Customs

Incoming international items
While Australian customs authorities will try to process all parcels as fast as possible, it may take up to 15 days to complete.

If duties are payable or there are other reasons your item needs to be held, it may take longer to be released. If this happens, they’ll let you know directly.

Outgoing international items
Unfortunately, we cannot provide any advice regarding how long a parcel you’ve sent overseas will take to be cleared by an overseas customs authority. The recipient of the item can contact their local customs authority for further assistance or clarification on clearance times. 

When mail is held for an extended period or delayed by customs or quarantine authorities, they’ll get in touch with the addressee directly via a written letter to let them know.

If you see the tracking status ‘possible delay’ when tracking your item or in tracking notifications, this might also indicate that your item has been delayed by customs. If your item is experiencing significant delays, please log an enquiry with the postal service that you lodged the item with.

You can find your customs declaration number on your original postage receipt or under the barcode of your customs declaration form. 

If you’ve sent a parcel overseas, we’ll need this number in order to track your parcel.

Sending within Australia 

You can send perishable items such as food in the post, subject to state quarantine restrictions. Visit the Australian Interstate Quarantine website to check restrictions for each state.

Download our Dangerous and prohibited goods and packaging guide (PDF 1.1MB) for more information.

Sending overseas

If you're planning to send food or perishable items overseas, check with customs or border protection in the destination country for any restrictions. 

Our International Post Guide may also help.