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Frequently Asked Questions

What can I bring to Australia through the airport and what do I need to declare?

Australia has very strict laws relating to the importation and/or possession of certain goods. AQIS screens every piece of luggage brought into Australia. This ensures that the quarantine risk to Australia's agricultural industries and unique environment is minimised.

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. Please note that food includes anything you eat or drink such as processed foods, uncooked food, airline food and snacks.

When you declare these items they will be checked by a Quarantine officer who will determine whether they are allowed into Australia.

Some products may require treatment to make them safe. Other items may be restricted due to pest and disease risks and will be seized and destroyed by AQIS.

Tick 'yes' on your Incoming Passenger Card

AQIS requires that all food, plant or animal products being brought into Australia through an airport be declared on the Incoming Passenger Card (IPC). You must tick YES to declare if you are carrying any food, plant material or animal products. In signing the IPC, passengers are making a legal declaration and failure to answer all questions truthfully can have serious consequences. Persons making a false declaration:

  • could be fined up to AUD$220 on-the-spot
  • could be prosecuted and fined up to AUD$60,000 and risk up to 10 years imprisonment.

What happens to items that I declare?

When items of quarantine concern are identified, they will be inspected by Quarantine officers for signs of insects, disease or contamination with soil or animal or plant material. Goods that pose significant quarantine risk may only be imported if accompanied by an Import Permit (issued by AQIS prior to arrival), or with treatment in Australia to make the item safe. Some goods are considered to pose too great a risk to be allowed into Australia and will be seized and destroyed by AQIS. Many goods however will simply be inspected and released.

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*
  • destroying the item

AQIS makes every effort to minimise the risk of damage but does not accept liability for damage that may occur as a result of treatment.

*These treatments are subject to fees.

Listed below are some items commonly brought to Australia by travellers, if you cannot find what you are looking for you should first check the online Quarantine Import Conditions Database (ICON).

More information regarding what you can and can't take into Australia and what must be declared can be found here.

Animal horns/bones

Animal horns or bones are allowed into Australia. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Animal horns or bones may be subject to Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage and the Arts legislation under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Items known to be, or considered to be covered by CITES will be referred to the Australian Customs Service (ACS) on arrival in Australia.

If you are unsure whether the item you wish to bring into Australia is of CITES concern you should contact the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts on the details below:
Phone: + 61 2 6274 1111
Fax: +61 2 6274 1123
Website: www.environment.gov.au

Baby foods

Personal quantities of commercially prepared canned or jars of baby food containing less than 10 per cent egg product are allowed into Australia from any country, provided the product is in metal cans, retort pouches, or in hermetically sealed glass jars. ‘Retorted’ means that the item is commercially heated in an unopened hermetically sealed container for a time, and to a temperature, sufficient to render the contents commercially sterile. ‘Hermetically sealed’ means airtight or completely sealed from the atmosphere, so that when sealed it does not allow micro-organisms or any other material to enter it.

Milk based foods (including infant formula and cereal) for infants may be imported from any country provided the products are commercially prepared and packaged, and are for the consumption of the accompanied infant. A single opened can/tin of milk-based foods for infants is allowed when accompanying an infant, however all other cans/tins must be unopened.

If the baby foods do not meet the above conditions, the items will be destroyed or re-exported from Australia. Re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Banana leaf articles

Items made from banana leaves are not allowed into Australia unless accompanied by a valid Import Permit.

An Import Permit may be obtained by submitting an application prior to import. AQIS will assess the application and based on that assessment, may grant an Import Permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use, and disposal of those products. Applications for a permit to import can be found here. It should be noted that applying for a permit does not automatically result in a permit being issued.

If the items with banana leaves are not accompanied by an Import Permit, the item must be destroyed or re-exported from Australia. Costs for applying for an Import Permit or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Birds nest - dry

Raw or dry retorted birds nest is not allowed into Australia. Raw or dry retorted birds nest must be destroyed or re-exported from Australia. Re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Birds nest - canned or in jars

Personal consignments of commercially manufactured and retorted moist birds nest products are allowed into Australia, provided the product is retorted in liquid in cans, jars or retort pouches and does not require refrigeration. ‘Retorted’ means that the item is commercially heated in an unopened hermetically sealed container for a time, and to a temperature, sufficient to render the contents commercially sterile. Consignments that do not comply with these requirements must be destroyed or re-exported. Re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Cakes/bread/biscuits

Cooked cakes, including cakes containing custard or dairy based fillings that have been cooked with the cake (excluding cheesecakes, mooncakes, dairy puddings or vanilla slices), bread, and shelf stable biscuits are allowed into Australia providing the items do not require refrigeration to maintain quality. If the items are not shelf stable, they must be re-exported from Australia. Re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

To find the requirements for bringing cheesecakes, dairy puddings or vanilla slices, search on ‘dairy’ and the country of manufacture in AQIS’s ICON database.

Camping equipment

Camping equipment is allowed into Australia, providing the equipment is clean and free from soil, plant material or any other extraneous materials. If contamination is found, the article must be cleaned, sent for gamma irradiation treatment, or re-exported from Australia. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Chinese Herbs or Medicines of Plant Origin

The import requirements for Chinese herbs/medicines of plant origin vary depending on the herbs or ingredients of the medicine. To find the requirements for bringing Chinese herbs or medicines, type the botanical name into the AQIS ICON database. Some items require treatment, or are not allowed into Australia. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Chocolates/Candies/Sweets

Chocolate, candies and sweets are allowed entry into Australia providing the items are free from contaminants such as live insects.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon bark quills (that is - cinnamon bark with the outer corky layer removed after fermenting) are allowed into Australia, providing the quills are free of any contaminants and insects.

If the cinnamon contains bark (cinnamon bark with outer corky layer attached) the items must be heat treated on arrival in Australia, re-exported or destroyed. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Coffee

Black roasted coffee beans and ground, roasted coffee are allowed into Australia, providing the coffee is free from contaminants.

Green coffee beans are allowed into Australia if accompanied by an Import Permit and have a total weight of less than 5kg. An Import Permit may be obtained by submitting an application prior to import. AQIS will assess the application and based on that assessment, may grant an Import Permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use, and disposal of those products. Applications for a permit to import can be found here. It should be noted that applying for a permit does not automatically result in a permit being issued.

If the green coffee beans are not accompanied by a valid Import Permit, the coffee beans must be destroyed or re-exported from Australia. Costs for applying for an Import Permit or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Dairy products (including powdered milk, Dulce de leche, and Indian sweets)

An Import Permit is required for dairy products that do not fit any of the descriptions below:

Non-commercial consignments brought to Australia from any country:

  1. Dairy products from New Zealand, provided that the milk is of New Zealand or Australian origin and is labelled as a product of New Zealand or Australia
  2. Commercially prepared milk based infant foods (for example, infant formula, toddler formula or baby food), provided that the products are for the consumption of the accompanying child
     
    Note: Bottles of pre-prepared infant formula accompanying an infant are also permitted. A single opened can/tin of milk-based foods for infants is also permitted when accompanying an infant, however all other cans/tins must be unopened
  3. Products containing less than 10 per cent dairy ingredients in the total mass of each individually packaged product, other than added water, from any country of origin. (Calculation: Ignore the added water and consider the dairy ingredient as a percentage of the other ingredients)
  4. Commercially prepared and packaged chocolate
  5. Lactose and its derivatives
  6. Commercially prepared and packaged clarified butter oil (ghee)
  7. Biscuits, bread and cooked cakes (excluding cheese cakes, and cakes containing dairy fillings or toppings that have not been cooked with the cake)
  8. Commercially prepared and packaged dairy products, provided that they are manufactured in one of the countries listed by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) as free from foot and mouth disease (FMD)
  9. Cheesecakes and cooked cakes containing dairy fillings or toppings, provided that they are manufactured in one of the countries listed by the OIE as free from foot and mouth disease.

Note: Those countries listed by the OIE with only specific zones that are free from foot and mouth disease are not approved for non-commercial consignments of dairy products without an Import Permit. The one exception is South Africa due to the location of the dairy industry and factories within this country.

If the item containing dairy as an ingredient does not fit into one of the above categories, an Import Permit is required. An Import Permit may be obtained by submitting an application prior to import. AQIS will assess the application and based on that assessment, may grant an Import Permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use, and disposal of those products. Applications for a permit to import can be found here. It should be noted that applying for a permit does not automatically result in a permit being issued.

Items that do not meet these requirements must be re-exported or destroyed. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Dried flower arrangements

Dried flower arrangements are allowed into Australia providing:

  • all flowers and foliage are identified by the botanical name
  • all flowers and foliage are free from soil, seeds, insect infestation, and prohibited/restricted plant species.

Providing the quarantine officer with a list of the flowers and plant material in the arrangement should ensure a prompt clearance.

If the consignment of dried flowers does not meet the above conditions, the consignment must be gamma irradiated or re-exported from Australia. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Feathers

Commercially prepared items containing feathers are allowed into Australia, providing the feathers are thoroughly cleaned and do not have any animal tissue present. If contamination or animal tissue is found, the feathers must be treated.

The treatment of feathers or products containing feathers that have not been commercially manufactured depends on their country of origin.

Items that do not meet these requirements must be re-exported or destroyed. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Detail is contained in the Import Conditions for Feathers.

Fish products

Personal consignments of fish products for human consumption are allowed into Australia, provided the fish is prepared in one of the following methods:

  1. As cutlets, which include the central bone and external skin but excluding fins. Each cutlet must weigh no more than 450 grams
  2. As skinless fillets, excluding the belly flap and all bone except the pin bones
  3. As skin-on fillets, excluding the belly flap and all bone except the pin bones. Each fillet must weigh no more than 450 gram
  4. As eviscerated, headless ‘pan-size’ fish. Each fish must weigh no more than 450 grams
  5. As fish that is headless, eviscerated and salted
  6. As fish that is dried or smoked
  7. As product that is processed further than the stage described above, including commercially canned products.
Each consignment must be packed in clean and new packaging and must be free from contamination. Items that do not meet these requirements must be re-exported or destroyed. Re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Fishing equipment including flies

Fishing equipment (for example rods, nets, waders, flies, etc) are generally allowed into Australia, providing the items meet the requirements of Import Conditions for Freshwater Equipment and Import Conditions for Fishing Flies.

To assist with the quarantine clearance process, travellers should ensure that all equipment is cleaned, dried and not wet to touch prior to arrival in Australia.

If contamination or animal tissue is found, the item must be treated prior to release from quarantine.

Items that do not meet these conditions, or are not treated, must be re-exported or destroyed. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Herbs and spices

Personal consignments of herbs and spices are allowed into Australia, providing they:

  • are commercially packaged and prepared
  • clearly labelled with the ingredients (by either the common or the botanical name), and
  • free from contamination.

To obtain accurate information for specific herbs or spices, type the botanical name into the AQIS Import Conditions Database (ICON). Items that do not meet the requirements, must be re-exported, or destroyed. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Honey

Personal consignments of honey and honey products are allowed into Australia. All honey products must be inspected by a Quarantine officer to confirm the honey products are free from contamination.

Western Australia currently has a higher quarantine status with respect to bees. As such, bee products (including honey and honey products) imported into Western Australia must meet Western Australian state quarantine entry requirements. Passengers should contact the Western Australia Agriculture Department on phone +61 8 9368 3535 or AQIS Western Australia on phone +61 8 9334 1504. Passengers arriving at ports outside of Western Australia should be aware that Western Australia has state quarantine entry requirements should they intend taking the material into Western Australia.

Items that do not meet these conditions must be re-exported or destroyed. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Human or animal ashes

Human and animal ashes are allowed into Australia and do not require accompanying documentation. If the ashes are contained in a container made of wood or other material of quarantine concern, the container must be declared and inspected on arrival at the airport to ensure the container is free from contamination, such as bark or insect infestation. To check the container for insect infestation, look closely for holes, sawdust or any signs of boring insects. If signs of insect infestation are found, the wooden item must be fumigated. Fumigation or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Items containing egg

Personal consignments of products containing egg are not allowed unless the product is:

  • labelled, stating that the item contains less than 10 per cent egg (by dry weight)
  • accompanied by a manufacturer's declaration, stating that the product contains less than 10 per cent egg ingredients (by dry weight).

The item must also have no discernible pieces of egg.

For items containing greater than 10 per cent egg, or with discernable pieces of egg, a valid Import Permit is required. An Import Permit may be obtained by submitting an application prior to import. AQIS will assess the application and based on that assessment, may grant an Import Permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use, and disposal of those products. Applications for a permit to import can be found here. It should be noted that applying for a permit does not automatically result in a permit being issued.

If the items containing egg do not meet the above conditions, the items must be destroyed or re-exported. Costs for applying for an Import Permit or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Personal consignments of egg jam (kaya) are allowed into Australia provided the product is commercially manufactured and packaged and is shelf stable without refrigeration.

Leather and skins (including animal skins with animal hair still attached)

Hides and skins (including animal skins with hair still attached) that have been fully tanned are allowed into Australia. This includes articles such as animal skin floor mats, purses, wallets, shoes and belts. If the items are not fully tanned, the items will be considered as rawhide and the requirements for rawhide apply. Used animal skin floor mats, clothing, and footwear have the potential to carry contaminants. For this reason, consignments must be inspected on arrival for cleanliness, insects and the presence of seeds or dirt. If the leather is found to have contaminants, the items must be gamma irradiated or disinfected, depending on the contamination found.

Items that do not meet these conditions must be re-exported or destroyed. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Noodles

Noodles are allowed into Australia, provided the noodles:

  • are commercially manufactured and packaged
  • have no discernible pieces of meat or egg, and
  • have less than 10% egg and less than 10 per cent dairy (by dry weight) or are instant noodles.

If the noodles do not meet the above requirements, a valid Import Permit is required. An Import Permit may be obtained by submitting an application prior to import. AQIS will assess the application and based on that assessment, may grant an Import Permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use, and disposal of those products. Applications for a permit to import can be found here. It should be noted that applying for a permit does not automatically result in a permit being issued.

Please note: If the instant noodles have meat-based flavours, the flavours must be commercially prepared and packaged (for example flavours in soups, curry mixes, stock cubes, noodle flavours etc) and must not contain discernible pieces of egg or meat.

If the noodles containing egg do not meet the above conditions, the items must be destroyed or re-exported. Costs for applying for an Import Permit or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Palm leaf articles

Items made from many species of palm may pose significant quarantine risk and may require an Import Permit or treatment.

To determine whether the items made from palm leaf require treatment or an Import Permit, the botanical name of the palm species is required. To find the requirements for bringing the palm leaf articles to Australia, type the botanical name into the AQIS Import Conditions database (ICON).

Pickled or preserved fruit and vegetables, including chutneys and preserves

Fruits and vegetables (with or without seeds) that are shelf stable* and have been commercially preserved in one of the following methods are allowed entry into Australia:

Acceptable methods of preserving fruits and vegetables (with or without seeds) are:

  • Pickled in salt brine
  • Pickled in vinegar
  • Pickled in alcohol
  • Packaged in sugar syrup
  • Glace in sugar syrup (crystallised)
  • Cured in salt or sugar
  • Canned or bottled in salt/sugar/vinegar/salt brine/alcohol

* Shelf stable is defined as a non-perishable food with a shelf life of many months to years. Shelf stable foods do not require refrigeration to maintain quality.

Consignments that do not meet the above pickling/preservation requirements or that are not shelf stable will require an Import Permit. An import permit may be obtained by submitting an application. AQIS will assess the application and based on that assessment, may grant a permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use, and disposal of those products. It should be noted that applying for a permit does not automatically result in a permit being issued.

Items that do not meet these conditions must be re-exported or destroyed. Costs for applying for an Import Permit or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Rawhide articles

Items with rawhide are allowed into Australia, provided the rawhide is:

  • intended for the personal use of the person seeking to import the article 
  • imported by itself or with no more than 4 other articles of the same kind, 
  • treated by gamma irradiated at 50kGray on arrival, before release from quarantine, to limit the level of quarantine risk to one that is acceptably low.

Importers have the option of removing the rawhide or applying for an Import Permit. An import permit may be obtained by submitting an application. AQIS will assess the application and based on that assessment, may grant a permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use, and disposal of those products. It should be noted that applying for a permit does not automatically result in a permit being issued.

Items that do not meet these conditions must be re-exported or destroyed. Costs for applying for an Import Permit or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Details are contained in the Import Conditions for Rawhide.

Shoes

Shoes and other footwear that you bring into Australia must be free from contaminants such as dirt or seeds. Used footwear will be inspected at the airports to ensure they are clean. Shoes can be cleaned with household disinfectant, washing soda, or vinegar prior to arrival in Australia. Shoes treated in this way will not require treatment on arrival by quarantine inspectors unless they are found to be unclean at the time of inspection. Travellers should pack these items at the top of their suitcase to allow easy access for quarantine inspectors. Shoes that are found to be unclean will be treated before release from quarantine.

Items that do not meet these requirements, or are not treated, must be re-exported or destroyed. Re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Tea

Plain black or green tea or black and green teas with flavouring (essence) are allowed into Australia.

Herbal teas and teas with pieces of fruit will be inspected to ensure that all ingredients are allowed. To obtain accurate import information for the ingredients of the tea, please consult the AQIS Import Conditions database at and type the ingredient into the search page. The items will require inspection upon arrival into Australia for any insect infestation or contamination.

Items that do not meet the conditions must be re-exported or destroyed. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Wooden articles

Wooden articles are allowed into Australia, provided the wooden items are free from bark, dirt, insects, or signs of insect damage (eg borer holes)

If the item contains bark, the item must be treated in one of the following methods:

  • ethylene oxide fumigation
  • dry heat treatment
  • gamma irradiation
  • removing the bark, bark that is removed will be destroyed by an AQIS approved method.

If the wood is found to be infested by insects or has insect damage, the item must be fumigated with Methyl Bromide or gamma irradiated prior to release from quarantine. Items that do not meet these conditions, or are not treated, must be re-exported or destroyed. Treatment or re-export of the items must be paid for by the importer.

Can I take food or other items through the airport to another country?

Each country has specific requirements as to items that are allowed to be imported. AQIS does not keep a record of other countries’ requirements. For further information you should contact the relevant country's consulate or embassy in your nearest capital city.

Can I take food or other items through the airport to another state?

Each state of Australia has specific requirements as to items that are allowed to be taken across state borders. AQIS does not keep a record of each state’s requirements. For further information you should contact the relevant state’s Department of Agriculture website.

Download Travellers guide to interstate quarantine

What is the procedure and costs involved in importing my dog/cat to Australia?

Conditions for importing dogs and cats vary depending on the country of origin. However, all animals entering Australia require an import permit, issued by AQIS. To obtain an import permit, an application to import your pet must be completed and returned to the quarantine station of your choice. Your application must include your pet’s microchip number. The import permit contains Veterinary Certificate A and B which must be completed and endorsed by an official veterinarian in the country of export prior to the arrival of your pet in Australia.

The owner/importer must pay all quarantine fees associated with the import and quarantine accommodation of your dog or cat in Australia.

Check if the country you wish to export from is AQIS approved, what the quarantine requirements are and the steps involved throughout the entire import process.

What can't be mailed to Australia?

Dairy and egg products

  • cheese, milk, butter and other dairy products (some special conditions apply, contact AQIS)
  • packaged meals and other foods containing more than 10 per cent dairy or egg (whole, dried and powered, for example cake mix, salad dressing
  • mayonnaise or mooncakes containing egg

Dried Plant Material

  • tea containing items such as seeds or fruit skin (for example citrus and apple peel)
  • remedies and medicines containing herbs, seeds, bark, fungi and dried plant material
  • popping corn and raw nuts

Handcrafts

  • souvenirs, artefacts and goods made of unprocessed animal products such as rawhide, feathers, teeth and bones
  • dried flower arrangements and potpourri
  • handicrafts made from or containing seed, pine cones, bark, moss or straw

All fresh fruit and vegetables and dried fruit and vegetables containing seeds or fruit skin

Meat and meat products

Plants, seeds, soil

Laboratory material

More information on what can't be mailed to Australia

What is the procedure (including fumigation) for importing wooden items to Australia (including wooden crates and packaging)?

Further information on the importation of timber and timber products or contact Timber Imports

For any other questions please contact AQIS Public Relations



Last Updated: 15 May 2008
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