Courier documents to Australia from India — skills assessments, certified copies and charges
Rules & rates last verified: 13 July 2026 · by Mrs. Madhu Satija, Managing Director, CargoCharges
Yes — documents are one of the few things Australia imports without biosecurity drama, and the demand is huge: skills-assessment evidence for ACS (IT), Engineers Australia (CDR), VETASSESS and ANMAC, plus university transcripts. Australian bodies overwhelmingly want CERTIFIED TRUE COPIES (JP or notary certified), not originals — ship copies, keep originals home.
The rules that apply
Skills-assessment bodies (ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, ANMAC) each specify certified-copy standards — most accept notary-certified copies from India; originals are almost never required.
Non-English documents need NAATI-certified translations for Australian bodies — arrange translation before shipping.
University admissions: sealed transcripts only when the university explicitly asks; certified copies cover most offers.
Documents clear Australian customs without the food/medicine restrictions — no duty, no premium.
Charges: document envelope rates
Your parcel is charged at the normal Australia rate for its weight — from the carriers that accept documents on this lane (DHL, FedEx, UPS, Prompt) — with no commodity premium for documents. Worked example: 0.5 kg document envelope ≈ ₹2,961 (CargoCharges.com), excl. 18% GST. Express transit: 5-6 Working Days from Delhi dispatch, with free pickup across Delhi NCR.
Documents you need
Certified true copies (notary in India or JP-equivalent) as your assessing body specifies
NAATI-certified translations for any non-English documents
Receiver/body address with reference number (ACS application ID, EA CID number) on the label
Sender KYC — Aadhar/PAN copy for the AWB
Limits & what is not accepted
Documents only — the biosecurity leniency applies to paper, not to anything else slipped in the envelope
Certification and NAATI translation happen before shipping
Skills-assessment deadlines: bodies close applications on document receipt date, not send date — plan the transit window
📞 Unsure about your specific items? Send us the list on WhatsApp +91 97186 61166 — we confirm shippability before you pack, free.
Documents to Australia — FAQs
Does ACS or Engineers Australia need my original degree?
No — both work from certified copies (ACS is fully digital for most steps; EA's CDR route takes certified copies when physical evidence is requested). Physical originals to Australia are almost always the wrong move; certify copies instead.
What is NAATI translation and when do I need it?
Australia's accredited-translator standard. Any non-English document (regional-language marksheets, birth certificates) needs a NAATI-certified translation for skills assessments and visas — get it done before shipping so both travel together.
How much is the courier fee for assessment documents to Australia?
For example: 0.5 kg document envelope ≈ ₹2,961 (CargoCharges.com), excl. 18% GST. No commodity premium on documents; 18% GST applies.
Wait — I thought you refuse shipments to Australia?
We refuse FOOD and MEDICINES to Australia (biosecurity and carrier bans). Documents, clothes and general dry goods ship to Australia every day — the bans are commodity-specific, not country-wide.
Mrs. Madhu Satija — Managing Director, CargoCharges. 25+ years in international logistics; these rules reflect what our carriers and customs partners enforce on real shipments, updated as carrier policy changes.