Duty free allowances for arriving passengers

If you're bringing in duty free items into Australia, concession limits apply for both visitors and Australian residents alike. Please make sure you read and comply to these limits or you will be charged duty and tax on all items - not just the items which exceed the limits.

Personal items

Most personal items may be brought into Australia in your accompanied baggage free of duty and tax. Such items include clothing, footwear and personal grooming articles. Personal items are free from duty and tax if they have been owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more, or they are imported temporarily (Customs clearance may be required).

Duty free allowances may apply to the items listed on this page that you bring with you. You can expect allowances to apply to accompanied goods imported in your carry-on or checked-in baggage, or purchased at an arrivals duty free store upon entering Australia. Please note that if you exceed Australia’s duty free concession limits, duty and tax is payable on all items of that type (eg. general goods, alcohol, tobacco), not just the item/s which exceed the limit.

Alcohol

Up to 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages (liquor, wine and champagne) per adult (passenger must be 18 years or over) can be brought into Australia duty-free. All alcohol in accompanied baggage is included in this category. Please be reminded that alcohol is subject to liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) restrictions. You cannot board your flight with a bottle or container of alcohol exceeding 100ml in your carry-on luggage. Alcohol that exceeds this amount may not be allowed onboard as carry-on depending on where you are flying in from, if you purchased the item in your last port of call before Australia or if you are transiting in between before the final leg to Australia. Please check with the customs service of each destination for more information to avoid confiscation before reaching Australia. To avoid any problems, you can pre-order your duty free alcohol online before your trip and collect it when you arrive at Sydney Airport.

Tobacco

If you are aged 18 years or over you can bring:

• one unopen packet of up to 25 cigarettes (or the equivalent of 25 grams of tobacco products), and
• one open packet of cigarettes.

You can bring in up to 1.5 kilograms of smokeless tobacco for personal use. You will pay duty on any tobacco above 25 grams.

General goods

General goods include gifts/souvenirs, electronic equipment, leather goods, jewellery, watches, perfume and sporting goods brought in from overseas or purchased in Australia on a duty/tax free basis on arrival. General goods don't include alcohol and cigarettes. AU$900 worth of goods per adult (traveller 18 years or over) or AU$450 worth of goods per traveller under 18 years and aircrew can be brought into Australia duty-free.

For further information please visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.