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Our services / Customs brokerage

Customs brokerage and clearance coordination in Australia

A clearer path
across borders.

Bring your customs requirements into the plan early. Our team coordinates documentation and clearance alongside freight and transport, keeping the next handover in view.

Discuss your shipment
Illustration of connected freight documents and shipment handoversImport clearance / Export documents / Trade compliance

What we coordinate

Australian customs clearance.
Prepared with care.

Experienced support for the details that keep your cargo moving through customs.

01

Import and export support

Preparation and coordination of customs entries and shipping documents for your international movements.

02

Classification and assessment

Support with tariff classification and applicable duty and tax assessment, based on the details of your goods.

03

Biosecurity coordination

Cargo-specific requirements, inspections and supporting documentation considered before the shipment reaches the border.

The document-to-delivery connection

Clear information. Earlier decisions.

  1. 01

    Identify the goods

    A useful description, commercial invoice and packing list establish what is being imported or exported.

  2. 02

    Review requirements

    The actual product, origin and transaction determine the questions your broker needs to resolve.

  3. 03

    Connect the release

    Customs, biosecurity, carrier and terminal requirements need to align with collection.

From enquiry to movement

Clear from the start.

01

Review the commercial and shipping documents

02

Confirm cargo-specific clearance requirements

03

Coordinate release with port or airport collection

Planning your customs brokerage

Good information. Earlier in the journey.

A clear commercial invoice, packing list and transport reference are useful starting points. The goods description, quantities and parties should be consistent across the document set. Product-specific information may also be required, so involve the broker while there is time to resolve questions.

Requirements depend on the goods, their origin and the transaction. Classification, valuation, duty, tax and biosecurity questions need review for the actual shipment. General website information is not a clearance decision or a substitute for cargo-specific advice.

Read the practical guide
Before you request a quote

A brief we can build on.

  • Commercial invoice and itemised packing list
  • Bill of lading or air waybill and shipment references
  • Product description, composition and intended use where relevant
  • Origin information and documents requested for your goods
Prepare your shipment brief
Understand the scope
Before dispatch

Send documents while there is time to clarify descriptions and missing information. Your broker may need product specifications beyond the supplier invoice.

Separate decisions

Customs and biosecurity are different processes. A customs outcome alone does not establish that cargo is available for collection.

No blanket duty estimate

Classification, value, origin and applicable rules affect the assessment. We do not publish a universal duty rate or promise automatic clearance.

From Australia to your customer

Prepare export documents before departure

For goods leaving Australia, start with the Australian exporter, overseas consignee, commercial invoice, packing list and booking details. Confirm the applicable export reporting requirements and who is responsible for lodgement. Product-specific controls and the destination country’s requirements need a separate check; an import clearance checklist is not a substitute for an export review.

Exporting from Australia: prepare the whole journey
Official export guidance · ABF: export reporting and requirements · DAFF: exporting agricultural goods. Check requirements for the actual product and destination. This is general planning information, not a clearance decision.

Australian service areas

Global freight.
An Australian connection.

Explore the practical details for your Australian gateway. Service areas do not imply a local branch office.

Useful to know

Your questions.
Answered.

When should I send my documents?

As early as possible. Early review gives your team time to identify missing details before your shipment arrives.

What should I prepare first?

Start with the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or air waybill. Your broker will confirm any additional documents needed for the particular goods.

Do all goods need the same supporting documents?

No. Requirements depend on the commodity and transaction. The invoice, packing list and transport reference are starting points, not a guarantee that the file is complete.

Where can I check official import requirements?

Start with Australian Border Force import guidance and the Department of Agriculture’s BICON system. Ask your broker to review how the requirements apply to your actual goods.

Can early preparation guarantee clearance by a fixed date?

No. Early review helps identify gaps, but authority decisions, inspections and other release requirements can affect timing. Build that uncertainty into delivery planning.

Can you coordinate customs brokerage with a separate freight booking?

Tell us who has booked the international movement, the Australian gateway and the shipment references. We can discuss the brokerage and delivery support you need without assuming Sea Logic controls the overseas freight. Establish who will provide the transport documents, communicate arrival changes and arrange each release. A clearly defined scope is especially useful when several parties share the movement.

Why does the broker ask for product details as well as an invoice?

A description such as parts or samples may not adequately identify the goods. Be ready to provide the actual product name, materials, intended use and supporting specifications. Ask your broker what is required to assess classification, value and origin for the transaction. Do not assume a supplier’s description or tariff code alone settles the Australian assessment.

What is the difference between customs clearance and delivery release?

Customs clearance is one part of the handover. Biosecurity requirements, carrier document release, cargo availability and terminal or depot collection arrangements may still need attention. Confirm which milestones are complete before arranging receipt. An expected vessel or flight arrival date is not confirmation that a truck can collect the goods immediately.

Check the requirements for your goods. Australian Border Force: importing · DAFF: BICON import conditions. General planning information is not a customs or biosecurity decision.

Let’s move your business forward

Your next shipment.
Starts with a conversation.

Talk to our team