Import Questions

Definition: Unaccompanied personal effects (UPEs) include household and personal items that are being imported into Australian territory by sea or air, by people returning to Australia or by people immigrating to Australia. To import items as personal effects, clients must be arriving from a place outside Australian territory and the items must be their personal property that has been in their possession whilst overseas.

These import conditions apply to:

1. UPEs that arrive by air or sea and are imported as cargo
   

2. unaccompanied luggage that arrives by sea or air and is imported as cargo
   

3. UPEs packed in vehicles (but not the vehicle itself)
   

4. items that have been bequeathed to a person in a will (please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website for information concerning bequeathed goods)
   

5. UPEs imported by foreign diplomats.
   

These import conditions do not apply to:

1. goods that require an import permit e.g. live plants and animals (refer to individual import conditions for details)
   

2. goods that are imported by or for a commercial entity
   

3. goods classed as excess luggage accompanying a passenger
   

4. luggage that accompanies a passenger or crew on a vessel via sea or air
   

5. gifts purchased for other people
   

6. items purchased over the internet, not previously owned by the importer.
   

7. personal goods for private use that are not covered by the definition of UPEs above
   

8. Goods (other than UPE's) imported by foreign diplomats.