The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs & Border Protection) and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) are the two main agencies that regulate the movement of people and goods across Australian borders.
When you return to Australia, there are a few basic things you need to know and can do, to make your return a quicker and easier process.
Required documents and SmartGate
There are two documents that all travellers returning to Australia must have to enter the country; a valid Passport and a completed Incoming Passenger Card.
If you hold an Australian or New Zealand ePassport and are 18 years or over, you may be eligible to use SmartGate when arriving at Australian airports. SmartGate allows you to self-process through passport control using ePassport data and facial recognition technology. This is a simple way to go through Customs and Immigration checks usually done by an officer.
Quarantine and restricted items
Australia has strict quarantine laws in place to help minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country. All travellers must ensure that they have complied with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs) and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) regulations. Every piece of luggage is screened or x-rayed by AQIS and Customs & Border Protection officers, using detector dog teams and x-ray machines. If you fail to declare or dispose of any items that may be prohibited or restricted, or make a false declaration, you will get caught. In addition to on-the-spot fines, you could be prosecuted and fined and risk imprisonment. International mail is also screened.
You must declare any food, meat, fruit, seeds, plants, plant material including wooden souvenirs, or animal products. If you have items you don't wish to declare, you can dispose of them in quarantine bins in the airport terminal.
In many cases the goods you declare will be returned to you after inspection. Some products may require treatment to make them safe. Items that are restricted because of the risk of pests and disease will be seized and destroyed.
Items that are restricted and must be declared to Customs and Border Protection include:
- Firearms, weapons and ammunition
- Performance and image enhancing drugs
- Medicines including prescription medications, alternative and herbal medicines, vitamins and mineral preparation formulas
- Currency - AUD $10,000 or more in Australian currency or foreign equivalent
- Protected wildlife such as coral, orchids, caviar, ivory and hunting trophies
- Veterinary products
- Heritage-listed goods - such as works of art, stamps, coins, archaeological objects and specimens
In addition to approval from Customs & Border Protection and AQIS, many wildlife products require permits from the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to allow entry into Australia . 'Wildlife' includes (but is not limited to) any whole, part or derivative of a plant or animal, either living or non-living. For example wood, seeds, insects, leather/fur, pills/medicines, faeces, teeth, meat, live plants, fresh or dried flowers.
If you buy wildlife products overseas, you should find out if you need a permit. Without the correct permit, your product will be seized by Customs & Border Protection and stiff penalties could apply.
More information
Bringing in food, animals, plants, animal or plant materials or their derivatives:
- Visit the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) website
- Phone AQIS on 1800 020 504 (within Australia) or +61 2 6272 3933 (outside Australia).
Customs & Border Protection processes and requirements:
- Visit the travellers section of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service website
- Phone the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service on 1300 363 263 (within Australia) or +61 2 6275 6666 (outside Australia)
The import and export of wildlife products and permits:
- Visit the wildlife trade and conservation section of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities website
- Phone the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities on 02 6274 1900