Quarantine and Customs
Overview
A key role of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection – and its operational arm, the Australian Border Force - is to facilitate trade and the movement of goods and persons across the Australian border while protecting the Australian community and maintaining appropriate compliance with Australian law. At the border Immigration and Border Protection protects against the movement of illicit drugs and other prohibited imports and exports. Immigration and Border Protection also collects duty payable by passengers and importers. Immigration and Border Protection has maintained an office at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok since March 2000.
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is part of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry that is charged with protecting Australia from the introduction of exotic pests and diseases.
The Australian Government Guide to Visiting Australia is available at http://www.border.gov.au
Arriving Passenger Concessions – Australia
Most personal items such as new clothing, footwear, and articles for personal hygiene/grooming (but not fur or perfume concentrates) may also be brought into Australia in accompanied baggage free from duty and/or tax.
Personal goods are free from duty and tax if they are:
• Owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more
• Imported temporarily (a security may be required by Immigration and Border Protection)
For other goods, limits apply. These include goods that are
• purchased overseas;
• purchased in Australia on a duty/tax free basis before departure;
• purchased from an inwards duty free shop;
Also included are goods for which a Tourist Refund Scheme claim has been made. Duty free concessions do not apply to commercial goods.
General goods
If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring up to AUD$900 worth of general goods into Australia duty-free. If you are under 18 years of age there is an AUD$450 limit. General goods include gifts, souvenirs, cameras, electronic equipment, leather goods, perfume concentrates, jewellery, watches and sporting goods.
Alcohol
If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring 2.25 litres of alcohol duty-free into Australia with you. All alcohol in accompanied baggage is included in this category, regardless of where or how it was purchased.
Tobacco
If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring one unopen packet of up to 25 cigarettes (or the equivalent of 25 grams of tobacco products) and one open packet of cigarettes duty-free into Australia with you. All tobacco products in accompanied baggage are included in this category, regardless of where or how they were purchased.
Families travelling together can pool their duty-free concessions.
Be aware that if you exceed Australia’s duty-free concession limits you will be charged duty and tax on all items of that type (general goods, alcohol or tobacco) not just the items which exceed the limits.
If you have anything in excess of your duty-free concessions, declare the goods and provide proof of purchase to Customs & Border Protection for calculation of any duty and tax to be paid.
Failure to declare goods in excess of your concession could result in the application of penalties.