Shipping From Australia to Greece
Last Reviewed: 29th July 2026
At a Glance
- Express courier to Greece takes around 3–7 business days, air freight 5–10 business days, and sea freight 6–10 weeks.
- As an EU member, Greece requires accurate HS/TARIC codes, a commercial invoice, and an EORI number for business shipments.
- Shipments generally clear through Athens or the Port of Piraeus before onward delivery across mainland Greece and the islands.
- Antiquities and cultural heritage items face strict Greek export controls and often require prior authorisation.
- PACK & SEND coordinates DHL, FedEx, TNT & UPS options, with a Service Centre available on 1300 668 000 for customs guidance.
Shipping from Australia to Greece covers everything from a diaspora family sending gifts to Athens, to a business exporting samples to Thessaloniki, to a returning traveller relocating furniture and personal effects back to a Greek island. As an EU member state, Greece follows the bloc's customs rules, which means clients sending from Australia need accurate paperwork alongside a suitable carrier. PACK & SEND coordinates air freight, sea freight and international express courier through DHL, FedEx, TNT and UPS, with packing and documentation handled at a local Service Centre. Whether the shipment is a small parcel to a relative in Piraeus or a larger consignment bound for an island address, the right mode and the right paperwork make the difference between a smooth delivery and one held up at EU customs.
Ways to Ship from Australia to Greece
Greece is served well by the major international carriers, but the best mode depends on what is being sent, how quickly it is needed, and whether it is a personal or business shipment. As Greece sits within the EU customs union, every shipment (regardless of carrier) needs to clear EU import formalities before onward delivery to an Athens suburb, a mainland city or an island address.
Air Freight
Air freight is the practical choice for larger or heavier shipments where speed still matters but express courier costs would be high. It suits business consignments, furniture pieces, or multiple boxes travelling together, landing in Athens before onward road transport to the rest of the country.
Sea Freight
Sea freight is the most economical option for bulky or non-urgent shipments such as relocations, household goods or commercial pallets. Shipments typically route through the Port of Piraeus, Greece's main container gateway, before local clearance and delivery.
International Express Courier
For parcels, documents and smaller items, international express courier via DHL, FedEx, TNT or UPS offers a tracked, carrier-managed service with milestone-based transit through the EU network. It is the fastest standard option and suits gifts, samples and time-sensitive business parcels.
How Long Does Shipping to Greece Take?
Indicative transit times from Australia to Greece are approximately 3 to 7 business days for international express courier, 5 to 10 business days for air freight, and 6 to 10 weeks for sea freight. These are general guides only, since actual timeframes depend on origin location, EU customs clearance, Greek postal handling once goods land, and seasonal peaks such as the pre-Christmas period or Greek Orthodox Easter. Island destinations may add a day or two once goods clear the mainland, as parcels are transferred by ferry or domestic courier.
How to Send a Package from Australia to Greece
Sending to Greece follows a straightforward process once the right mode and documentation are lined up.
1. Get a quote, either an instant online quote for a simple, eligible item, or a Service Centre quote for anything larger or more complex.
2. Have the item assessed and packed correctly, in line with EU and carrier requirements.
3. Prepare the paperwork, including a commercial invoice, HS/TARIC code and any Greek-specific declarations.
4. Choose the carrier and mode, DHL, FedEx, TNT or UPS, matched to the size, value and urgency of the shipment.
5. Lodge the shipment and track it through to delivery with up-to-date tracking with milestone updates.
Documents You'll Need
A commercial invoice describing the goods and their value is required for every shipment into Greece. Business shipments need an EORI number to clear EU customs, and low-value consignments may need IOSS details to handle VAT correctly at the point of sale. Depending on the goods, a certificate of origin, an export permit for antiquities or cultural items, or additional TARIC classification detail may also be required. A Service Centre can confirm exactly what applies to a given shipment.
Instant Online Quote vs Personalised Service Centre Quote
An instant online quote suits individual senders with a pre-packed item under 20kg and valued up to $1,000. Larger, heavier or business shipments, and anything needing customs or compliance handling, suit a personalised Service Centre quote, which factors in packing, the right carrier partner (DHL, FedEx, TNT or UPS), and the documentation Greek customs will require.
What You Can Send from Australia to Greece
Individual senders use this route for family gifts, care packages, personal effects and returning travellers' belongings, often to relatives in Athens, Thessaloniki or on the islands. Diaspora shipments frequently include heirlooms, framed photos or artwork, where art and antiques packing protects fragile or valuable pieces for the long journey. Others are moving permanently or semi-permanently and need Relocation & Removals support for boxed household items and furniture.
Business and regular senders ship product samples, commercial documents, spare parts and retail stock to Greek partners and clients. Regular senders benefit from consistent processes for recurring EU-bound shipments, while businesses relocating staff or opening a Greek office often turn to International relocations for a coordinated, larger-scale move.
Restricted & Prohibited Items for Greece
As an EU member, Greece applies strict controls on weapons, illicit drugs, counterfeit goods, and certain plant, food and animal products subject to biosecurity checks. Greece also enforces notably tight rules around antiquities and cultural heritage items: archaeological objects and items of historical significance generally require an export licence and may need to be declared to the Greek Archaeological Service, so clients sending older or heritage-linked pieces should check requirements first.
Lithium batteries and other high-risk items are not booked online and are instead handled through a Service Centre, which can check current carrier and EU requirements for a specific item. For anything uncertain, our Dangerous Goods & Restricted Items page has more detail, and a Service Centre team member can confirm what applies before the shipment is booked.
Cost of Shipping to Greece
Cost is driven by weight, dimensions, chosen carrier and mode, and how quickly the shipment needs to arrive. EU import VAT (generally 24 percent in Greece) and duty apply based on the declared value and HS/TARIC classification of the goods, and recent EU changes mean low-value parcels are no longer duty-exempt, so accurate paperwork matters for cost as well as clearance speed. A Service Centre can outline likely charges once the item and destination are known.
Where We Deliver in Greece
PACK & SEND coordinates deliveries to Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Patras, and island destinations including Crete, Santorini and Mykonos. Island deliveries take a little longer once goods clear mainland customs, as onward transfer by ferry is required.
Why PACK & SEND for This Route
PACK & SEND brings together carrier options, packing expertise and EU documentation knowledge under one process, so clients are not left working out EORI numbers, TARIC codes or antiquity export rules alone. Whether it is a small parcel booked via instant online quote or a larger relocation coordinated through a Service Centre, every shipment carries Freight Plus Warranty and up-to-date tracking with milestone updates. For questions before booking, the team can be reached on 1300 668 000.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does shipping from Australia to Greece take?
International express courier generally takes around 3 to 7 business days, air freight around 5 to 10 business days, and sea freight around 6 to 10 weeks, depending on customs clearance and the destination.
Do I need an EORI number to send a business shipment to Greece?
Yes, businesses shipping into the EU generally need an EORI number for customs clearance. A Service Centre can advise on this alongside the other documentation Greek customs will expect.
Can I get an instant online quote for any shipment to Greece?
An instant online quote is available for individual senders with a pre-packed item under 20kg and valued up to $1,000. Larger, heavier or business shipments need a personalised Service Centre quote.
What items are restricted when shipping to Greece?
Common restrictions include weapons, drugs, counterfeit goods, certain plant and food products, and antiquities or cultural heritage items, which face particularly strict export controls. See our Dangerous Goods & Restricted Items page for more detail.
Can I send an urgent shipment to Greece?
Urgent shipments are handled as premium, Service Centre-coordinated freight rather than a same-day or online-bookable option, so it is best to contact a Service Centre or call 1300 668 000 to discuss timing.