Clean, pack and declare
Food, plant material, wooden articles and animal products can carry biosecurity risks. Thoroughly clean and dry outdoor equipment and footwear, removing soil, seeds and plant material. Inspect luggage for insects or other hitchhikers before closing it.
Declare risk goods on arrival. This includes relevant goods taken out of Australia and brought back after use overseas. If uncertain about an item, declare it. An officer can assess it; a declaration does not automatically mean confiscation.
Duty-free concessions
For eligible travellers aged 18 or over, the general-goods concession is A$900; it is A$450 for travellers under 18. Adults can bring 2.25 litres of alcohol duty free.
The tobacco concession for a traveller aged 18 or over is one unopened packet containing up to 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of other tobacco, plus one open packet of cigarettes. There is no tobacco or alcohol concession for under-18s.
Qualifying families travelling together may pool concessions under Australian Border Force’s rules. Commercial goods are outside the traveller duty-free concession. Goods returned after a Tourist Refund Scheme claim must be declared as required.
If you exceed a concession, duty and tax can be payable on all goods in that category, rather than just the amount over the limit. Keep receipts and be ready to identify what each person is carrying.
Before buying souvenirs
- Check the material, not just the object’s name. A carved ornament may be wood, horn, shell or another animal product.
- Treat packaged food as food for declaration purposes. A sealed packet is not automatically allowed.
- Retain the product label and receipt where available so an officer can identify ingredients or materials.
- Allow access to declared items when packing; do not place them at the bottom of several bags.
Keep the flight rules separate
Your airline’s baggage allowance and airport restrictions on liquids, batteries and dangerous goods still apply. A customs concession does not give permission to carry a large liquid bottle through security. Use the rules for the actual flight, including any connection.
Before leaving your hotel, keep the passport, flight details, transport booking and any goods declarations accessible. Add time for baggage processing, security and border formalities rather than treating the boarding time as the airport arrival time.