Importing Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof from Finland into Australia (2026)

Australia has no FTA with Finland, so MFN tariff rates apply to all Chapter 87 vehicles and parts; the most critical compliance obligation is securing RVCA approval or a valid RAW/Concessional RAV entry before the goods arrive at the Australian border.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 87

Compliance requirements

⚠Verify RVCA register status or obtain RAW/Concessional RAV approval before shipment from Finland.
⚠Ensure used vehicles meet DAFF clean, dry and free of contamination standard to avoid costly border treatment.
⚠Declare full MFN customs value including Finnish origin freight and insurance costs to Australian port.
⚠All road vehicles must comply with the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (MVSA) — vehicles not on the Road Vehicle Certificate of Approval (RVCA) register require a RAW (Registered Automotive Workshop) or Concessional RAV entry approval before import clearance
⚠New and used vehicles are subject to DAFF biosecurity inspection for soil, plant material and pests — used vehicles and machinery must be cleaned to 'clean, dry and free of contamination' standard or face mandatory treatment costs at the border
⚠Anti-dumping measures apply to certain steel road wheels from China (Case 2014/1) — importers of steel wheels must check the Anti-Dumping Commission register and may be liable for dumping duty in addition to customs duty
⚠Electric vehicles and e-bikes with lithium-ion batteries must comply with the Australian Consumer Law and relevant Australian Standards (AS/NZS 62133 for batteries) — ACMA type approval is required for any wireless components such as keyless entry or Bluetooth systems
⚠Personal imports of vehicles over 25 years old via the Enthusiast, Left Hand Drive or other concessional pathways require a Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) from the Department of Infrastructure before shipment departs — this is a pre-import requirement, not a post-arrival fix
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Finland, so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all goods. A commercial invoice and packing list are required, but no preferential certificate of origin is needed as no preference is claimable.
⚠Electrical and electronic goods from Finland must comply with Australian electrical safety standards and may require ACMA registration or RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) approval before importation and sale in Australia.
⚠Timber, wood products, paper pulp and any goods containing plant-based materials are subject to DAFF biosecurity inspection and may require a phytosanitary certificate issued by Finnish authorities, given Finlands significant forestry and paper manufacturing sector.
⚠Chemicals and industrial preparations imported under HS Chapter 38 must comply with NICNAS (AICIS) industrial chemical notification requirements, and Safety Data Sheets must meet Australian GHS formatting standards for customs and quarantine clearance.

Key documents required

Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) issued by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications — mandatory for most vehicle imports
Certificate of Conformity or Compliance Plate documentation confirming compliance with ADRs (Australian Design Rules) under the MVSA
Foreign registration certificate or title document (for used vehicles) to establish year of manufacture and ownership history
Commercial invoice with full VIN, engine number, make, model, year, engine capacity and FOB value — incomplete invoices are the leading cause of ABF delays for this chapter
Biosecurity declaration and evidence of pre-export cleaning or fumigation treatment (DAFF-approved treatment certificate where applicable)

Import tip

Always lodge the Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) application before the vessel departs the origin port — the Department of Infrastructure does not issue retrospective approvals and ABF will not release the vehicle without one, meaning demurrage and storage costs accumulate rapidly while you wait.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 87 goods from Finland — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Finland

Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles Ch.47Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard Ch.48Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard Ch.38Miscellaneous chemical products Ch.90Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof