Shipping From Australia to Kenya

Last Reviewed: 21th Oct 2026

Sending a parcel to Kenya from Australia is a managed job rather than a booking, and PACK & SEND handles the mode, the carrier, the packing and the Kenyan customs paperwork as one piece of work, using air freight, sea freight or express international shipping through a network of leading international carriers.

Kenyan customs and standards requirements can differ from those of destinations such as the United Kingdom or Singapore, so the paperwork deserves as much care as the transport.

Whether you are sending personal effects or a family parcel to Nairobi, relocating a household to Mombasa, or moving samples, stock or equipment to a Kenyan partner or project, the starting point is a personalised quote from your local PACK & SEND Service Centre. We pack with precision, send with confidence, and handle everything in between.

How to Ship from Australia to Kenya

There are several ways to ship goods from Australia to Kenya, depending on what you are sending, how large it is and how quickly it needs to arrive.

• International express courier is suitable for documents, parcels and smaller consignments that need to arrive quickly.
• Air freight can be used for larger or heavier goods where delivery time is important.
• Sea freight is generally suited to bulky, palletised goods, larger shipments and household relocations.

Your local PACK & SEND Service Centre can help you choose the right option and explain the packing, documentation and shipping requirements for your particular shipment.

Whether you're sending a parcel to Nairobi, relocating personal belongings or shipping commercial goods, the right service will depend on the type and size of your consignment.

Air Freight

Use air freight for commercial cargo and time-sensitive consignments into Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, booked through our carrier network and often routed via Middle East or Asian hubs with onward carriage by partner airlines.

It is the mode to use when the goods are needed on a defined date and the volume is modest enough to move by air.

Sea Freight

Ship larger volumes, palletised goods and full container loads by sea freight through the Port of Mombasa, East Africa's busiest container port and the gateway for cargo heading inland to Nairobi and beyond. Container shipping to Kenya suits business stock, plant and equipment, and larger relocations where the volume rather than the clock sets the plan.

Because clearance can take longer for some goods, container consignments are best planned with clearance time built in.

International Express Courier

Send urgent parcels and smaller items by international express courier, which moves door to door and can be followed through our tracking system with up-to-date tracking and milestone updates, for senders who want a faster, closely followed service.

How Long Does Shipping to Kenya Take?

Sea freight typically runs 30 to 45 days depending on transshipment routing and vessel schedules, air freight is generally 5 to 10 days, and express courier around 4 to 8 business days in flight time. These timeframes are a guide only, as factors outside PACK & SEND's control, including customs clearance, may affect delivery schedules.

Door to door timing depends heavily on clearance: customs checks on some regulated goods and periodic congestion at Mombasa can all extend a consignment. A Service Centre can give a realistic estimate for your specific consignment.

Sending a Package from Australia to Kenya, Step by Step

Sending to Kenya follows five steps:

1. Start with a personalised quote from your local Service Centre.
2. Choose the mode that fits the timeline and the nature of the goods.
3. Pack it yourself or have PACK & SEND pack it.
4. Complete the customs documentation Kenya requires.
5. Book, send and follow the consignment through to delivery.

Documents You'll Need

When sending a package to Kenya, you'll generally need to provide accurate details about the goods, including a description and value. Additional customs documentation or permits may be required depending on what you're sending, and some regulated goods may need additional approvals, including:

• Plant material and seeds.
• Drones and drone components.
• Radio and communications equipment.

Your local PACK & SEND Service Centre can advise you on the documentation needed for your shipment and prepare the paperwork.

Regulated Goods

Some goods sent to Kenya, such as electrical goods, cosmetics, food products, toys and textiles, may need to meet additional requirements before they are released. A regulated consignment can take longer to clear, so delivery expectations should allow for it.

Other charges may apply depending on the goods. Talk to your local PACK & SEND Service Centre before shipping any of these goods, so the declared description and value match what is being sent.

Online Self-Service or a Personalised Service Centre Quote

A personalised quote from your local PACK & SEND Service Centre is the starting point for a Kenyan shipment, because it accounts for the packing, the carrier from our network, the mode and the documentation Kenyan customs will require.

Online self-service covers pre-packed standard parcels under 20kg and valued up to $1,000, sent by an individual rather than for a business, with no special handling. If your shipment is eligible, you may be able to book online. It is not suitable for the following, which are arranged through a Service Centre:

• Same day, unpacked, fragile, oversized or complex consignments.
• Lithium-battery items.
• Anything above those weight and value limits.

Answering yes to sending on behalf of a business, or to shipping regularly, removes the online booking options, and business and regular senders are quoted through a Service Centre rather than online, regardless of weight or value.

What You Can Ship from Australia to Kenya

Individuals commonly ship personal effects for a relocation, family parcels to relatives in Nairobi or Mombasa, and higher-value electronics that need careful handling.

Gifts & personal items

• Family parcels to relatives in Nairobi or Mombasa.
• Higher-value electronics that need careful handling, for example when you courier a monitor.
• Purchases from Australian retailers, delivered to a Service Centre to be consolidated, packed properly and lodged with the right documentation.

International relocation

• Personal effects for a relocation.
• International furniture removals are common among the diaspora community moving belongings between the two countries.

Businesses shipping to Kenya commonly send:

Business goods

• Equipment, spare parts, samples and stock for trade, NGO and development work.
• Regular senders benefit from ongoing account arrangements.

Large or specialised items

• Bulkier consignments, such as when you courier a large parcel or send a palletised load, can travel as air or sea freight depending on how quickly they are needed.
• Where goods are unpacked, fragile or awkward, purpose-built boxes, cases and crates are part of the same job rather than an afterthought.

Restricted & Prohibited Items for Kenya

Some goods are restricted or prohibited when sending to Kenya, and what applies depends on the goods and the destination. Broad categories to check include:

• Dangerous goods
• Alcohol and tobacco
• Food, plant and animal products
• Medicines
• Weapons
• Currency and valuables

Plant material and seeds are among the goods that need checking, so talk to a Service Centre before you courier a plant to Kenya.

Lithium batteries, aerosols, flammables and other dangerous goods need assessment and are always handled through a Service Centre rather than booked online, and our dangerous goods page is a general guide. Your local PACK & SEND Service Centre can confirm what can be sent before booking.

Courier Charges to Kenya: How a Quote Is Built

A quote is built from:

• The actual and dimensional weight of the consignment.
• The packing it needs.
• The transport mode and carrier partner.
• Whether you are sending once or sending regularly.

Air freight and express courier suit smaller, urgent consignments, while sea freight is built around volume. Specialist packing, crating and handling for fragile, high-value or awkward goods are quoted as part of the job rather than added afterwards.

Import duty, import taxes and other charges may apply in Kenya, depending on the type and value of the goods and the circumstances of the shipment. Declare the true value, because an inaccurate declaration risks the consignment being held. Your local PACK & SEND Service Centre can explain what may apply to your consignment.

Where We Deliver in Kenya

PACK & SEND coordinates delivery across Kenya's main commercial centres:

• Nairobi: the capital and primary gateway.
• Mombasa: the country's main port city.
• Kisumu: the principal city on Lake Victoria.
• Nakuru: a major hub in the Rift Valley.
• Eldoret: a key centre for the western highlands.

For clients relocating to or from Kenya, our international relocations service coordinates the wider move, and excess baggage and personal effects are arranged through a Service Centre rather than booked online.

Why PACK & SEND for This Route

Shipping to Kenya comes down to three questions: who chooses the carrier, who packs the goods, and who deals with the paperwork when something is queried at the border.

PACK & SEND is a retail logistics company and reseller of leading carriers, so the carrier is matched to the consignment rather than the other way round, and the packing, the documentation and the follow-up are handled as one piece of work.

• Fragile, high-value, oversized and awkward goods are our everyday work.
• A national network of more than 135 Service Centres means there is someone local to talk to.
• Consignments are covered by our Freight Plus Warranty and followed with up-to-date tracking and milestone updates.

For time-critical freight a Service Centre can arrange urgent, premium options coordinated directly with the carrier. Call 1300 668 000 or visit your local Service Centre for a personalised quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to ship from Australia to Kenya?

Sea freight typically runs 30 to 45 days depending on transshipment routing and vessel schedules, air freight is generally 5 to 10 days, and express courier around 4 to 8 business days in flight time. These timeframes are a guide only, as factors outside PACK & SEND's control, including customs clearance in Kenya, may affect delivery schedules.

How is a courier quote to Kenya worked out?

A quote is built from the actual and dimensional weight of the consignment, the packing it needs, the transport mode and carrier partner, and whether you are sending once or sending regularly. Specialist packing, crating and handling for fragile, high-value or awkward goods are quoted as part of the job.

Import duty, import taxes and other charges may apply in Kenya and sit outside the freight charge, so a personalised Service Centre quote is the reliable way to understand the freight side and plan for the rest.

Can I send a gift to Kenya without paying duty?

Some gifts sent to Kenya may qualify for duty relief, depending on the type and value of the goods and the circumstances of the shipment. Other charges, including import taxes or customs fees, may still apply, so declare the contents and value accurately.

Your local PACK & SEND Service Centre can assist with the requirements and charges for your specific shipment.

Do some goods need extra checks before they can enter Kenya?

It depends on the goods. Some goods sent to Kenya may need to meet additional requirements, and additional documentation may be required depending on what you're sending.

Your local PACK & SEND Service Centre can advise on what your shipment needs before it travels.

Will duty and import taxes apply to goods sent to Kenya?

They may. Import duty, import taxes and other charges may apply to goods sent to Kenya, depending on the type and value of the goods and the circumstances of the shipment. Assessment rests with customs in Kenya and sits outside PACK & SEND's control, and your local Service Centre can talk you through the requirements for your shipment.

Can I book a shipment to Kenya online?

Only if it is eligible. Online self-service is a limited, no-frills option for pre-packed standard parcels under 20kg and valued up to $1,000, sent by an individual rather than on behalf of a business, with no special handling. If your shipment is eligible, you may be able to book online.

Anything unpacked, fragile, oversized or hazardous, anything above those limits, and every business or regular sender is quoted through a PACK & SEND Service Centre on 1300 668 000.

Can PACK & SEND pack my shipment for Kenya?

Yes. Packing is part of the service, and on this route it matters more than usual because a consignment can be handled repeatedly and may be held during clearance. Our Service Centres build boxes, cases and crates to suit the item, including custom foam for fragile and high-value pieces.

Can I send luggage or excess baggage to Kenya?

Yes, through a Service Centre rather than online. Sending excess, oversized, fragile and high-value items can only be achieved through contacting your local PACK & SEND Service Centre, where staff can weigh and pack the consignment and prepare the documentation.

If you are relocating to Kenya, some used household and personal effects may qualify for duty relief, depending on the type and value of the goods and the circumstances of the move, and your Service Centre can talk you through the requirements.

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