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Travel Information
To help protect Australia’s agricultural industries and unique environment, quarantine officers screen all flights, passengers, baggage, mail and cargo using x-ray machines, detector dogs, physical inspection, questioning and profiling.
If you're entering Australia to holiday, study or live permanently, or if you're an Australia resident planning an overseas trip it's a good idea to learn what can't be brought into Australia.
On arrival in Australia you must declare all food, plant material and animal products for inspection to ensure they are free of pests and diseases. You make this declaration on your Incoming Passenger Card, which is handed to you by the airline before you land. You must complete this truthfully – it is a legal document.
If you have items you don't wish to declare, you can dispose of them in quarantine bins in the airport terminal. 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 quarantine.
All luggage is x-rayed or screened. If you fail to declare or dispose of any quarantine items, or make a false declaration:
- you will be caught;
- you could be fined $220 on-the-spot; or
- you could be prosecuted and fined more than $60,000 and risk 10 years' jail.
You will not be penalised if goods are declared. If you're not sure, ask a Quarantine officer.
We can also help you identify what you can and can't take across State and Territory borders when travelling within Australia.
If you’re leaving for good or for a holiday, check out our information on leaving Australia where you will find our free destination guides and tips for shopping safely overseas.
We also have specific information for travel agents and cruise ship operators.