian standards, which can mean modifications. Many movers sell at home and buy locally. Check your specific vehicle before assuming you can import it.
The routes in for this corridor.
Most people moving from Germany to Australia arrive through the points based skilled migration program, an employer sponsored visa, or as the partner of an Australian. Your skills and circumstances decide which fits.
A points tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, state, or family. You need an occupation on the relevant list and a strong points score.
A points tested permanent visa where an Australian state or territory nominates you, which adds points and can suit occupations in demand regionally.
A permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer, a common path for people moving with a job offer.
For partners and spouses of Australian citizens and permanent residents, allowing you to live and work in Australia, granted in stages.
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. For this route, ask whether the mover runs the long Germany to Australia lane regularly and is fluent in the B534 and Australian biosecurity requirements, because correct preparation saves you treatment fees and delays at the dock.
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 Germany to Australia?
For a two to three bedroom household by sea, plan on roughly 5,200 to 15,000 euro door to door in 2026, depending on volume, shared or full container, the port pair, and delivery, before any biosecurity treatment charges. A studio is less and a four bedroom home more. These are indicative ranges, not a quote.
How long does shipping take from Germany to Australia?
Door to door is usually about six to nine weeks because it is one of the longest household routes there is. A full container is at the faster end, a shared container slower. Air freight cuts it to one to two weeks for a small shipment.
Do I pay duty on my household goods moving to Australia?
Used personal effects you have owned and used generally enter free of duty and goods and services tax when you lodge the B534 Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement and you are moving to live in Australia. Verify the current rules with the Australian Border Force before you move.
What are the biosecurity rules for moving to Australia?
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry inspects personal effects for soil, plant and animal material, seeds, and food. Footwear, garden tools, and wooden items are checked closely. Undeclared risk items can mean penalties, and contaminated goods are cleaned, treated, or destroyed at your cost.
Do I need a visa to move from Germany to Australia?
Yes. Common routes are the points based Skilled Independent or Skilled Nominated visas, an employer nominated visa, or a partner visa. Confirm your route with official Australian government sources before you move.
What should I do first when I arrive in Australia?
Apply for a Tax File Number, enrol in Medicare if you are eligible, and open an Australian bank account. Those steps unlock work, health care, and daily life.
Last reviewed: 9 May 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.