Arriving in Western Australia
Australian Customs and Immigration officers manage and monitor visas at all international entry ports. While Australia is a friendly and welcoming nation; visitors from some countries are required to secure visas, on or before arrival, to ensure smooth entry into the country.
Customs officers are easily identifiable and can assist with a range of issues including customs clearance of goods and luggage, quarantine and travel health concerns.
For further information on how Customs can assist you, visit Department of Immigration.
If you'd like to know more about the security measures in place at Australian airports, visit the TravelSECURE website.
Duty Free, Tax Concessions and Customs Clearance
Most international travellers appreciate the opportunity for duty-free shopping. Visitors to Western Australian will enjoy a range of duty-free shopping benefits for goods including perfumes, cosmetics, alcohol, cigarettes, consumer goods and many other items.
Age restrictions and limits do apply, so it is best to check before you finalise purchases.
If you're an overseas guest, pick up a brochure on the Tourist Refund Scheme - you could well qualify for even more savings on your shopping through tax refunds.
Duty-free concessions are available to travellers. The following duty-free concessions are available to travellers provided that they do not exceed the specified amounts.
Group 1 - general
A$900 worth of goods including souvenirs, cameras, electronic equipment, leather goods, perfume concentrates, jewellery, watches and sporting equipment. Alcohol and tobacco products cannot be included in this concession.
These goods can be obtained overseas, purchased in Australia duty or tax free before departure, goods for which a tax refund has been approved through the Tourist Refund Scheme or purchased from an inwards duty free shop on arrival.
Group 2 - alcohol
2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages for each passenger aged 18 years or over.
Group 3 - tobacco
250 cigarettes, or 250 grams of cigars or tobacco products for each passenger aged 18 years or over. One opened packet containing 25 cigarettes or less is also allowed.
NOTE: However, if you exceed any of the concession limits set out above, Australian Customs will charge you duty and tax on the entire importation or purchase within that group of items.
You are able to bring $A10,000 into Australia. Amounts of $A10,000 or more, or equivalent in foreign currency (meaning notes and coins of legal tender), must be reported on arrival or departure.
Failure to declare goods in excess of your concession could result in the application of penalties. If in doubt, contact a Customs officer or call 1300 363 263 (Australia only) for information. If overseas, call +61 2 6275 6666 or email information@customs.gov.au
Quarantine - Protecting our State
Western Australia's geographic remoteness has provided the State with a natural barrier against many pests and diseases and Australia's customs and quarantine officers actively protect this.
The State's agricultural economy is one of our financial mainstays and can be severely affected through the introduction of noxious plants or insect species.
As such, strict quarantine laws are in place regarding the importing or transporting of identified food stuffs - domestically and internationally.
Inspection officers and detector dogs are on duty at all state entry points including air, sea, road and rail.
While they may seem harmless, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables, plants, flowers, honey, animals and introduced birds pose real threats to the Western Australian environment. Even used fruit and vegetable containers should be presented and scanned by Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services (AQIS) to ensure they are clean, and present no risk.
The best rule to follow is, "If in doubt, declare it". State-based AQIS officers are friendly, welcoming and professionally trained and generally return more than 90 per cent of declared items to visitors. They want you to have a great holiday in Western Australia.
Be warned, heavy penalties apply to those people not declaring items identified as a risk.
Visit Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services online for further information.
The GST
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a broad-based tax of 10 per cent on most goods and services utilised within Australia. This tax system was introduced on 1 July 2000. GST is already included in the price you pay.
For international visitors all prices quoted for a holiday will include the 10 per cent GST, which is payable at the time of ticketing.
The GST applies to goods and services you have pre-paid or pre-booked before your arrival in Australia and to those purchased once in Australia. The GST applies to tourism services such as accommodation, day tours, guides, ground transport (including coach, rail and cruise), translators and meals. International airfares remain GST free.
Business Travellers
Business travellers carrying commercial goods or samples may need to obtain permits for their goods depending on the nature of the goods, regardless of value. Quarantine and wildlife regulations and other restrictions may also apply to certain goods.
Domestic Passengers Travelling on an International Cruise Ship
Australian Customs legislation only permits duty and excise and tax free sales to travellers undertaking international journeys. Passengers joining international cruise ships only to travel between Australian ports (domestic passengers) are not entitled to duty free benefits or concessions.