Exporting from Australia for the first time involves more moving parts than most new exporters expect — registration, product classification, documentation, and a government export declaration process that has to be right before your goods ever reach the wharf or the runway. None of it is difficult once you know the sequence. This guide walks through exactly what’s required, in order, so your first shipment isn’t the one you learn the hard way.
Do You Need Anything Special to Become an Exporter?
No formal licence is required to export goods from Australia. What you do need, before your first shipment, is an Australian Business Number (ABN) — this is the identifier the Australian Border Force (ABF) uses to process your export declaration through the Integrated Cargo System. If you’re exporting through an agent or customs broker rather than lodging declarations yourself, they’ll typically use your ABN or a Customs Client Identifier (CCID) on your behalf.
Certain goods carry additional requirements on top of the standard export process — agricultural products, food, wildlife, chemicals, defence and dual-use goods, and heritage items are the main categories that need an export permit or approval from a separate regulator before ABF will clear them. If you’re not certain whether your product falls into one of these categories, check before you commit to a shipping date rather than after.
The First-Time Export Process, Step by Step
Confirm your ABN is active and, if you’re GST-registered, understand how GST-free export treatment applies to your sale (more on this below).Classify your goods correctly under the Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) — this determines whether a permit applies and feeds directly into your export declaration.
Check for permits or restrictions specific to your product category through the relevant regulator (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for biosecurity-related goods; Defence Export Controls for dual-use and strategic goods; and so on).
Agree Incoterms with your buyer (EXW, FOB and CIF are the most common starting points) — this determines who’s responsible for freight, insurance and risk at each stage of the journey, and it changes your costing.
Arrange freight and, if you’re not lodging declarations yourself, engage a customs broker or freight forwarder to manage the export declaration and documentation.
Lodge an Export Declaration with the ABF if your goods are valued over AUD 2,000, or regardless of value if a permit is required. Shipments under this threshold are generally exempt, along with personal effects and a small number of other exclusions.
Prepare your shipping documents: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin (if required by the destination country or trade agreement), and bill of lading or air waybill.
Confirm ABF has granted an Authority to Deal before your cargo departs — this is the clearance signal that allows the shipment to leave Australia.
GST on Exported Goods
Exports of goods from Australia are generally GST-free, provided the goods actually leave Australia within 60 days of receiving payment or issuing an invoice, whichever happens first. If you’re registered for GST, this means you don’t charge GST on the export sale, but you can still claim input tax credits on the GST you paid for the materials, freight and services that went into producing and shipping it.
Keep every document that proves the export happened within the required timeframe — invoices, shipping documents, and correspondence with your freight provider — for at least five years. GST-free treatment isn’t automatic; it’s conditional on being able to show it happened the way the rules require.
Where a Freight Forwarder or Customs Broker Fits In
You can lodge an export declaration yourself, but most first-time exporters engage a freight forwarder or customs broker to manage classification, documentation, and the ABF lodgement — particularly for the first few shipments, while you’re still learning where the process can go wrong. A broker also picks up on permit requirements you might not know to look for, and can flag Incoterms implications before they become a costly surprise on your first invoice.
If your goods fall into the customs clearance and brokerage side of this process rather than the export side — for example, you’re bringing goods into Australia rather than sending them out — the requirements are different again. See our Customs Clearance & Brokerage page for the import-side process.
Common First-Time Exporter Mistakes
- Booking freight before confirming whether the product needs an export permit — this can delay a shipment that’s already paid for.
- Getting Incoterms wrong on the sales contract, which shifts costs and risk onto the exporter without them realising until the invoice arrives.
- Missing the 60-day GST-free export window because of a slow freight route or a delay at the buyer’s end.
- Treating the export declaration as a formality rather than confirming Authority to Deal before cargo departs.
- Assuming a single certificate of origin format applies to every destination — requirements vary by country and by whether a trade agreement is in play.
Government Support for New Exporters
The Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) matches funding for eligible export promotion activities for businesses with an ABN, at least two years of operation, turnover under $20 million, and an export marketing plan. Austrade’s TradeStart program pairs new exporters with local advisors who can help with market entry, documentation and connections in-market. Both are worth checking before your first shipment, not after — some grant activities need to be pre-approved.
Importing Instead?
If you’re bringing goods into Australia rather than exporting, the process, documentation and thresholds are different — see our dedicated Importing to Australia guide for a step-by-step walkthrough of import declarations, duty and biosecurity requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ABN to export from Australia?
Yes. An ABN (or Customs Client Identifier) is required to lodge an export declaration with the Australian Border Force, whether you lodge it yourself or through a broker acting on your behalf.
What is an export declaration and when do I need one?
An export declaration is the formal report to the Australian Border Force required for goods valued over AUD 2,000, or for any value if the goods need an export permit. It’s lodged through the Integrated Cargo System and must be cleared with an Authority to Deal before your cargo departs.
Is GST charged on exports from Australia?
No — exported goods are generally GST-free, provided they leave Australia within 60 days of payment or invoice, whichever comes first. You can still claim input tax credits on GST paid for costs related to the export.
How long does it take to become a first-time exporter?
There’s no formal qualification or waiting period. If your ABN is active and your goods don’t require any special permits or approvals, you can often prepare and lodge your first export declaration within days.
The biggest delays for first-time exporters usually come from discovering permit or regulatory requirements too late. Checking these requirements upfront helps avoid unnecessary delays.
Do I need a customs broker to export from Australia?
It’s not a legal requirement, but most first-time exporters use one. A broker manages classification, documentation and ABF lodgement, and is familiar with permit requirements that are easy to miss on a first shipment.
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