Travel Information

To help protect Australia's agricultural industries and unique environment, DAFF biosecurity officers screen incoming air and sea passengers, baggage, mail and cargo using x-ray machines, detector dogs, physical inspection, questioning and profiling.

If you are entering Australia to holiday, study or live permanently, or if you are an Australia resident planning an overseas trip it is a good idea to know what can't be brought into Australia.

You must declare food, plant material and animal products when you arrive in Australia. You make this declaration on your Incoming Passenger Card, which is handed to you by the airline before you land. You must complete this card truthfully – it is a legal document.

Declared items are inspected to ensure they are not carrying any pests or diseases. Some products may require treatment (at a cost) such as fumigation or gamma irradiation to make them safe. Items that cannot be treated will be seized and destroyed by DAFF.

If you have items you don't wish to declare, you can dispose of them in quarantine bins in the airport terminal. 

All luggage is x-rayed or screened. If you fail to declare or dispose of any biosecurity risk items, or make a false declaration:

  • you will be caught
  • you could be fined $340 on-the-spot, or
  • you could be prosecuted and fined more than $66,000 and risk 10 years jail.

You will not be penalised if all items are declared, even if they are not allowed into Australia. If you are not sure, ask a DAFF biosecurity officer.

When you buy souvenirs to bring or post home, make sure you choose items that will be allowed back into Australia. In general, food, plant material and animal products from overseas (including many common souvenirs) must be declared for quarantine inspection. For more information view the following webpages:

Tips for travellers

If you're leaving for good or for a holiday, there is plenty of information available to help you get organised before you go:

Useful links

Essential planning:

  • Australian embassies
  • Australian passports
  • Visa requirements
  • Visa First
    Visa First assists thousands of Australians with UK and Irish Working Visa Applications, work permits, bank accounts and arrival packs. Contact Visa First to see how they can help you start your working holiday adventure!
  • Travel health
  • Travel Clinics Australia
    Travel Clinics Australia is the national association of GP-based WHO-authorised travel health clinics, that provide a complete range of travel health services to individuals, corporate groups and organisations.
  • The Travel Doctor
    The Travel Doctor TMVC provides travel health, medical advice, travel medicine clinics and vaccination services and current health alerts for travel overseas.
  • Student travel card

Know your destination:

Australian Government Travel Advice:

Last reviewed:
09 Jan 2013
Contact:
Email DAFF Biosecurity
About DAFF Biosecurity and Contact details
Media Inquiries