On this page
Moving house to the Pacific is different from moving interstate. Your belongings cross an ocean, sit on a wharf, and are opened and inspected by people whose job is to keep pests and contraband out of a small island nation. The families whose moves go smoothly aren't the lucky ones. They're the ones who packed for the destination's rules before the container left Australia.
This guide covers relocating your household to the Pacific Islands: choosing between self-pack and a packed move, what to bring and leave behind, paperwork, duty concessions, insurance and timing. For the full shipping picture, see our complete guide to shipping to the Pacific Islands.
Key takeaways
- Self-pack containers are economical. Professional packing costs more but gives better protection, insurance and inventories.
- Personal effects don't need an Australian export declaration.
- Expect a biosecurity inspection. Food, plants, soil and dirty outdoor items cause most delays.
- Many countries offer duty concessions on used household goods for eligible residents, with conditions.
- Owner-packed items often have limited insurance cover, so read the policy before you pack.
Self-pack or a packed move?
| Self-pack container | Professional packed move | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A container is delivered to your home, you load it, and it's collected | Removalists pack, inventory and load your goods, often with export wrapping and crating |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Inventory | You prepare it | Prepared professionally, which customs and biosecurity officers tend to trust |
| Insurance | Owner-packed goods may have limited cover | Broader cover is usually available |
| Risk | Depends on your packing and loading | Lower, with experienced packers and proper bracing |
Many people take a middle path: professional packing for fragile and valuable items, self-packing for the rest. Whichever you choose, look for a mover experienced with Pacific destinations. Membership of the Australian Furniture Removers Association, or international accreditation such as FIDI's FAIM quality label, is a useful sign.
How big a container?
- 20-foot container: about 33 cubic metres, typically a one- to two-bedroom home
- 40-foot container: about 67 cubic metres, typically a three- to four-bedroom home
- 40-foot high cube: about 76 cubic metres, useful for bulky furniture
For smaller moves, LCL or a shared container can be cheaper. See FCL vs LCL to the Pacific Islands. If you're moving a car too, a 40-foot can often take the vehicle and household goods together. See shipping a car to the Pacific Islands.
What to bring, and what to leave behind
Worth bringing
- Good-quality furniture, beds and mattresses, which can be expensive or hard to find locally
- Kitchenware, linen and household items
- Tools and hardware, cleaned
- Appliances, if they suit the destination's power supply and you accept they may be dutiable
Leave behind or check first
- Food of any kind, including tinned and packaged goods
- Plants, seeds, soil, potting mix, fertilisers and garden chemicals
- Gas bottles, fuel, paint, aerosols, pool chemicals and other dangerous goods
- Firearms and ammunition
- Large quantities of medicines
- Cheap, bulky items that cost more to ship than to replace
See prohibited and restricted items for the full list.
Getting through biosecurity
In Fiji, the Biosecurity Authority regards boxes of personal effects as a biosecurity risk and inspects them as a matter of course, with fees. Vanuatu requires a biosecurity import permit for second-hand goods before shipment. Expect similar scrutiny elsewhere.
- Clean everything that has been outdoors: outdoor furniture, bikes, prams, barbecues, garden tools, lawnmowers, camping gear, sporting equipment and shoes.
- Drain fuel from mowers, generators and outboards, and clean off grass and soil.
- Don't reuse old boxes that held fruit or vegetables.
- Use cardboard, plastic and blankets for packing, and ISPM 15 marked timber only. See ISPM 15 explained.
- Group items that may need inspection near the container doors so they're easy to reach.
Paperwork
- A detailed inventory in English, numbered box by box, with contents and estimated values.
- Passport and visa or residence documents, which many countries need to assess concessions.
- Invoices for new items, which are usually dutiable.
- A local tax number where required. Fiji, for example, requires a Tax Identification Number for imported removal goods.
- An authority letter allowing your agent at destination to clear the shipment.
Ask for a sea waybill rather than an original bill of lading where possible, so your goods can be released without waiting for couriered originals. Personal effects don't need an Australian export declaration.
Duty concessions on household goods
Most Pacific countries offer some relief from duty and tax on used household goods for people taking up residence, but the conditions vary. Typical conditions include:
- The goods are used and have been owned for a period before the move
- Quantities are reasonable for a household
- The goods arrive within a set time of the owner taking up residence
- The owner holds the right visa or residency status, or is a returning citizen
Fiji offers an exemption for used personal and household goods to eligible returning and new residents. In Tonga, relocation guidance indicates used household goods are generally duty-free in reasonable quantities for first-time residents, while appliances and new goods may be dutiable. New items, goods for resale and vehicles are almost always taxed. Confirm your eligibility with the destination customs service before you pack. See import duty and taxes in the Pacific Islands.
Insurance
Transit insurance for household moves is worth having, but read the terms. Policies often limit cover for owner-packed items to total loss rather than breakage, exclude pre-existing damage, and require an itemised inventory with values. Professional packing usually unlocks broader cover. Make sure the policy covers the whole journey, including any transhipment and storage, and photograph valuable items before packing.
A moving timeline
- Three months out: get quotes, check concessions and visa requirements, and decide what to ship.
- Two months out: book the container and confirm sailing, routing and destination agent.
- One month out: declutter, clean outdoor items, and start the inventory.
- Packing week: pack, load, photograph, and finalise the inventory and insurance.
- After sailing: send documents to the destination agent and track the container.
- On arrival: be available for inspection, pay duties and fees, and arrange delivery within the free time.
Avoid the pre-Christmas peak where you can, and remember the November to April cyclone season. See shipping during Pacific cyclone season.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an export declaration for my household goods?
No. The Australian Border Force exempts personal effects from export declarations. Goods for sale or business use may need one if they're worth more than AUD 2,000.
Will customs open my container?
Possibly, and biosecurity inspection of household goods is routine in several countries. A clear inventory and accessible packing make inspections faster.
Is it worth shipping furniture to the islands?
Often, yes, for good-quality pieces that are expensive or hard to buy locally. For cheap, bulky items, replacing them on arrival can be more economical.
Can I pack my own boxes and still get insurance?
Usually, but cover for owner-packed items is often narrower. Check the policy wording before you pack.
How this guide was researched
This guide draws on Australian Border Force export guidance, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and Biosecurity Vanuatu requirements, international moving industry customs guides for Fiji and Tonga, and the author's experience coordinating household relocations to the islands. Concessions and rules change, so confirm current requirements before you ship.
Written by
Peyton Brown
Senior Editor of The Pennsy's Pacific shipping desk, with more than a decade in Pacific freight operations, documentation and customs coordination across Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
More from Peyton