Arriving in Australia

During your flight into Australia at some stage, you will be handed an Incoming Passenger Card to fill in. There are a few questions which need to be answered truthfully and correctly, especially those questions about your luggage that you may have to declare to the Customs officials.

If you have any questions once you land from your flight, ask a Customs official. They will be happy to help you.


Clearing immigration and customs checkpoint

Once you disembark, you will need to follow the signs to the Immigration check-point. Here, you will need your documents, like your visa, passport, and Incoming Passenger Card, and also maybe your Confirmation of Enrolment for examination by the Customs official. Once you have cleared this check-point, you will enter the baggage hall where you can claim your luggage and proceed onto customs and baggage examination.

If you have nothing to declare in your luggage, follow the green channel. If not, follow the red channel and your luggage will be x-rayed. A customs official will also ask you to open your luggage so that they can inspect your items. If an item is quarantined, the item will be either confiscated and destroyed, or decontaminated and returned to you at a later date.

Beware! Severe penalties can occur if you do not declare all prohibited items. You could be fined $220AUD on the spot or you could be prosecuted and fined up to $60,000AUD and risk 10 years in jail. If all quarantine goods are declared, you will not be penalized.

Quarantine
Some items prohibited by Australian Customs are:

➢    Food
➢    Plant material
➢    Animal products
➢    Cash in excess of $10,000AUD, or equivalent in foreign currency
➢    Any type of illicit drugs, such as marijuana, amphetamines, and cocaine.
➢    All types of weapons and firearms are strictly prohibited

There are also restrictions on certain types of medicine which you can bring into Australia. If you have any queries you can get in contact with the Australian Therapeutical Goods Administration.


Leaving the airport

Now you have passed through all checkpoints you will be welcomed to Australia and directed to the arrivals hall. Currency exchange booths can be found throughout this section of the airport.

Friends, relatives or anyone awaiting your arrival will be in the arrivals hall.

All international and regional airports arte connected to public transport. Taxis will also be available, and at some airports, trains and buses.

If you are transferring from an international flight to a domestic flight, follow the signs to the domestic terminal. This may be some distance at some of the larger airports, so an intra-shuttle service would be suggested to get you there faster.