Guide · Border and money ·
Duty Free Allowance Australia: Alcohol, Tobacco and Goods
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Duty free allowance Australia rules let each adult traveller bring in up to AUD900 of general goods, 2.25 litres of alcohol and 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of tobacco without paying duty or tax. Travellers under 18 get AUD450 of general goods and no alcohol or tobacco allowance. Go over a limit and duty and tax apply to every item of that type, not just the extra.
This guide sets out each limit, how families can pool them, what counts as general goods, and how the limits line up with the questions on the Incoming Passenger Card you fill in before landing.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions; Australian Border Force, What duty free can you bring in?
The limits at a glance
| Type | Aged 18 or over | Under 18 |
|---|---|---|
| General goods | AUD900 | AUD450 |
| Alcoholic drinks | 2.25 litres | No allowance |
| Tobacco | 25 cigarettes or 25 g of tobacco products | No allowance |
| Crew members, general goods | AUD450 |
The alcohol allowance covers every alcoholic drink in your accompanied baggage, no matter where or how you bought it. The same 2.25 litres applies to passengers and crew.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions; Australian Border Force, What duty free can you bring in?; Incoming Passenger Card sample (English).
What counts as general goods
The ABF lists these as general goods:
- gifts and souvenirs
- cameras and electronic equipment
- leather goods
- perfume concentrates
- jewellery and watches
- sporting equipment
The limit covers goods bought overseas, goods bought tax or duty free in Australia before you left, and goods bought at an inwards duty free shop when you land.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions.
What does not count toward the AUD900
Most of what you packed for the trip is not part of the limit. The ABF says most personal items in your accompanied baggage come in free of duty and tax, including:
- clothing and footwear
- personal hygiene and grooming items, except fur and perfume concentrates
- personal goods you have owned and used overseas for 12 months or more
Duty free concessions do not apply to commercial goods. Business travellers carrying samples may need permits, and a customs entry may be needed for commercial goods worth over AUD1,000. A laptop for personal use can come in duty and tax free if the ABF is satisfied you will take it with you when you leave.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions.
Alcohol: the 2.25 litre limit in practice
2.25 litres is 2,250 millilitres. Here is how that works out with common sizes. These are simple sums, not ABF examples.
| What you carry | Total | Within 2.25 L? |
|---|---|---|
| Three 750 mL bottles of wine | 2.25 L | Yes, exactly at the limit |
| Two 1 L bottles of spirits | 2.0 L | Yes |
| Two 1 L bottles plus one 750 mL bottle | 2.75 L | No |
| One 700 mL bottle of spirits and two 750 mL bottles of wine | 2.2 L | Yes |
Aviation security rules can limit liquids in your cabin bag. The ABF suggests packing duty free drinks in checked baggage where you can, or buying at the duty free shop in the arrivals hall after you land. Duty free items in carry-on bags on your direct flight to Australia must meet carry-on rules, or screening staff will take them.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions (Alcoholic beverages).
Tobacco: tight limits and prohibited imports
The ABF says most tobacco products are "prohibited imports". That includes cigarettes, molasses tobacco, heat-not-burn products and loose-leaf tobacco. A traveller aged 18 or over can still bring tobacco products in without a permit, but the duty free amount is small: 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of other tobacco.
Anything above that is taxed, so check the rules on the ABF tobacco page before you buy a carton overseas.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions (Tobacco); Australian Border Force, Prohibited goods: Tobacco.
Family pooling
Families coming home on the same flight or voyage can pool their general goods limits, as long as they stay together through customs. The ABF counts a family as a person and their partner, including de facto and same-sex partners, and their children under 18.
The ABF's own example: two adults and two children have a combined allowance of AUD2,700. That is AUD900 plus AUD900 plus AUD450 plus AUD450.
Pooling covers general goods. Children still have no alcohol or tobacco allowance.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions (Travelling with family).
What happens if you go over
This is the rule that catches people out. If you exceed a limit, duty and tax apply to all items of that type, not only the part over the limit.
Say you bring in AUD1,000 of general goods. You do not pay tax on AUD100. You pay duty and tax on the whole AUD1,000 of general goods. The same goes for alcohol and for tobacco.
If you are over, declare the goods and show proof of purchase so the ABF can work out what you owe. The ABF says not declaring can lead to penalties, prosecution or a cancelled visa, and its advice is short: if in doubt, declare. You can pay at the counter in Australian dollars, or by card or UnionPay. If you get an invoice, you can pay online through SinglePay.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions (Exceeding duty free limits, Payment); Australian Border Force, What duty free can you bring in?
The passenger card: which question matches which limit
Every arriving passenger fills in an Incoming Passenger Card. It must be completed in English, and a parent can fill it in for a child. Here is how the customs questions line up with the limits above.
| Card question (English sample) | Linked limit |
|---|---|
| 2. More than 2250 mL of alcoholic beverages or 25 cigarettes or 25 g of tobacco products? | Alcohol and tobacco allowances |
| 3. Goods obtained overseas or purchased duty and/or tax free in Australia with a combined total price of more than AUD900, including gifts? | General goods allowance (adults) |
| 5. AUD10,000 or more in Australian or foreign currency equivalent? | Cash reporting, not a duty limit |
| 6 to 9. Food, plant material, animal products, soil | Biosecurity, not a duty limit |
Goods you claimed a Tourist Refund Scheme GST refund on when leaving belong at Question 3 if they come home with you, according to the ABF. Our Tourist Refund Scheme guide explains why that refund can come back as GST owed.
The Department of Agriculture says a digital Australia Travel Declaration is being piloted with Qantas as an alternative to the paper card, through the Qantas app up to 72 hours before travel, for eligible travellers into select ports. Everyone else fills in the paper card as normal.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) and IPC sample (English); Australian Border Force, Tourist Refund Scheme; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Travelling to Australia.
Biosecurity is a separate check
Duty free limits are about tax. Biosecurity is about pests and disease, and it has its own rules. You must declare risk goods such as food, animal products and plant material, including wooden items, plus footwear and gear used in rural areas or near animals. Or you can drop them in the bins at the airport.
The Department of Agriculture says false or misleading answers can bring an infringement notice of up to AUD7,280, civil penalties or prosecution, and a visa can be cancelled. Declared goods that pose no risk are given back to you.
Sources for this section: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Travelling to Australia.
Leaving Australia
Australia's duty free limits apply when you arrive, not when you leave. Melbourne Airport notes that the rules to check on the way out are those of the country you are flying to. If you are heading to Bali, read our Bali tourist levy guide for the separate fee there, and see our FAQ for questions about this publication.
Allowances are set by the ABF and can be revised. If a limit on this page looks out of date, trust the ABF page and note it to the editors through the address on the contact page. To learn more about the team that checks these figures, see about Australia Travel Escapes.
Sources for this section: Melbourne Airport, Know your duty free allowances.
Frequently asked questions
What is the duty free allowance in Australia?
The duty free allowance in Australia is AUD900 of general goods for travellers aged 18 or over and AUD450 for those under 18. Adults can also bring 2.25 litres of alcohol and 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of tobacco.
How much alcohol can I bring into Australia duty free?
You can bring 2.25 litres of alcoholic drinks into Australia duty free if you are aged 18 or over. That is the same as three standard 750 mL bottles of wine.
How many cigarettes can I bring into Australia?
You can bring 25 cigarettes, or 25 grams of other tobacco products, duty free if you are 18 or over. Above that amount, duty and tax apply to all of your tobacco.
Can a family combine its duty free allowance?
Yes. A family travelling on the same flight can pool its general goods allowance if it stays together through customs. Two adults and two children have AUD2,700 combined.
What happens if I go over my duty free limit?
If you go over your duty free limit, duty and tax apply to all goods of that type, not just the excess. You must declare the goods and show proof of purchase.
Do I need to declare goods I bought tax free in Australia?
Yes, when they count toward your limit. Goods bought duty or tax free in Australia before you left count toward the AUD900, and goods you claimed a TRS refund on must be declared at Question 3.
Sources for this section: Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions; Incoming Passenger Card sample (English).
Sources
- Australian Border Force, Duty free concessions: www.abf.gov.au
- Australian Border Force, What duty free can you bring in?: www.abf.gov.au
- Australian Border Force, Prohibited goods: Tobacco: www.abf.gov.au
- Australian Border Force, Incoming Passenger Card (IPC): www.abf.gov.au
- Australian Border Force, Incoming Passenger Card sample, English: www.abf.gov.au
- Australian Border Force, Tourist Refund Scheme: www.abf.gov.au
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Travelling to Australia: www.agriculture.gov.au
- Melbourne Airport, Know your duty free allowances: www.melbourneairport.com.au
- Sydney Airport, Duty free allowances for arriving passengers: www.sydneyairport.com.au