Importing a car into Australia

Attachment 259The Personal Imports Scheme is outlined at regulation 13 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989. Mandatory criteria apply under the scheme. These criteria are outlined below. The criteria are strictly enforced. If you fail to meet the criteria, you will not be eligible to import a vehicle under the scheme.


Criteria, 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 from overseas; and
• have owned the vehicle while overseas; and
• have owned the vehicle 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.


Criteria, use of the vehicle

The vehicle must have been available to you for use in transport. This means that the vehicle must have been available to be driven by you, at all times during the 12 month qualifying period. The vehicle should be registered (in your name) and garaged (proximate to your residence) throughout the 12 month qualifying period, so that you could, if needed, drive the vehicle. In addition, you must have held an appropriate licence to drive the vehicle overseas.


Criteria, citizenship and visa requirements

Applicants must fall into one of the following categories. You must:

• have applied to become an Australian citizen; or
• be an Australian permanent resident (eg, hold a permanent visa); or
• have applied to become an Australian permanent resident (eg, applied for a permanent visa); or
• hold a visa that allows you to apply to become an Australian permanent resident (eg, hold a temporary visa that allows you to apply for a permanent visa)

In addition, applicants must intend to change their residence. Applicants must have been resident in a foreign country (throughout the qualifying period of 12 months’ ownership and use of the vehicle) but now intend to become Australian residents on a permanent basis and remain in Australia indefinitely.


Documents to be provided by the applicant

To apply for a vehicle import approval under the Personal Imports Scheme, you should provide the following (to the Department) in the first instance:

• a completed Application for a Personally Imported Vehicle;
• the application fee – $50 Australian dollars, by cheque, money order or credit card (MasterCard or Visa only). If paying by cheque from overseas, please seek advice from your bank on the correct procedure;
• a copy of your driver’s licence;
• a copy of the purchase documents for the vehicle, in your name;
• a copy of the registration documents for the vehicle (for the qualifying period), in your name;
• a statement of travel. The statement of travel is prepared by you, and itemises any international travel you undertook during the qualifying period. In particular, the statement sets out any absences from your country of residence. If travel was for business reasons, you should supply a letter to that effect from your employer; and
• a copy of your passport (this includes a copy of every page, including blank pages). If you hold dual passports, you should produce a copy of both passports.

Applicants may substantiate an intention to remain in Australia indefinitely, by establishing:

• your employment details, such as a letter from your Australian employer;
• a rental agreement / purchase agreement for your residential property in Australia;
• the shipment of your household goods to Australia;
• the enrolment of your children in an Australian school;
• your Australian telephone / electricity accounts;
• 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; and
• your resignation from employment in your former country of residence.

In addition, foreign citizens settling in Australia may substantiate an intention to remain in Australia
indefinitely, by providing evidence that they have:

• applied for an Australian Tax File Number;
• registered with Medicare;
• applied for Australian medical insurance;
• applied to open an Australian bank account; and
• applied for an Australian driver’s licence.

Importing Vehicles to Australia – Information Brochure (VSB10) 18

These lists are a guide. You may also be required to provide further evidence, including:

• a copy of insurance documents for the vehicle;
• copies of other documents that support your purchase of the vehicle (such as bank statements, receipts from vendors); and
• copies of other documents that show you used the vehicle (such as receipts for any maintenance orrepairs made to the vehicle).

You may be required to submit original documentation (not photocopies) to confirm eligibility under the scheme.

Form to use for applying for a Personal Import

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...ation_1109.doc

or

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...ation_1109.pdf