Customs
You need to be aware of what you cannot bring into Australia and therefore what you should not pack. It is illegal to carry (or use) drugs including marijuana, cannabis, heroin, cocaine and amphetamines in and out of Australia. There are a number of items that you must declare upon your arrival in Australia including:
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All food, plant material and animal items.
- Firearms, weapons and ammunition.
- Currency amounts of A$10,000 (or foreign equivalent).
- Some medicines.
You should also be aware that as a routine part of their work, Australian Border Force officers may question travellers at any time, and trained dogs may also be used to detect illegal drugs or prohibited imports. If you are in doubt, declare your goods or ask an Australian Border Force officer for advice. Declaring goods does not necessarily mean your baggage will be examined.
Biosecurity
It is important to check Australia’s biosecurity requirements when packing your personal items. Some products are not allowed into the country while other products need to meet strict import conditions. You can search the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) to find detailed import conditions under which various commodities may be brought into Australia.
Do not bring fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, poultry, pork, eggs, dairy products, live plants or seeds. These products could introduce serious pests and diseases into Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and our unique environment.
By law, you must declare any risk goods, including certain food, plant material and animal products on your incoming passenger declaration.
If you fail to declare, or provide a false declaration, you can be penalised. For example, you may be given an infringement notice for up to A$5,500. Your visa may also be cancelled and, if so, you may be refused entry into Australia and held in immigration detention pending removal from Australia. If you are unsure of an item, declare it, or don’t bring it at all.
You can find more information on what you can bring or send to Australia on the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website.