This option is covered by Regulation 13 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989.
The purpose of the option
The personal imports option allows migrants settling in Australia, and expatriate Australian citizens returning permanently to Australia after a long period overseas, to bring their personal road vehicle with them, where the vehicle has been owned and used for a period of 12 months or longer.
The personal import option only covers individuals. Companies and/or corporations are not eligible to import a vehicle under this option.
Change of residence
Applicants must have lived in a foreign country (or several foreign countries) throughout a qualifying period of 12 months prior to arriving in Australia. Applicants must now intend to become an Australian permanent resident and remain in Australia indefinitely.
Temporary visitors such as foreign tourists, posted diplomatic personnel and posted military personnel are not eligible under this option.
Criteria
Mandatory criteria apply under this option. The criteria outlined below are strictly enforced. If you fail to meet the criteria, you will not be eligible to import a vehicle under this option.
Ownership of the vehicle
Applicants must satisfy each of the following ownership requirements. You must:
- own the vehicle when submitting the application; and
- have acquired ownership of the vehicle while overseas; and
- have owned the vehicle while overseas for a continuous period of at least 12 months. This is the “qualifying period”. The qualifying period must have occurred immediately before you (permanently) arrived in Australia.
Use of the vehicle
The vehicle must have been available to you for use as transport. This means that the vehicle must have been available to be driven by you, at all times during the 12 month qualifying period. Evidence to establish availability would include that the vehicle is registered (in your name) and was garaged (proximate to your residence) throughout the 12 month qualifying period, so that you could drive the vehicle. In addition, evidence that you held an appropriate licence to drive the vehicle overseas would assist in confirming the vehicle was available for use.
Citizenship and visa requirements
Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:
- be an Australian citizen; or
- have applied to become an Australian citizen; or
- be an Australian permanent resident (e.g. hold a permanent visa); or
- have applied to become an Australian permanent resident (e.g. applied for a permanent visa); or
- hold a visa that allows you to apply to become an Australian permanent resident (e.g. hold a temporary visa that allows you to apply for a permanent visa); or
- otherwise be entitled to remain in Australia indefinitely (e.g. is a New Zealand citizen).
Date of application
Applications may be made before you arrive in Australia if you have met the criteria for this option. Alternatively, applications may be made up to six months after you arrive in Australia.
Age of applicants
Applicants must be of an age to hold an Australian license to drive the vehicle.
Limit of 1 vehicle every 5 years
Applicants may only import one vehicle under the Personal Imports Option every five years.
How to apply
Applications may be made before you arrive in Australia (although you must still meet the 12 month qualifying period prior to applying). Alternatively, applications may be made up to six months after you arrive in Australia.
To apply for a Vehicle Import Approval under the Personal Imports Option, and in order to assist the Decision-maker in being satisfied the mandatory criteria under this option has been met (i.e. ownership of vehicle, use of vehicle, citizenship and visa requirements), applicants are required to provide supporting documentation.
Applicants should be able to substantiate having lived overseas by providing documents such as:
- Your resignation from employment in your former country of residence.
- The sale of your residential property in your former country of residence.
- The cancellation of your residential rental property in your former country of residence.
Applicants should be able to substantiate ownership of the vehicle by providing documents such as:
- A copy of the purchase document for the vehicle in your name (a purchase document can be a pro-forma invoice/receipt for deposit or full payment) from a person/agent/dealer/organisation in your former country of residence.
- A copy of other documents that support your purchase of the vehicle (such as bank statements) from a person/agent/dealer/organisation in your former country of residence.
- A copy of the deregistration certificate, from the previous owner of the vehicle in your former country of residence.
- A copy of the Japanese de-registration certificate, in your name.
Noting you must meet the qualifying period requirements for ownership of the vehicle.
Applicants should be able to substantiate use of the vehicle by providing documents such as:
- A copy of vehicle registration documents for the vehicle, in your name and for the qualifying period, from your former country of residence.
- A copy of insurance documents for the vehicle from your former country of residence.
- A copy of your international or overseas driver’s license.
- Copies of other documents that show you used the vehicle (such as receipts for any maintenance or repairs made to the vehicle) in your former country of residence.
Applicants should be able to substantiate citizenship and visa requirements by providing documents such as:
- A copy of the identity page of your passport. If you hold dual passports, you should provide a copy of both passport identity pages.
- A copy of your current Australian permanent resident visa if you are not a citizen.
- A copy of your current temporary visa that allows you to apply for a permanent resident visa if you are not a citizen.
- A copy of other documents that support your application for an Australian permanent resident visa if you are not a citizen.
Note: New Zealand citizens are entitled to remain in Australia indefinitely.
Applicants should be able to substantiate their intention to come to Australia with the intention to remain in Australia indefinitely by providing documents such as:
- Your employment details, such as a letter from your Australian employer.
- A rental agreement/purchase agreement for your residential property in Australia (longstanding holiday homes or second homes do not count).
- A copy of other documents that support your shipment of your household goods to Australia.
- A copy of other documents that support your enrolment of your children in an Australian school.
- A copy of other documents that support your new Australian telephone, electricity or utility accounts.
- A copy of other documents that support you having applied for an Australian Tax File Number.
- A copy of other documents that support you having registered with Medicare.
- A copy of other documents that support you having applied for Australian medical insurance.
- A copy of other documents that support you having applied to open an Australian bank account.
- A copy of other documents that support you having applied for an Australian driver’s license.
These lists are intended as a guide only. The documents provided should be as recent as possible for the purposes of supporting your application. Documentation must however support the qualifying period requirements for the ownership and use requirements for the vehicle.
The Decision maker must be satisfied that you have lived overseas, owned and used the vehicle whilst overseas and are coming to Australia with the intention to remain in Australia indefinitely.
NOTE: All documents not in English require translation certified by a member of an accredited agency such as the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters.
If you believe you meet the requirements above, but are missing certain documents, please provide a covering letter to explain. Your application may be considered with discretion, however only where a clear case has been made.
These documents are in addition to the documents required when you register on the portal. Refer to the How to apply page for further information.
The personal import plate and vehicle registration
If you are eligible under the Personal Imports Option and a vehicle import approval granted, you may apply for the issue of a personal import plate. There is an additional charge for the supply of the plate (payable to the plate contractor). Further information is available on the Plating vehicles page.
Vehicle registration is administered by the registering authority in each state or territory. Heavy vehicle owners should contact the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator for further information. Contact details are available from the useful contacts link on the right.
A personal import plate is evidence that the vehicle is an approved vehicle import and allows the vehicle to be registered. Before you may apply for a personal import plate, the vehicle must be brought up to acceptable ADR standards and the Endorsement of Compliance Certificate must be completed. For Australian registration purposes, a vehicle imported under the Personal Imports Option must:
- be roadworthy; and
- meet minimum safety standards.
Modifications to bring the vehicle up to minimum safety standards can be deferred until you wish to register the vehicle.
You should contact your state or territory registering authority for further details on how to have your vehicle inspected and registered. Heavy vehicles may have different requirements—please contact the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator for further information.
The information provided on this page should be used as guidance material only for importing a vehicle into Australia. Please familiarise yourself with the relevant legislation prior to lodging an application.
