Customs Rules
Import regulations::
Free import provided goods are carried by passenger:
Group 1:
General goods not exceeding AUD 900 for passengers aged 18 years and over (AUD 450.- for persons under 18 years of age), including gifts, souvenirs, cameras, electronic equipment, leather goods, perfume concentrates, jewellery, watches and sporting equipment.
Personal goods are free from duty and tax if they are:
-owned and used by passenger overseas for 12 months or more.
-imported temporarily (a security may be required by Customs).
Group 2 - alcohol: 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages per person aged 18 years or over;
Group 3 - tobacco: 250 cigarettes or 250 grammes of tobacco products per person aged 18 years or over. One opened packet containing 25 cigarettes or less is also allowed.
Note: There are penalties for not declaring prohibited and restricted goods and for making false declarations on you incoming or outgoing passenger card. For details consult "Guide for Travellers" in www.customs.gov.au.
Arms and Ammunition regulations::
You must declare all firearms, weapons and ammunition including real and replica firearms and BB air guns that discharge a pellet by means of compressed gas, commonly purchased as “toy” guns. Other weapons such as paintball markers, blowpipes, all knives, nunchukas, slingshots, crossbows, electric shock devices and knuckle duster must also be declared. Some of these items may require a permit, police authorisation and safety before importation.
Although forbidden in the cabin, weapons and ammunition can be carried as checked baggage (hold baggage) with the knowledge and consent of the airline.
Wild Fauna and Flora::
All food, plants, animal goods, equipment used with animals, biological materials, soils and sand; must be declared to Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
Additional Information on regulations::
Prohibited Goods:
Customs administers a number of controls that restrict or prohibit the import of certain goods into Australia. In most cases restricted goods require permission or approval to import. Several agencies are responsible for the permit issuing arrangements for these controls. Details on the types of goods and permission arrangements can be obtained from www.customs.gov.au. Alternatively further information can be obtained by contacting the Customs Information and Support Center (CISC) on telephone: +61 2 6275 6666, or tollfree number 1 300 363 263, or by e-mail at: information@customs.gov.au.
Please note that the illegal importation of restricted goods can attract significant penalties. Controlled goods include:
1. Drugs and Medicines - there are restrictions on the importation of certain drugs and substances. These include some pharmaceuticals, medications such as antibiotics and other substances. There is an exception for passengers arriving into Australia to bring in a limited quantity of restricted medications that have been prescribed to them or a passenger traveling with them;
2. Firearms/Weapons - Firearms (including soft air pistols) and ammunition and weapons including: blowpipes, daggers, nunchukas, slingshots, flick- knives, pistol crossbows, knuckle dusters and replicas;
3. Intellectual Property - In some circumstances pirated and counterfeit goods imported into Australia are liable to seizure, and people importing such goods may be subject to civil litigation or criminal prosecution.
Quarantine information:
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) provides quarantine inspection for international passengers, cargo, mail, animals, plants and animal or plant products arriving in Australia, and inspection and certification for a range of agricultural products exported from Australia.
All food, plant material and animal products must be declared on the passengers’ Incoming Passenger Cards upon arrival in Australia. Goods will be inspected and if required, will be treated before being allowed into the country. Goods considered to be a quarantine risk may require treatment or documentation prior to entry into Australia. If the correct documentation is not presented upon arrival or the passenger decides not to have the goods treated, the goods will be:
- held under quarantine until the required documentation is presented; or
- held until the passenger leaves Australia (for a period of up to 30 days at a cost borne by the passenger); or
- re-exported to the country of origin (at a cost borne by the passenger); or
- destroyed by a quarantine approved method.
For a full list of quarantine conditions for bringing goods into Australia, consult www.aqis.gov.au
Failure to declare goods could mean an on-the-spot fine of up to AUD 220.- or a prosecution, with a fine up to AUD 66,000.- or 10 years in prison.
Visits to rural areas, including hiking areas, farms or abattoirs must be declared on the Incoming Passenger Card and brought to the attention of the quarantine officer in the airport. Footwear, clothing and any items used in rural areas or carrying contamination from soil, faeces or plant material must be declared and presented for inspection by a quarantine officer.
Sporting and camping equipment including tents, footwear, hiking boots, golf equipment, bicycles and fishing equipment must also be declared and presented for inspection by a quarantine officer.
Crew members customs regulations::
Crew are to complete Customs form B465, Articles in Possession - Aircrew.
Pets::
Live animals may be brought into Australia from AQIS approved countries. More information about bringing animals into Australia can be obtained from the AQIS Live Animal Import program. All live animals must travel as manifested cargo, not as accompanied or unaccompanied baggage. Animals must travel in a container that meets the standards specified in container requirement of IATA live animals regulations. The container must be nose and paw proof.
For further information about bringing live animals into Australia, including disability dogs, contact the Live Animal Import program of AQIS. Tel: +612 6272 4454; Fax: +612 6272 3110; e-mail animalimp@aqis.gov.au or www.aqis.gov.au/icon.
Baggage Clearance regulations::
Baggage is cleared at first port of entry if final destination of the international flight is not an international airport; or if time delay between connections is too long. Baggage is cleared at final port if it is a continuation of an international leg and delay between connectors is short.
Transit baggage: if in direct transit, that is, rejoining the same aircraft in a matter of hours, there is generally no need to collect and clear baggage. However, transit baggage requirements vary depending on individual airport and airline arrangements and if there is doubt then the relevant airline should be contacted.
Airport Embarkation Tax
No Airport Tax is levied on embarkation at the airport.
Currency rules
Currency Import regulations:
Same regulations as for export apply.
Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Australian Dollar-AUD) and foreign currencies: no restrictions up to AUD 10,000.- (or equivalent in freely convertible currency).
Warning: Any amount of Australian or foreign currency in coins and bank notes exceeding AUD 10,000.-(or equivalent in freely convertible currency) has to be declared in a Cross Border Movement Report (CBMR) .
Other than coins and bank notes: travellers entering/departing Australia must declare;if requested, one of the following bearer negotiable instrument(BNI):
1. Bill of exchange.
2. Cheque.
3. Promissory note.
4. Bearer bond.
5. Traveller’s cheque.
6. Money order,postal order or similar order.
7. Negotiable instrument not covered by any of the above paragraphs.