International moving from Shanghai to Melbourne

Client Information: Ms. Wang;
Shipping Route: Shanghai to Melbourne;
Service Date: May 30, 2018;
Case Summary: Ms. Wang from Shanghai entrusted Seapoe Relo with shipping furniture, luggage, and other items by sea to Melbourne, Australia.

Melbourne, a coastal city in southern Australia, has been named the "World's Most Livable City" for many consecutive years. With its comfortable climate, inclusive cultural atmosphere, abundant educational resources, and sound social security system, it attracts the attention of immigrants from around the world—and Ms. Wang from Shanghai is one of them.

Ms. Wang and her family emigrated to settle in Melbourne. After purchasing a property on the other side of the ocean, she found that the furniture inside was European-style, while she preferred Chinese-style. So she planned to buy a new set of Chinese solid wood furniture. However, Chinese furniture in Australia was too expensive and had no stock available. Ms. Wang therefore asked a friend in China to custom-make a set of rosewood furniture, and then contacted Seapoe Relo to ship this batch of furniture by sea to Australia. Given that Australia's tax exemption policy for new immigrants requires items to be used for more than one year—brand-new items are subject to customs duties and GST—Seapoe's staff went directly to the rosewood furniture factory to repackage Ms. Wang's newly custom-made furniture, effectively avoiding these taxes.

After packaging was completed, the furniture was transported to Seapoe's warehouse in Shanghai, then went through customs declaration, ocean shipping, customs clearance, and delivery. About one month later, Ms. Wang received the furniture at her new home in Melbourne.

Notes on Moving from Shanghai to Melbourne

1. Australia's regulations for new immigrants allow personal belongings to be brought into the country duty-free with a valid visa (limited to items used for more than one year). New items are subject to customs duties, so it is advisable to make appropriate declarations to reduce the likelihood of customs inspection.

2. Australia's voltage is 230V, so most domestic appliances can be used in Australia. It is also recommended to bring furniture, kitchenware, curtains, and other items from China, as these are relatively expensive to purchase locally.

3. From China to most parts of Australia, the entire journey takes about 40–45 days; for consolidated shipping, customers may need about 60 days to complete the service. Please plan your shipping schedule in advance according to your itinerary.

4. For valuable items such as pianos and solid wood furniture, it is recommended to purchase insurance.