Free import
• General goods (gifts, souvenirs, electronics, perfume, jewellery, watches, sporting equipment, etc.) worth up to AUD 900 per traveler aged 18 or older, or AUD 450 for travelers under 18 and for crew. Families traveling together may pool their allowances.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: 2.25 L of alcoholic beverages.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: one unopened packet of up to 25 cigarettes or 25 g of other tobacco products, plus one open packet of cigarettes. Travelers under 18 may not bring tobacco and have no alcohol allowance.
• If you exceed an allowance, duty and tax are charged on all goods of that type (general goods, alcohol or tobacco), not only on the excess. Declare the goods and keep proof of purchase.
Currency
• There is no limit on the amount of money you may bring in, but cash and bearer negotiable instruments (such as traveller's cheques, cheques, money orders and promissory notes) with a combined value of AUD 10,000 or more (or the foreign currency equivalent) must be reported to the Australian Border Force. Failing to report is an offence.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs
• Child abuse material and other objectionable publications, films and games
• Automatic knives (flick knives, switchblades), butterfly knives, concealed blades, knuckle-dusters, extendable batons, pepper spray and hand-held electric shock devices such as Tasers and stun guns, unless an import permit is held
• Counterfeit designer goods and pirated films or TV shows
• Nicotine pouches (from 24 July 2026 the traveler exemption no longer applies; they are seized and destroyed at the border)
Restricted
• Food, plant material (including wooden articles), animal products and biological material: declare all of them on the Incoming Passenger Card or dispose of them in the biosecurity bins at the airport or cruise terminal. Declared goods are inspected and may be treated, exported or destroyed. Fresh fruit and homemade food should not be brought. A false declaration can lead to an infringement notice of up to AUD 7,280, prosecution or visa cancellation.
• Footwear, camping, fishing and sporting equipment (including golf clubs and bicycles) must be clean and dry, and you must declare it if it was used in rural areas, near animals or in fresh water.
• Medicines: prescription medicines, including many that contain controlled substances, may be brought in your accompanied baggage if you carry a letter from your doctor or a copy of the prescription in English and bring no more than 3 months' supply. Keep them in their original packaging and declare them. Some substances, as well as larger quantities, need a permit from the Office of Drug Control.
• Vaping goods are prohibited imports, but travelers may bring up to 2 vapes, 20 vape cartridges, capsules or pods and 200 ml of vape liquid in their accompanied baggage for their own treatment (or that of a person in their care traveling with them). No prescription is needed. Vapes cannot be ordered from overseas.
• Tobacco above the duty-free allowance must be declared and duty paid on arrival. Undeclared tobacco can lead to prosecution or visa cancellation.
• Kava: travelers aged 18 or older may bring up to 4 kg for personal use (as root, dried kava or a cold-water drink) in accompanied baggage.
• Firearms, ammunition and imitation (replica) firearms need import permission and police confirmation; some other weapons such as daggers, throwing blades and nunchakus need state or territory police approval. Declare all weapons.
• Steroids and hormones: up to 3 months' supply with a doctor's letter or prescription in English; athletes need a permit.
• Wildlife products, including souvenirs made from endangered (CITES-listed) species, need a permit and are seized without one.
• Cats and dogs need a biosecurity import permit and must meet all import conditions, including a stay in the post-entry quarantine facility in Mickleham, Melbourne (fees apply). Check the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry requirements well in advance.