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Australia Import Restrictions

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In order to enter Australia, certain goods are subject to specific controls and, regardless of their value and quantity, they require the consent of Australia government, preferably, license must be obtained prior to passage through the customs, preventing the goods from being retained. On this page, you will see what kinds of items are prohibited from entering the Australia, and which items need special documentation before exporting to Australia.

Australia Import Regulations

Import restrictions

Senders should determine import restrictions from Australian authorities before posting:

  • Animals and animal products
  • Animal or vegetable fats and oils; prepared edible fats, animal or vegetable waxes
  • Articles of stone, plaster, cement
  • Arms and ammunition
  • Artworks and antiques
  • Base metals and articles of base metal
  • Footwear, headgear and umbrellas
  • Machinery
  • Optical, photographic cinematographic and medical instruments
  • Pearls, precious or semi-precious stones and metals
  • Plants and plant products
  • Prepared foodstuffs
  • Beverages, spirits and vinegar, tobacco and manufactured tobacco substances
  • Products of the chemical or allied industries
  • Plastics and articles thereof
  • Powdered or concentrated milk and other dairy products
  • Permission of the Australian Director-General of Health is required to import medicines
  • Jewellery, imitation
  • Raw hides and skins, leather, fur skins and articles thereof
  • Textiles and textile articles
  • Wood and articles of wood
  • Pulp of wood or of other cellulose material

Special documentation

Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, is deemed part of Western Australia (postcode 6798) Norfolk Island is deemed part of New South Wales (postcode 2899) for the purposes of postal services and assessment of postage. However, senders must complete standard customs documentation for all articles containing goods and merchandise.

  • Please note the following regulations on sending goods to Australia.
  • The relevant customs declaration forms that are required to be attached to small packets and parcels MUST state the details of any animal, plant, food, soil or microbiological products that are present.
  • Goods such as used footwear, sporting and camping equipment MUST be thoroughly cleaned to remove any traces of soil and seeds.
  • Straw and other plant material MUST NOT be used as packaging material.
  • Fruit, vegetable, egg or meat cartons (new or used) MUST NOT be used as packaging.
  • Every item of mail entering Australia is screened by AQIS using a very effective combination of advanced X-ray technology and highly trained quarantine detector dogs.
  • Individuals who breach Australia’s strict quarantine laws can be subject to fines of up to $66,000 AUD (approximately $45,000 USD) or ten years imprisonment.

Prohibitions

Senders should determine import prohibitions under Australian law from relevant Australian authorities before sending. Items prohibited include:

  • items prohibited by Dangerous and Prohibited Goods & Packaging Post Guide and ECI International Courier Regulations
  • Articles of leather, or animal gut; handbags, travel goods and the like
  • Bank notes
  • Coins
  • Ceramic products
  • Currency notes (paper money)
  • Edible vegetables
  • Firearms, guns, gun parts
  • Fruit cartons (used or new)
  • Goods bearing the name “Anzac.”
  • Goods produced wholly or partly in prisons or by convict labour
  • Inorganic chemicals
  • Jewellery and other valuable articles are prohibited however costume jewellery is permitted
  • Live trees and plants, bulbs, roots and the like
  • Miscellaneous chemical products
  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, surgical instruments
  • Platinum, gold, and silver (manufactured or not)
  • Precious stones
  • Edible vegetables
  • Paper and paper pulp
  • Printed articles; books, newsletters, brochures
  • Perishable infectious biological substances
  • Radioactive materials
  • Registered philatelic articles with fictitious addresses
  • Securities of any kind payable to bearer
  • Seditious literature
  • Silencers for firearms
  • Soap, washing preparations
  • Traveller’s checks
  • Tanning or dyeing extracts
  • Used bedding

Registered Post International

Australia does not accept registered items for delivery within Australia, or items in transit (a decouvert), containing valuables such as jewellery, precious metals, precious or semi-precious stones, securities, coins or any other form of negotiable financial instrument.
Australia declines all liability for items posted which are not in compliance with this reservation.

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