International Signed
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International Signed cannot be sent to PO Boxes or Pack Stations, because a signature cannot be captured. This restriction does not apply when items are sent to Africa or the Middle East
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International Tracked
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1 Delivery aim to Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Austria and Luxembourg is 3-4 working days
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International Standard
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International Economy
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You are responsible for checking postal restrictions and prohibitions for your destination.
There are rules about what Royal Mail will carry and each country has their own restrictions which may differ, so it’s important to check both.
Check the status of deliveries around the world on our International Incident Bulletin
Can I send it to Australia?
Don’t send
- Liquids over 1l
- Alcohol over 24% ABV (rum, whisky, vodka)
(These are prohibited by Royal Mail)
Check restrictions on
- Vegetable and fruit products
- Products containing meat, fish or dairy
- Coffee, teas and spices
- Seeds
(Read the full Australia prohibitions and restrictions below)
The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has more information
TIP: Send food items in their original manufacturer’s packaging if possible. This helps to speed up the customs clearance process.
Don’t send
-
Liquids over 1l
-
Aerosols
-
Perfumes or aftershaves containing alcohol
-
Nail varnish, polish or gel
(These are all prohibited by Royal Mail)
Check restrictions on
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Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes
(Read the full Australia prohibitions and restrictions below)
Check restrictions on
-
Medicines and drugs
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Medical or surgical instruments
(Read the full Australia prohibitions and restrictions below)
Check restrictions on
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Coins and banknotes
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Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones
(Read the full Australia prohibitions and restrictions below)
Here is an indication of restricted items for mailing to Australia. For further information, or further clarification please refer to the Australia Post website;
Please also refer to the Universal Postal Union's online sending guide (use code AUA for Australia and enter details of the item(s) you are sending in the item description field.
You must not send any item addressed to a country in which the item is unlawful or prohibited. When an item is restricted you must comply with the restriction. Prohibitions and restrictions vary from country to country, and can sometimes apply to items which you may think are ordinary.
The information above is provided in good faith, but Royal Mail is not responsible for it, and it should be viewed as a guide only. Specific restrictions and changes may be enforced at short notice, so for clarification please contact the destination country's trade, postal, and customs authorities as appropriate. Business customers are strongly recommended to do this.
Please remember that Royal Mail also prohibits and restricts certain categories of items. For more information visit royalmail.com/prohibitedgoods
Restricted items
- Live animals
General note
Certain animals and animal products may be admitted subject to prior approval from the Australian Department of Agriculture.
No animals, birds or insects, cheese, eggs or milk (or products containing these), meat, meat products or poultry (canned or otherwise), semen, vaccines or cultures, honey, rawhide drums, trophies or any other parts of animal products should be sent to Australia unless prior permission has been obtained from the AQIS.
The importation of some animals, parts of animals and products of animal origin may be permitted subject to compliance with quarantine legislation and must in all cases be accompanied by such declarations, certificates and other documents as are specified. On arrival in Australia, these animals and animal products will be subject to such treatment, if any, as is prescribed.
- Bees, leeches and silkworms may be imported subject to quarantine requirements and packing criteria. See Live animals General Note above
- Meat and edible meat offal. See Live animals General Note above
- Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates. See Live animals General Note above
- Fish (i.e. all forms of marine life other than whales), whether fresh, smoked, preserved in airtight containers or frozen
- Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included. See Live animals General Note above
- Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included. See Live animals General Note above
The following items may be imported under conditions specified by the relevant authorities:
human bones and other human tissues, provided that the permission in writing of the Director, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, to import the bones or tissues is produced to the Collector of Customs;
– germs (disease), microbes and disease agents, and all cultures, viruses or substances or articles containing or likely to contain any disease, germs, microbes or disease agents, subject to the consent of Health authorities or the Director, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service;
admissible biological specimens, bacteriological and pathological substances and perishable biological substances, whether infectious or non-infectious, provided they are packed and carried in the prescribed manner;
- shaving brushes and tooth brushes made from or containing the hair of animals and manufactured at a place situated in Asia or South East Asia other than Japan or New Zealand;
- brushes (other than shaving brushes and tooth brushes) and toilet articles made from or containing the hair of animals and manufactured at a place in Asia or South East Asia other than Japan or New Zealand, provided that the goods are accompanied by an official certificate from an officer of a Health Department or equivalent department in the country in which the goods were manufactured stating the method by which the hair used in the manufacture of the goods was cleansed and disinfected before or during manufacture of the goods, and provided that the method used is approved by the Chief Quarantine Officer as a satisfactory method for cleansing and disinfecting hair for use in the manufacture of the goods concerned;
- specimens or part specimens of venomous reptiles, not listed in Schedule 1 or 2 of Australia's Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989, from which the venom glands, ducts or fangs have not been removed.
- Vegetable products
General Note
All live plant material, including seeds, fruits, cuttings, bulbs, plants and corms require prior approval from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) before import. All articles made from plant material, including timber and articles made from wood and bamboo, are subject to quarantine and must be submitted to the AQIS for inspection. If found diseased or infested with insects, articles may, at the discretion of AQIS officials, be treated, destroyed or returned at the owner's expense.
- Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage. See Vegetable products General Note above
- Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers. See Vegetable products General Note above
- Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons. See Vegetable products General Note above
- Coffee, tea, maté and spices
Coffee may be imported subject to conditions, including quotas, specified by the relevant authorities Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Cereals. See Vegetable products General Note above
- Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten. See Vegetable products General Notes above
- Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder. See Vegetable products General Note above
Written permission from the relevant authorities Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is required for importation of seeds of a plant of any of the species Strychnos nux-vomica, Abrus precatorius or Ricinus communis, or any goods made wholly or partially from, or containing, seeds of a plant of such a species
- Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts. See Vegetable products General Note above
- Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included. See Vegetable products General Note above
- Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes
These products may be admitted subject to prior approval from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes
General Note
Information concerning the importation of goods covered by this section may be obtained from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates. See Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes General Note above
- Sugars and sugar confectionery. See Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes General Note above
Permission from the relevant authorities is required for the importation of confectionery containing more than 1.15% by volume of alcohol
- Cocoa and cocoa preparations. See Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes General Note above
- Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products. See Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes General Note above
- Preparations of vegetables, fruits, nuts or other parts of plants. See Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes General Note above
- Miscellaneous edible preparations. See Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes General Note above
- Beverages, spirits and vinegar
Advice from the Australian Customs authorities should be sought before importing quantities of alcoholic beverages or spirits
- Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder. See Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes General Note above
- Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes. See Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes General Note above
Advice from the Australian Customs authorities should be sought before importing quantities of cigarettes or other tobacco products
- Mineral products
- Ores, slag and ash
Permission is required from the Australian Customs authorities for the importation of these items
- Products of the chemical or allied industries
- Organic chemicals
- Organochlorine chemicals including aldrin (HHDN), benzene hexachloride (BHC) (HCH), lindane (g-BHC) (g-HCH), chlordane, dieldrin (HEOD), DDT (pp'-DDT), endrin, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), heptachlor, methoxychlor and oxychlordane
As regulations concerning prohibited or restricted imports are subject to amendment at short notice, senders should ascertain current requirements from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Pharmaceutical products
The importation of medicines, drugs and therapeutic substances is subject to a number of conditions (see the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration or the Australian Department of Health ). Items included in these categories are abortifacients; anabolic or androgenic substances or natural or synthetic growth hormones; aphrodisiacs; aminophenazone (aminopyrine); bithiniol; 5-bromo-4'-chlorosalicylanilide; buniodyl sodium (bunamiodyl); cinchophen methyl ester (methyl-2-phenylcinchoninate); fenticlor; food, drink or oral medicine for human consumption that contains glycol (or a derivative of a glycol other than propylene glycol) or calamus or oil of calamus; (2-isopropyl-4-pentenoyl) urea; oil of wormwood; laetrile; preparations purporting to be a remedy for drunkenness, alcoholic habit or drug habit; thalidomide; triparanol; xylitol; snake-bite kits or first-aid kits that include instructions which recommend treatment for snake-bite by cutting or excising the bitten area, or the use of arterial tourniquets.
- Fertilisers
Fertilisers may be imported subject to permission from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks
Permission is required from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) for the importation of substances derived from organic material
- Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations
Written permission from the Australian Customs authorities is required for the importation of cosmetic products containing more than 250 mg/kg of lead or lead compounds (calculated as lead), except products containing more than 250 mg/kg of lead acetate designed for use in hair treatments
- Photographic or cinematographic products
Importation of these products is subject to Australian Customs authorites (Cinematograph Films) Regulations and other conditions relating to the content of the products
- Miscellaneous chemical products
Polychlorinated biphenyls, terphenyls, etc, may be admitted subject to written permission authorising importation, check for the latest information at the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Rubber and articles thereof
Erasers, in the shape of babies' dummies, whose dimensions are smaller than specified by Australian standards; and erasers, resembling food in scent or appearance, which fail to satisfy Australian standards
- Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval, see (AQIS) above
- Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal
Articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Cork and articles of cork
Articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials.
Basketware and wickerwork Articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans
Admitted subject to copyright law.
The importation of advertising matter relating to goods that purport to be for therapeutic purposes and containing any statements or claims that are misleading, false or extravagant, is subject to permission from the relevant authorities (see the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration or the Australian Department of Health )
Advertising matter relating to prohibited goods
- Silk
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Cotton
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Other vegetable textile fibres, paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Man-made filaments; strip and the like of man-made textile materials.
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Man-made staple fibres
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Wadding, felt and non-wovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Carpets and other textile floor coverings
Imported second-hand carpets and similar articles are required to have been disinfected by an approved method. For further information check at Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace; tapestries; trimmings; embroidery
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Knitted or crocheted fabrics
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted
Written permission from the relevant authorities is required for the importation of children's night wear made from flammable material (see the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration or the Australian Department of Health ) and apparel made from man-made fibre textile fabrics containing tris (2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate, and yarns of other material made thereof (see the Australian Customs authorities for more details).
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Other made-up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags
Woolpacks and woolpack caps, including those consisting of high density polyethylene, jute or multifilament nylon, may be admitted subject to written permission from the relevant authorities (see Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)).
Written permission from the relevant authorities is required for the importation of second-hand clothing (not clothing imported by a person for his or her own use or as the clothing of a member of his or her family) see Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).
- Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles
Wooden shoes or any used footwear must be approved by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Headgear and parts thereof
Used headgear must be approved by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof
Sharp-edged and pointed articles must be packed in accordance with Australia Post's requirements
Articles which have been used with animals are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair
Untreated or unprocessed articles covered by this section are subject to approval by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with previous metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin
Permission is required from the relevant authorities for the importation of counterfeit coin or certain lead-coated items, see Australian Customs authorities
- Lead and articles thereof
Detailed conditions apply to the importation of organic compounds of lead, including items for use in internal combustion engines, see Australian Customs authorities
- Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal
Written permission is required from the relevant authorities for the importation of metal drink dispensers or containers that cause contamination of the dispensed or contained beverage in excess of specified levels, see Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Miscellaneous articles of base metal
Written permission from the relevant authorities is required for the importation of money boxes coated with a material containing more than 250 mg/kg of lead or lead compounds, calculated as lead, see Australian Customs authorities
- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers and parts and accessories of such articles
Prior approval is required for the importation of certain types of radiotelephony equipment and for CB radios, cordless telephones and cellular telephones, (For enquiries concerning items other than cellular telephones see Australian Department of Communications For enquiries concerning cellular telephones only see Australian Communications and Media Authority)
Detailed conditions also apply to the importation of insulated electric conductors in the form of cable or flexible cord classifiable as 250 volt grade or 660 volt grade having a sectional area of one square inch or less, see Australian Customs authorities
- Vehicles, other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof
Written permission is required from the relevant authorities for the importation of motor vehicle windscreens, windows or interior partitions, and protective helmets for motor-vehicle users, which do not comply with specified standards, see Australian Customs authorities
- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof
Instruments for indicating specific gravity in accordance with Beaume's scale shall be marked with the temperature and modulus of standardisation and must be accurate to within one subdivision of gradation.
- Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof
Appliances or equipment designed or adapted for warfare or like purposes; daggers; hand-held battery-operated devices designed to administer an electric shock on contact, or to emit a high frequency acoustic shock or to discharge a gas or liquid; blowpipe darts tipped with poison; knives of the kind known as flick-knives; knuckle-dusters; gloves, or similar coverings for the hand, incorporating protrusions designed to puncture or bruise the skin; goods incorporating a concealed knife or blade; hunting slings, catapults or sling shots; shrunken throwing irons or star knives and similar devices; protective jackets and vests, body armour and other articles of apparel designed to resist the penetration of a projectile discharged from a firearm; silencers for use with firearms; detachable magazines for certain firearms.
- Furniture, bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings
Prior permission is required from the relevant authorities for the importation of used or second-hand bedding, and bedding and other goods containing flock (other than flock made from new clean waste derived from cotton, wool or jute) see Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof
Written permission from the relevant authorities (see Australian Customs authorities) is required for the importation of toys or playthings coated with a material whose non-volatile content contains more than:
- 250 mg/kg of lead or lead compounds, calculated as lead; or
- 100 mg/kg of arsenic or arsenic compounds, calculated as arsenic; or
- 100 mg/kg of antimony or antimony compounds, calculated as antimony; or
- 100 mg/kg of cadmium or cadmium compounds, calculated as cadmium; or;
- 100 mg/kg of selenium or selenium compounds, calculated as selenium; or
- 10 mg/kg of mercury or mercury compounds, calculated as mercury; or
- 100 mg/kg of chromium or chromium compounds, calculated as chromium; or
- 50 mg/kg of soluble compounds of barium, calculated as barium.
- Miscellaneous manufactured articles
Written permission is required from the relevant authorities (see Australian Customs authorities) for the importation of:
pencils or paint brushes coated with a material whose non-volatile content of certain metals is greater than the limits specified in the notes to chapter 95 above;
- dog collars incorporating apparatus designed to cause electric shock or protrusions designed to puncture or bruise an animal's skin;
goods bearing a representation or likeness of the Arms, a flag or a seal of the Commonwealth of Australia or of a State or Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia;
- goods bearing a representation or likeness of the Royal Arms.
It should also be noted that written permission is required for the importation of goods to which is attached the seed of any plant whose importation is subject to restrictions (see Vegetable products General Note and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)).
- Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques
Australian authorities regard any objects illegally exported from another country as illegal imports, which are therefore liable to forfeiture (see the Australian Ministry for the Arts).
Written permission from the Trustees of the Papua New Guinea Public Museum and Art Gallery must be produced to the Collector of Customs to authorise the importation of goods that are national cultural property of Papua New Guinea.
The following exclusions apply to Rice, Grains, Seeds, Nuts, Beans and Pulses that are prohibited to be sent to Australia
- goods that are thermally processed that are commercially manufactured and packaged such as retorted, blanched, roasted, fried, par-boiled, boiled, puffed, malted or pasteurised goods
- goods that are chemically processed and preserved such as with a Formalin Propionic Acid fixative, Formalin Acetic acid alcohol, Carnoy’s fixative or ethanol.
- fresh vegetables
- commercially manufactured frozen or freeze-dried food (perishable foodstuffs only)
- frozen plant samples for plant research (including through the use of liquid nitrogen and freeze drying)
- oils derived from vegetables or seed
- Preserved or pickled (such as in vinegar or alcohol)
- goods that have been refined or extracted to obtain specific components from plant-based raw materials. Examples include starch, lecithin, protein, cellulose, sugars and pigments.
Prohibited items
Prohibited products are not permitted in the mail under any circumstances.
- Live animals
- Dogs of the following breeds: Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese tosa, American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier.
- Vegetable products
- Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage
- Soil, even in small quantities, around plants or plant matter.
- Organisms capable of causing plant diseases.
- Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers
- Organisms capable of causing plant diseases.
- Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder
- Straw and other plant material must not be used as packaging material.
- Mineral products
- All Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes are prohibited from postal carriage.
- Products of the chemical or allied industries
- Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes
- HS Code 2844.10- Radioactive materials: any article or substance with a specific activity greater than 70kBq/kg
- HS Code 2844.50 (0.002 microcurie per gramme).
- Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks
- Flammable or corrosive paints, varnishes or thinners.
- Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes; polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster
- Corrosive cleaning liquid, put up for retail sale.
- Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations
- Explosives, including fireworks, blasting caps, fuses, flares, caps for toy firearms or starting pistols.
- Flammable liquids (including gasoline, alcohol, flammable solvents and cleaning compounds, flammable paint, flammable varnish removers and thinners, pyrophoric liquids).
- Flammable solids, including substances liable to spontaneous combustion and substances which, on contact with water, emit flammable gases.
- Gases, including aerosol products, butane and compressed gases.
- Oxidising material.
- Matches and vestas containing substance known as white phosphorous or the substance known as yellow phosphorous.
- Miscellaneous chemical products
- Corrosive material, including corrosive cleaning liquid, corrosive rust remover, corrosive paint or varnish-removing liquid, nitric acid, battery fluid, mercury compounds and mercury contained in manufactured articles.
- Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)
- Dog collars incorporating apparatus designed to cause an electric shock or protrusions designed to puncture or bruise an animal's skin (see Arms & Ammunition Section of Restrictions)
- Fruit, vegetable, egg or meat cartons (new or used) used as packaging.
- Advertising matter relating to any prohibited goods.
- Ceramic products
- Glazed ceramic ware is prohibited if, being ceramic ware of a kind normally used in connection with the storage or consumption of food, it releases levels of lead or cadmium in excess of specified levels (As regulations concerning prohibited or restricted imports are subject to amendment at short notice, senders should ascertain current requirements from Australian diplomatic representatives in the country of posting or from the Australian Customs Service in the capital city of the relevant Australian State or Territory)
- Coins, bank notes and bullion
- Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin
- Jewellery
- Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
- HS Codes 8401.10-40 Radioactive substances.
- Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof
- Thermometers containing mercury.
- Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof
- All tobacco products, including cigarettes and loose leaf tobacco. This affects all tobacco products, except chewing tobacco and oral snuff in amounts up to 1.5 kg, and cigars.
- The following articles are prohibited as postal imports to, or items in transit via Australia:
1 articles containing, or suspected of containing, firearms, weapons or items of weaponry including grenades, mortar shells or canisters, or parts thereof, even if rendered inert;
2 articles that resemble, or may reasonably be taken for, any item in 1 above, including replicas and stage props; and
3 any article, whether deleterious or not, that may reasonably be construed by its appearance or make-up as constituting a potential security risk to persons or property.
- See Arms & Ammunition Section of Restrictions for details of specified exempt items.
- Miscellaneous manufactured articles
- Goods bearing the word "Anzac" and goods whose description includes the word "Anzac".
- Jewellery; natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coins, banknotes or any other form of currency
- Rice (Oryza sativa)
- Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)
- Cucurbit seed (Cucurbita, Cucumis, Citrullus spp.)
- Cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum)
- Safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius)
- Bean seed (Phaseolus spp.)
- Soybean (Glycine max)
- Mung beans, cowpeas (Vigna spp.)
- Lentils (Lens culinaris)
- Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
- Coriander seed (Coriandrum sativum)
- Celery seed (Apium graveolens)
- Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)
- Dried chillies/capsicum (Capsicum spp.)
- Faba bean (Vicia faba)
- Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan)
- Pea seed (Pisum sativum)
- Fennel seed (Foeniculum spp)
When you send parcels and mail (excluding correspondence) from the UK to destinations outside of the EU, we require you to provide electronic customs data.
The easiest way to provide electronic customs data is by using one of Royal Mail’s shipping platforms such as Click & Drop or Pro Shipping, or by integrating your system with Royal Mail’s API Shipping.
Royal Mail prohibitions and restrictions.
Full list of restricted articles for all countries
Remember to use the correct address format
- Write the apartment number, then a forward slash, followed by the building number
- Do you have a floor number? State the apartment or suite number on the second line – then the floor number, building number and street name on a third line
- Write the town or suburb, territory, and four-digit postcode on one line – in capitals without punctuation
- Please write 'AUSTRALIA' in capital letters on the last line of the address
Examples:
This is for apartment 10, at the address of 17 Western Terrace:
Mrs Wendy Davies
10/17 Western Terrace
ROBERTSON NSW 4755
AUSTRALIA
This is for suite 490, on the 6th floor, at the address of 65 Wollongong Street:
The Clever Agency
Suite 490
Floor 6 65 Wollongong Street
SOUTHPORT QLD 4215
AUSTRALIA
Please write the addressee's mobile telephone number on your parcel, in case we need to contact them about their delivery.
Attach a customs label
You’ll need to apply a customs declaration form to your package.
If you buy postage online with Click & Drop the label will be generated automatically, and we will also send customs data in advance of your parcel.
Alternatively, customs declaration labels are available online or in a Post Office® branch.
- For items with a value up to £270, you will need customs form CN22 (pdf, 394.05 KB).
- For items with a value over £270, you will need customs form CN23 (pdf, 227.98 KB) and clear plastic wallet SP 126, also available at any Post Office® branch.
Next steps
Shipping overseas for business?
