If you are importing goods for personal use or have been told by Customs that your 'personal effects' or 'unaccompanied baggage' are not 'personal effects' then you will need a SAC declaration completed to facilitate your Customs clearance. 

SAC declarations are not used for carnets, personal effects or goods that are sent through the post. 

For goods to be considered a SAC, they must have a Customs value of AUD$1000 or under and arrive in Australia by air or sea freight.

◊ Sea Freight ◊ Air Freight ◊ Hints and Tips

Whether you...

• bought something on Ebay;

• ordered in Piper Betal or Taro;

• contacted the supplier of your favourite products and asked them to send you the  products;

• sent stuff back as unaccompanied luggage while you were traveling;

• had a friend or family member send you a gift;

• need a ceremonial mat for your next function or celebration;

• have ordered books for study; or

• simply had an unexpected parcel turn up by air or sea freight (usually from a well meaning friend or family member who is overseas!)

...then you need a SAC declaration!

If this sounds like your goods, then SAC's Cargo Clearances will complete your Customs clearance for you.  We promise to make the process as straight forward and simple as possible.  

Once you receive notice about your shipment, you need to contact us and provide your shipment details.

When we have everything we need, your Customs clearance will be completed (usually within 1/2 hour of receiving all documentation).  Once clearance is complete, subject to Quarantine, you can collect your goods.   

Please note a SAC declaration must be lodged before AQIS clearance can take place.  

If your goods are subject to AQIS, we will help you with Quarantine clearance as well.  If you would like to complete the AQIS clearance yourself we will assist you with DIY information sheets, or we can do it for you (including AQIS processing and inspection, AQIS attendance, organising the fumigation treatment if required etc). 

Once your goods have been AQIS cleared, you will be able to collect them. 

It takes one to three weeks for your goods to be available for collection if they have arrived sea freight.  This is because it depends on where they have been unpacked (e.g. your goods could have been unpacked in Melbourne, but the final destination might be Sydney or Brisbane).  Sometimes Customs also place a border hold on your goods (this could be up to five days) and if AQIS needs to inspect them and further action is required, then this will also take more time. 

The depot will usually give 3 -5 days free storage for the above procedures to be completed (in almost all cases this is plenty of time to complete everything and collect your goods before the free storage period expires).

During this time the Delivery Order will need to be collected and local charges paid, so your goods can be collected.

The basic process for goods that arrive via sea freight is:

1. You receive a pre-alert or arrival notice.
2. Local charges need to be paid and Delivery Order collected from the shipping company.
3. SAC declaration needs to be lodged to complete Customs clearance.
4. Goods will be released for collection (from the depot where the goods are held) once Customs and AQIS clearance is complete.

If you would like more information please email or call us on 1800 154 520 for further assistance.