US and EU pre-arrival

There are customs declaration requirements that you must adhere to when sending items overseas, especially to the United States (US) and European Union (EU) member states. The table below shows which Australia Post products and services these requirements apply to.

For safety and regulatory reasons, customs authorities are strict with what they allow into their countries. Many, including the US and EU member states, require pre-departure approval of items before they leave Australia. This means Australia Post must transmit electronic advance data (EAD) to customs authorities at the destination country and receive approval that those items can be sent, before passing them to an airline for delivery.

For the US and EU countries, this is part of the pre-departure customs clearance (PDCC) process. To ensure pre-departure customs approval, you must complete a customs declaration form for most items being sent to the US and EU countries at or before the time of lodgement or assessment. If this information isn’t provided, or is inaccurate or incomplete, items may be returned.

What you need to do

Save time at the Post Office by preparing your customs declaration in advance. This allows for the digital capture of electronic advance data (EAD), ensuring that the destination customs authority receives the necessary information before your item arrives. Read our guide to completing your customs forms, including how to write an acceptable description of goods.