Studying in Australia

Students have had their visas cancelled for breaching Australia’s biosecurity laws. If you are unsure, just declare it!

If you are an international student planning to study in Australia, it is important to check Australia’s biosecurity requirements when packing your personal items before travelling. Certain food, plant material and animal products from overseas could introduce serious pests and diseases to Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and our unique environment.

Some products may not be permitted, while other products are only allowed if they meet certain biosecurity import conditions.

If you fail to declare, or provide a false declaration, you can be penalised. For example, you may be given an infringement notice. Your visa may also be cancelled and, if so, you will be refused entry into Australia and you may not be able to return to Australia for up to three years. If you are unsure of an item, declare it, or don’t bring it at all. For more information, visit Travelling to Australia.

Airport clearance is quicker if you don’t bring food, plant material or animal products. Most items can be easily purchased in Australia.

It is important to tell family and friends who are visiting you from overseas not to bring food, plant material or animal products into Australia. However, if they decide to bring these goods with them, then they too must declare them.

Food

The following commercially prepared and packaged products are permitted:

• breakfast cereals
• chocolate
• coffee—instant, ground or roasted (excluding Kopi Luwak)
• confectionery (excluding Indian dairy sweets and meat-based sweets)
• instant noodles
• muesli bars
• plain bread, rolls or buns (without fillings or toppings)
• tea (black and green tea only).

Household items and clothing

These items must be clean and free from seeds, soil, bark, insects, food residue, animal tissue and plant debris and other biosecurity risk material prior to arrival in Australia:

• bamboo items (must be made from dried bamboo, not fresh or green bamboo)
• bedding
• clothes
• commercially prepared and packaged cosmetics and personal hygiene products
• down and feather filled items (including jackets, sleeping bags, quilts and pillows)
• kitchen equipment (including pans, blenders and rice cookers)
• musical instruments
• shoes
• wooden items.

Be aware that some toys, heat pillows, snow domes and souvenirs may contain material that is subject to import conditions, such as waste cotton, wheat grains, seeds, beans, soil, straw or water.

Other goods

The following goods are not a biosecurity risk and are allowed into Australia:

• alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and other processed tobacco products
• electronic equipment (including laptops, tablets, phones and cameras)
• valuable items (including jewellery, watches and currency).

These imports are regulated by the Department of Home Affairs who may need to inspect and clear these goods before they are released. Check the Department of Home Affairs for more information on clearing goods through the border and import duty and taxes.

For over-the-counter medicines, vitamin supplements and other therapeutic goods, please check with the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

• meat (including salami, sausages and ham)
• plants (including potted plants and cuttings)
• dairy products (including milk, cheese, yoghurt and butter)
• pulses (including beans, lentils, peas and chickpeas)
• rice
• dried chillies/capsicum (unless commercially ground or milled)
• seeds (including spices) and nuts
• seeds or bulbs for planting
• flowers (including fresh cut and dried)
• eggs and egg products (including whole, dried and powdered eggs, century eggs, egg noodles and egg-based mayonnaise, sauce or custard)
• wheat (unless commercially ground or milled)
• fruit and vegetables (including dates, apples, bananas and citrus fruit)
• food or medicines intended for animals (including worming tablets, antibiotics, canned or dried pet food)
• home-cooked meals (any meals not commercially prepared and packaged)
• live animals (including mammals, birds’ eggs, insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish and silkworms)
• meals or snacks received on your flight (including fruit, yoghurt, milk drinks and sandwiches)
• soil (including samples, specimens and dirt on equipment or shoes)
• sporting/camping equipment that is dirty or wet
• traditional remedies and medicines that contain herbs, animal products or dried medicinal mushrooms (strict import conditions apply).

Check Australia’s Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) for the latest import conditions. Biosecurity import conditions may change without notice.

You must pack your own bag and be aware of all its contents. Everything in your bag is your responsibility. Items that need to be declared on arrival should be packed separately or at the top of your luggage.

Complete your Incoming Passenger Card. You must declare if you are carrying food, plant material or animal products. If you fail to declare, or provide a false declaration, you can be penalised. For example, you may be given an infringement notice. Your visa may also be cancelled and, if so, you will be refused entry into Australia and you may not be able to return to Australia for up to three years.

You will not be penalised under the Biosecurity Act 2015 if you declare and present all goods, even if they are not allowed into Australia.

You will have the opportunity to voluntarily dispose of food, plant material and animal products in bins located at the airport. Remember to dispose of any food received during the flight from the airline immediately.

Your baggage may be assessed to identify items of biosecurity concern. This may include questioning by biosecurity officers or screening using X-ray, detector dogs and/or physical inspection.

Some goods require treatment to manage the biosecurity risk. If you choose to treat or export the goods, you must cover the associated costs. Alternatively, you may voluntarily dispose of the goods.

Goods that do not pose a biosecurity risk will be returned to you after inspection.

For more information, visit Travelling to Australia.

The same import conditions apply to items sent to Australia by post. It is important to tell your family and friends overseas about Australia’s biosecurity laws and ask them not to send food, plant material or animal products.

Foot-and-mouth disease can be carried in meat and dairy products, soil and shoes, clothing and equipment used with cloven-hoofed animals.

African swine fever can be carried in pork products and through contaminated shoes, clothing and equipment.

Khapra beetle can spread through goods, including rice, seeds and grains.

Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterial disease of plants which could enter Australia in infected plant material and insects.

For information on bringing or sending goods to Australia, visit Travelling or sending goods to Australia or email Imports.

Import conditions change regularly, so check BICON before you travel or send goods to Australia.

To find detailed import conditions, visit the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).