Customs
Your Incoming Passenger Card
At the end of a long flight, you may be tired, but it is very important that you fill out the Incoming Passenger Card correctly.
You will receive the orange card from your flight attendant while you are on the plane but before you land. If you have trouble understanding anything on the form, please ask for assistance.
You must tick YES if you are carrying any food, animal products, wooden items or plant material in your luggage. Any food that you may have had with you for the flight can be thrown away in the quarantine bins once you land. If you have currency with a value of more than AUD$10,000 with you, you need to declare it.
Here is an example of the Australian Incoming Passenger Card, as well as some more information about filling it out. You can also print a sample card in your language to help you prepare to fill it out (but you will still need to fill in your card on the plane in English).
Customs and quarantine
After you have landed, exited the plane and collected your luggage from the baggage carousel, you need to pass through customs before exiting to the arrival hall.
You have the choice of going through the green lanes (nothing to declare) and the red lanes (something to declare). Luggage is X-rayed and checked by customs officers. Customs dogs also patrol the baggage area.
We have strict quarantine laws in Australia, and for good reason. We try to protect the country from the importation of diseases and pests. Although you may think bringing some of your favourite foods from home is a good idea, there are some items that you are not allowed to bring into Australia.
You must declare
- any items made from wood, plant and animal material
- any fresh food or egg products (even in powder form), including dried or packaged foods
- all other food items (including cans, jars and processed foods).
If you don’t declare these items, you risk an on-the-spot fine or more significant penalties. Melbourne is a very multicultural city and products from most regions of the world are available here – even your favourite foods.
If you are in doubt about whether or not to declare an item, it is safer to declare it.