AQIS fact sheet - Pratique for overseas vessels

Pratique is the permission granted by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) for passengers and crew to disembark in Australia from an overseas vessel, even though the vessel remains under quarantine control.

What is a Quarantine Pre-Arrival Report?

The Quarantine Pre-Arrival Report (QPAR) for Vessels is the initial vessel reporting and risk assessment tool used by AQIS to provide efficient quarantine clearance of all vessels greater than 25 metres entering an Australian port.

All incoming vessels are required to provide AQIS with a QPAR 12–96 hours prior to arriving at a first Australian port.

If a request for pratique is refused and formal clearance is required, the Master of the vessel must display the quarantine signal.

Under no circumstances are passengers and crew permitted to leave the vessel, nor is anyone allowed to board the vessel without the permission of an AQIS officer.

All vessels entering Australia must enter through a proclaimed first port of entry, unless otherwise approved by AQIS (please refer to the First Port of Entry into Australia fact sheet).

Where should I send the declaration?

All commercial vessels should send their QPAR to a nominated agent. The agent will forward it to AQIS for assessment and appropriate action.

All non-commercial vessels should, where possible, nominate an agent to act on their behalf. Where this is not possible, all pratique communications should be made through the AQIS office in the first port of entry into Australia.

It is an offence to knowingly give false information or fail to comply with the reporting requirements of AQIS. The maximum penalty for these offences is one year imprisonment.

AQIS requirements—what you need to do

The Master of a vessel must provide correct information to questions listed on the QPAR.

Examples of questions include:

• vessel particulars such as name, identifiers, agent and voyage-related details
  
• health questions highlighting illness and/or death of passengers and crew on board the vessel
  
• animal related questions
  
• ballast water management information
  
• pest and disease infestations such as Asian gypsy moth and bees
  
• previous cargo of grain, meal or livestock.

More information

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Phone: 1800 020 504 (free call in Australia)

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