Importing hotel linen from India into Australia follows a clear sequence. Once you understand each step and who handles it, the process becomes routine. This guide covers the main points for a hotel group, an independent hotel or a distributor bringing in a commercial shipment.
Step 1: Get your business set up
Before you import, you need an Australian Business Number (ABN) and, in most cases, registration for GST. GST registration matters because a registered business can generally claim back the GST it pays on imports as an input tax credit.
Step 2: Appoint a licensed customs broker
A licensed customs broker lodges the import declaration with the Australian Border Force on your behalf, checks the tariff classification and works out the duty and GST payable. Brokers and freight forwarders usually offer both services. Declarations are generally required for commercial consignments valued above A$1,000, so a hotel linen order will normally need one.
Step 3: Claim the ECTA duty rate
Before the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), many Indian textile products paid a general duty of 5 per cent on entry to Australia. Under ECTA, Australia grants zero-duty access to Indian-origin goods, and by 1 January 2026 all Australian tariff lines were zero-duty for Indian exports. To claim the preferential rate, the goods must qualify as originating in India, and the claim must be supported by a valid ECTA Certificate of Origin from the Indian exporter. Ask your mill to supply it with every shipment and ask your broker to check that the details on it match the invoice.
Step 4: Understand how GST is calculated
GST on imports is 10 per cent of the “value of the taxable importation”. That value is made up of:
- the customs value of the goods, normally the price paid or payable on a FOB basis,
- any customs duty payable,
- international freight and insurance costs, and
- certain other charges.
As an illustration, for goods with a customs value of A$20,000, freight and insurance of A$2,300 and no duty, the value of the taxable importation is A$22,300 and the GST is A$2,230. Your broker will calculate the exact figures for your shipment, and this is a reference calculation only.
GST is normally paid at the border before release. If your business is approved for the GST deferral arrangement, you can instead account for import GST in your Business Activity Statement. Keep the import declaration and the broker’s statement, because they are the evidence for your GST credit.
Step 5: Prepare the documents
- Commercial invoice with a full product description, quantity, unit price and the Incoterm.
- Packing list matching the cartons shipped.
- Bill of lading or airway bill.
- ECTA Certificate of Origin.
- Insurance certificate, where insurance is arranged separately.
Accurate values matter. The Border Force looks closely at declared values, and an error can delay release or lead to an amended declaration.
Step 6: Clearance and delivery
Your broker lodges the declaration, you or your broker pay the duty and GST charges, and the shipment is released for delivery once any inspection or biosecurity requirements are met. Timelines depend on the port, the shipment and whether it is selected for inspection, so build a margin into your stock plan and ask your broker for their current typical timing.
Putting it together
For a first import, line up four things before the shipment sails: your ABN and GST registration, a licensed broker, the ECTA certificate and a clean set of shipping documents. Celeris Exim introduces Australian buyers to verified Indian mills and can coordinate the sample and order stages so the paperwork is ready when the goods arrive.