3 year carnet (2 year work stop in Oz) ??
 

Hi

I'm planning a UK to Australia trip next year but it seems I've hit a brick wall. I have not had any reposnse from th RAC which i am a member of. Regardless of this I can't see a way of doing my trip. Surely people stay on the road for more than 3 years.

After contacting the Australian customs they say I will have to pay duty on the bike when my carnet runs out. I do not want to import the bike as I want to ride it back after my stay.
I want to ride from the uk into Autralia then work for a while in Australia for up to 2 years. Meanwhile I plan to take breaks within this period to tour the continent & NZ.
My problem is the carnet only lasts for a year, it can be extended but i'm not sure if i can keep it going for about 3 years without huge fees. Anybody done this ? and if so is it just a matter of sending the old one back paying a fee and getting another sent to you? are fees huge (£3000 bike)

Would it be better for me to ship the bike back to the UK to family? If so I'm stuck for riding back and in the same situation when i get to the UK with an Aussie bike!

You are not supposed to import your bike on a carnet and then stay and work. The carnet is for temporary import as a tourist. You will be a resident and so you either import the bike on arrival without a carnet, or you export it within 12 months. Them's the rules...

Contact Paul Gowen at RAC
 

HI Martyn,

I don't know if its the same guy for two wheels or 4 but for my Landy I spoke to Paul Gowen at the RAC about this very problem. He wasn't prompt at getting back to me, but I'm not leaving until 2009!!!!

But he was open to some of my ideas, which included staying in Oz for a year or so. I too am thinking about working, and there did seem to be ways to renew the carnet. I'd have a chat with him as he's pretty knowledgable. If you drop me a PM I'll give you his email address.

Hope this helps

Carnets can be renewed on the road. So that is not a problem.

Problem - possibly ... I think you'll find that Ozie customs will come after you if you stay for more than 12 months on a carnet or canets. The word 'temoray' is translated as 12 months maximum...

"Work in Australia for up to 2 years" .. your going to have problems with that too I think? Working Visas .. think they are 1 year .. after that you have to leave.. and you cannot get another one - you can only come back as a tourist after that....

You could come as a tourist for a year , sus out the 'work' situation - go accross to NZ and get a work visa from there and then hop back accross .. be aware that 'they' are alert to this so be honest.

Good luck.

carnet
 

thanks for the reply, i got an email address of the chap in the RAC and have posted him, on the out come of that I will persue which ever way is the best option for me. Visa's no problem, I can live there as long as I like but only want to do a year or so and halfway through travel round AUS & NZ then come home via bike or just ship it.