CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
- Free entry
- to physical examination by Australian Quarantine Inspection Service
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- form B615 completed by Foreign Embassy/Consulate based in Australia. The form has to be sources from Customs by the Embassy/Consulate.
- inventory of goods in English
- of ID page of Passport
MOTOR VEHICLES
- Types of motorized vehicles intended to be imported, including motor vehicles, motorcycles, caravans, trailers, children’s electric scooters, toys, ride on mowers, farm equipment, battery operated push bikes and the like are strictly subject to the individual obtaining a “Vehicle Import Approval” prior to shipping the goods from the country of origin.
- Import approval must be obtained for a vehicle to gain clearance at its point of entry to Australia. Vehicles that arrive in Australia without an approval will have to be re-exported or destroyed and the importer may face heavy penalties and fines. Items could also be subject to Customs Bond storage charges as they need to be held in the customs Bond area until they are re-exported or destroyed.
- Approval cannot be issues for vehicles that have already been imported. Do not ship your vehicle to Australia until such time as you are issued an Import Approval. If you do ship your vehicle before receiving your approval and your vehicle arrives before the application is processed, an approval cannot be issued.NO left-hand drive vehicles allowed.
- Importing a vehicle Eligibility assessment, click HERE.
- Recent advice received from the Australian government concerning the prohibition of goods containing asbestos has been extended to now cover motor vehicles and any parts or accessories made from asbestos. As such, the owner of any vehicle arriving into Australia post 06/03 is now required to complete the attached declaration and if asked, submit their vehicle for testing. It is strongly recommended that all vehicle owners consider obtaining a testing certificate from an approved ILAC asbestos testing facility (found here http://ilac.org/) in their country of origin prior to exportation, as Customs have advised that any testing directed by themselves in Australia will be at the clients expense. The fine for falsely declaring and importing asbestos into Australia is currently AU$180000.00
Please be advised that the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture has issued revised measures regarding fumigation against the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Effective date of September 1, 2017, any shipment exiting Italy, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Russia and the US - vehicles must be:
- Cleaned and treated for potential stink bug infestations immediately prior to shipping
- Accompanied by a certificate of efficacy outlining the treatment completed from a recognized and registered fumigation company
- Certificate must clearly state that the treatment has been undertaken as required for BMSB season
- Subject to on-arrival inspection as determined by the department
- Offshore Treatments or Onshore Treatments in Australia are required.
The requirement extends to cargo loaded in consolidated shipments as well as for full container loads.
More details can be found on BMSB
For the 2022-23 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug risk season, heightened biosecurity measures will apply to: (1) Certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries, and/or (2) Vessels that berth at, load or transship from target risk countries.
- Effective sailings on or after September 1, 2023, for arrival into Australia on April 30, 2024, will be deemed for necessary for fumigation. To avoid costs in AU, origin fumigation by approved providers will be allowed. For a list of approved providers, click here.
PETS
- Australia allows the importation of live pigeons from approved countries, and household pet birds from New Zealand. The importation of all other live birds into Australia is currently prohibited.
- All animals imported to Australia must meet the requirements of the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and will be quarantined upon arrival.
- Import permits take approximately 10 business days from the date receipt by Department of Agriculture to be approved; however, incomplete or incorrect applications may take longer.
- Animals may be visited by only the person identified as the importer during the quarantine period
- Domestic dogs and cats can be imported from approved countries however these are subject, with the exception from New Zealand, to importation permits. They will also be subjected to a specified quarantine period upon arrival in Australia. Direct importation of domestic Dogs and Cats from some nominated countries is totally prohibited.
- Effective 2023: DAFF has announced the following changes for import of pets into AU:
- Only ISO microchips are used.
- The pet's microchip must be scanned specifically by the "competent authority" at the start of the preparation process. The verification must be sent "through government-to-government correspondence."
- Pets originating in Group 3 countries, such as the UK and USA who have already started the preparation process will likely face 30 days quarantine rather than 10 on arrival.
- Rabies Blood Tests from Group 3 countries will also now be valid for 365 days.
- Pets originating in Group 2 countries such as Singapore will also require the pet's microchip to be verified by a government vet but does not require a blood test.
- Pets originating in a non-approved country (such as China, Brazil, India) will be required to spend 180 days in an approved country before entry to Australia.
DUTIABLE AND RESTRICTED ITEMS
- Alcohol:
- Customs duties plus goods and services tax (GST) will apply to alcohol imported into Australia.
- Duty is calculated on the type of alcohol, the volume contained per bottle, the alcohol % per bottle and the value per bottle.
- Ten percent (10%) GST is then added to the duty calculated.
- Air cargo restrictions from Turkey
- The restriction will prohibit airlines from bringing into Australian Territory any electromechanical device that weighs over one kilogram that has originated in, or transited through, Turkey.
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An electromechanical device for the purpose of the prohibition includes any good that incorporates an electric motor. This could include a whole device or separate components shipped together that, when assembled, constitute an electromechanical device. For example, manufactured goods that incorporate an electric motor in their construction, such as an electric powered sewing machine, would be considered to be an electromechanical device.
- Anabolic and androgenic substances (those that enhance muscle and bone growth and may include health supplements
- Antibiotics
- ANZAC and any related advertising material
- Items bearing an image of the Australian national flag and coat of arms
- Items bearing an image of the Australian state or territory flags and coat of arms
- Asbestos
- Cat and dog fur products
- Glazed ceramic ware (specific to lead content)
- Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
- Chemical weapons
- Chewing tobacco and snuff in quantities greater than 1.5 kg
- Cigarette lighters (up to five lighters acceptable if over 18 years or older on a ship or aircraft)
- Cosmetics and toxic materials (cannot contain more than 250 mg/kg of lead but may contain more than 250 mg/kg of lead acetate designed for use in hair products)
- Counterfeit credit cards
- Crowd control equipment (antipersonnel sprays, body armor, extendable batons, electric shock devices, etc.)
- Cultural heritage goods from Papua New Guinea (permission from the Trustees of the Papua New Guinea Public Museum and Art Gallery is required)
- Diamonds (only rough diamonds in tamper proof container from a country participating in the Kimberley Process may be imported and require a Kimberley Process Certificate)
- Dog collars designed to puncture or bruise an animal’s skin
- Passengers arriving on board a ship or aircraft do not need a permit for the import of drugs and narcotics required for personal use if:
- The drugs and narcotics are prescribed by a medical practitioner or veterinarian, and quantity does not exceed a 3 month’s supply at the maximum prescribed dosage,
- The drugs / narcotics are carried as accompanied baggage;
- Prescription must be in English or translated to English.
- Kava may be imported in root or dried form in amounts not to exceed 2 kg and is carried as accompanied baggage by a passenger 18 years or older.
- Firearms and accessories, parts, magazine, ammunition, components of ammunition, and replica
- The following items are embargoed goods and are restricted and require permission to import. Contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for additional information:
- Eritrea – weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment and spare parts
- Iran – weapons, ammunition, military vehicle and equipment and spare parts
- North Korea – weapons ammunition, military vehicles and equipment and spare parts
- Libya – weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment and spare parts
- Endangered animal and plant listed in the appendices to the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
- Novelty erasers (resembling food in scent or appearance)
- Plastic explosives formulated as a mixture, malleable or flexible at room temperature or with:
- One or more high explosives which in pure form have a vapor pressure less than 10.4 PA at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius
- A binder material
- Fish and tooth fish
- Electronic flyswatters and mosquito bats
- Growth hormones and substances of human or animal origin
- Hazardous wastes (explosive flammable, poisonous, toxic, exotoxic or infectious, clinical wastes, waste oils, waste residue from manufacture or household waste as defined by the Basel Convention)
- Hydroflurocarbons
- Incandescent lamps
- Knives and daggers
- Laser pointers
- Novelty money boxes coated with material containing more than 90 mg/kg of lead
- Ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases
- Pencils and paintbrushes with a coating that contains excess amounts of toxic compounds such as lead, arsenic and barium
- Pesticides and other hazardous chemicals
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Terphenyls and Polyphenyls
- Pornography and other objectionable materials
- Radioactive substances
- Therapeutic drugs and substances (abortifacients, aphrodisiacs, etc.)
- Unmanufactured tobacco (not stemmed or stripped or in whole form)
- Toys containing excess amounts of toxic compounds such as lead, arsenic and barium
- Woolpacks
- Weapons (military goods and other weapons including blow pipes, crossbows, martial arts equipment, knuckle dusters, slingshots, maces and flails)
- Trade Practices Act goods
PROHIBITED ITEMS
- Drugs of dependence such as narcotics, hallucinogens, amphetamines, barbiturates, and tranquillizers, all of which must be declared on import. Certain drugs are allowed into Australia, but entry is subject to very strict Customs control.
- Goods manufactured from animal products derived from endangered species are prohibited.
- Certain types of weapons such as spring loaded knives, daggers, swordsticks, knuckle-dusters and unsafe firearms are prohibited.
- Live animals and many animal products such as fresh and tinned meat, salami, eggs and dairy products.
- Plants, soil, seeds and the like, timber with Bark still attached e.g. silk trees with real timber trunks, Pine cones and other plant products contained within festive decorations, dried floral arrangements and the like
- Rough diamonds
- Dogs (dangerous breeds including Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull Terrier, Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario and advertisements referencing these breeds)
- Embryo clones and viable materials, and any related advertising matter advertising these items
- Suicide devices
- Your Goods What can't I take?