International Students

What NOT to bring

Australia has very strict quarantine and customs laws.  The information below is from the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service.

QUARANTINE MATTERS!  What can’t I take into Australia?
NATURE MADE AUSTRALIA UNIQUE QUARANTINE KEEPS IT THAT WAY
Australia’s remoteness created an environment unlike any other on Earth. Quarantine helps protect it. Food, plant material and animal products from overseas - including many common souvenirs - could introduce some of the world’s most serious pests and diseases into Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and unique environment.
You must declare for inspection all food, plant material and animal products on arrival in Australia to ensure they are free of pests and diseases.  Some products may require TREATMENT to make them safe.  Items PROHIBITED due to pest and disease risks will be seized and destroyed by AQIS. You can dispose of prohibited items in quarantine bins in the airport terminal. If you are not sure, ask a quarantine officer.
Before landing in Australia, passengers are given an Incoming Passenger Card to fill in. This is a legal document. You must tick YES to declare if you are carrying any food, plant material or animal products. If you have items, you do not wish to declare, you can dispose of them in quarantine bins in the airport terminal.
Every piece of luggage is now x-rayed or screened.  If you fail to declare or dispose of any quarantine items, or make a false declaration:

• you will get caught;

• you could be fined over $200 on-the-spot; or

• you could be prosecuted and fined up to $60,000 and risk 10 years imprisonment

WHAT HAPPENS TO ITEMS I DECLARE?
Prohibited items will be seized and destroyed by AQIS. In many cases, the goods you declare will be returned to you after inspection. However, any item that presents a disease risk or is found to contain insects or larvae will be withheld. You will be given a range of options for the item depending on the quarantine risk:

• treating the item to make it safe (for example fumigation, irradiation)*;

• holding the item until an import permit is presented*;

• storing the item at the airport for collection when you leave Australia*;

• re-exporting the item*; and

• destroying the item.

AQIS makes every effort to minimise the risk of damage but does not accept liability for damage that may occur because of treatment.
*These treatments are subject to fees.

MONEY
When travelling to Australia, please be aware that if you are carrying a total of AUS $10,000 or more in cash of any currency, you MUST declare the money on your Incoming Passenger Card and when questioned by Australian Customs officials upon arrival. A failure to declare this money may result in the money being taken and you being arrested and prosecuted. It is not an offence to bring this money into Australia. The offence is not declaring the money. You should tell the customs officer that this money is for your tuition and living while a student in Australia. It is safer not to carry such a large amount of cash. It is quite easy for your parents to transfer money from your home country to Australia once you have created a bank account here. Your councillor can help you with this.

DETECTOR DOGS
You may see a quarantine detector dog at the baggage carousel. They are screening luggage for food, plant material or animal products of quarantine concern. If you see a detector dog working close to you, please place your bags on the floor for inspection.  Sometimes dogs will sit next to your bag if it sniffs a target odour. Sometimes dogs will detect odours left from food you have had in the bag previously. A quarantine officer may ask about the contents of your bag and check you are not carrying items that present a quarantine risk to Australia.

MORE INFORMATION
Email: airports@aqis.gov.au TAS 03 6233 2635
International fax queries: +61 2 6272 4494
For information about Australia’s duty free allowance and other restricted imports, visit www.customs.gov.au 
For information about endangered species, laws visit www.cites.org 
Information in this site is correct at time of publishing.  Quarantine conditions may change without notice.