Documents required on arrival

• All people on board will be required to produce travel documents such as a valid passport, visa and completed Incoming Passenger Card.
• The Master will be required to complete a Small Craft Arrival Report.

Charges

The ABF does not charge for clearance. However, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry operates on a cost recovery basis and fees may apply.

Biosecurity

All vessels arriving in Australian territory from outside of Australia, including private non-commercial vessels (yachts), private superyachts, and cruises are subject to Australian biosecurity control.

To assist in preparing your vessel for your arrival and for the biosecurity inspection, download and read the 2-page Starting on the Right Tack checklist of biosecurity considerations and prepare before arrival in Australian territory.

You can find the checklist and a range of detailed information for Australia’s biosecurity requirements on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s webpage: Non-commercial vessel arrival biosecurity reporting – yachts and private superyachts.

1. Give notice of impending arrival 90 days to no less than 12 hours before arrival.
2. Enter Australia through a designated first point of entry (FPOE) for non-commercial vessels under biosecurity legislation. Vessel operators must arrive at the port selected in the Pre-Arrival Report.
3. Where voyage plans change, edit the Pre-Arrival Report. It is the responsibility of the operator to provide updated information.
4. Be granted pratique before Not disembark or unload goods before pratique is granted by a biosecurity officer.
5. Be prepared for inspection of the vessel by a biosecurity officer. Vessels with timber components have additional requirements.

Alert biosecurity officers to the presence of and confine animals on board. If you do not have a valid import permit for animal(s), they will be treated as illegally imported.

If you declare prohibited items, you may be given the option of re-exporting them. If you do not declare items of biosecurity concern, a substantial on-the-spot fine could be imposed or you could be prosecuted.

Drugs

You must report any drugs on board your craft to the Australian Border Force on arrival and departure. This includes medications containing narcotics, hallucinogens, amphetamines, barbiturates and tranquillisers in your medical kit. If you use any of these drugs while in Australia you must record this in the craft’s logbook. A doctor’s prescription may validate certain registered drugs.

WARNING: Penalties for drug offences in Australia are severe and could result in imprisonment.

Firearms and other weapons

All firearms/weapons on your craft must be reported to the Australian Border Force. Refer to the list of Prohibited Items.

Certain firearms/weapons may be detained in safe storage for transhipment to your intended port of departure (at the Department’s expense). In cases where a firearm/weapon has been detained the Master will be required to contact the Department at least one week prior to departure so that the weapon can be returned.

Duty free allowance

For more information see duty free.

Currency

There is no limit on the amount of Australian or foreign cash that may be brought into or taken out of Australia. Craft carrying AUD10000 or more in Australian currency, or the equivalent in foreign currency must be declared on arrival and departure.

This includes

• notes and coins
• cheques
• traveller cheques
• money orders, or
• bearer negotiable instruments.

Reporting is required by law and failure to do so is an offence.

Temporary import of goods

Commercial goods brought into Australia with the intention of being sold are subject to the normal rates of duty and tax where applicable.

Commercial or personal goods that are brought into Australia to remain temporarily may be admitted duty and tax-free, subject to certain conditions.

Carnets may be obtained for temporary duty free entry of goods such as

• jewellery
• commercial samples
• goods for international exhibitions
• equipment for sporting events
• professional television and film equipment.

Human health

See threats to public health for more information.

All options provide access to Australian waters and lands.

Control Permits

A Control Permit will be issued to the Master of the craft if we are satisfied the craft is transiting Australia for non-commercial purposes. Control Permits may be issued for a period of 12 months, or the length of the Master’s visa, whichever is less. Extension of the permit may be granted on application, provided that you meet eligibility requirements and have an appropriate visa.

A person eligible to apply for a Control Permit must be a tourist or a temporary resident of Australia. Australian citizens are not eligible for a Control Permit unless they have overseas residency. Satisfactory evidence of overseas residency is required.

For a Control Permit to be issued, the craft must meet the following criteria:

• craft must have arrived from overseas and will be scheduled to depart for overseas
• craft must have arrived under its own power and not as cargo
• craft must be transiting Australia for non-commercial purposes i.e. is not engaged in the commercial carriage of cargo or passengers
• craft may be privately or corporately owned (however, a Control Permit is not granted where a craft is owned by a corporation and more than 50% of the owners of the corporation are Australian residents)
• craft must not be employed for any activities of a commercial nature (e.g. charter, hire or lease)
• craft, or parts of the craft, are not to be offered for sale, sold or otherwise disposed of.

However, the craft may remain in Australia for repair or refit.
Control Permits are not issued if the craft is owned or operated by an Australian resident unless exceptional circumstances apply.
If circumstances of the craft’s presence in Australia change, you are required to advise the Australian Border Force. Failure to do so can result in a Control Permit being revoked and the craft being deemed imported at which time payment of duty and tax will be required.

What if the Master wants to fly home and come back later?
This is possible but you must advise us and make arrangements for appropriate control over the craft. Further information can be obtained from our office at your intended port of arrival.

Temporary importation of vessels
If your visa allows you to reside in Australia for a limited period you may be required to temporarily import a craft into Australia. Temporary importation without paying customs duty and tax is subject to:

• The vessel being exported within 12 months of arrival
• A security in cash or an appropriate bank guarantee being provided equal to the duty and tax that would otherwise be payable.

Return Of Security
If a cash security has been given and a cash refund is sought you must give us advance notice at the proposed port of departure before you leave.

Formal Importation
If you are an Australia citizen, permanent resident of Australia or migrating to Australia on a craft purchased outside Australia, importation of the craft is required. Customs duty and tax are payable on any craft imported into Australia upon its arrival.

Passenger Movement Charge

You may be required to pay a Passenger Movement Charge on departure. This charge is AUD70 per person while children under 12 years of age are exempt.

Clearance

Australian Border Force clearance is required before you depart. This is available at any appointed port. You should contact them in advance to avoid unnecessary delay. It is an offence to depart without clearance. 

Requirements for departure

• Valid travel documents for all persons on board
• When a small craft departs Australia for a place overseas, the vessel is exported and an export declaration is required. You should lodge the export declaration, and present the export declaration number (EDN) to the ABF, before requesting ABF clearance.

For further details on travel documents, visit travel documents

Registering craft – the Registrar of Ships

Masters of foreign craft not registered under the law of a foreign country must make a declaration about the nationality of their craft when leaving Australia.

All Australian vessels, including pleasure craft, irrespective of size or type, whether owned by an Australian citizen or an Australian company, must be registered before leaving Australia. State registration does not meet this requirement.

Unregistered craft will not receive Australian diplomatic protection while overseas.

You can do this by contacting the Registrar of Ships at Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Ship’s gear

Australian residents who are taking articles out of Australia which they already own, including yachting equipment, may require proof of prior ownership on return to avoid paying duty.

These goods should be listed for the Australian Border Force at your port of departure.

Embarking animals

Most countries require animals on board to have health certificates from their country of origin.

Australian residents are advised not to take their pets overseas because of biosecurity concerns and stringent requirements to return animals to Australia. However, if you wish to take an animal on your trip you should consult with the Government/s of your intended return for their biosecurity requirements.

For further detail visit the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Heritage items

It is illegal to take out of Australia, without a permit, items identified as being of great importance to Australia’s national heritage. These items can include a vast array of objects from works of art and archaeological finds, to objects associated with our history or technological development.

Wildlife

Exportation of endangered and threatened (animal and plant) wildlife and Australian native wildlife is strictly regulated and in some cases is illegal. Information and permits is available in the list of prohibited goods.

All permits must be obtained before you leave Australia. Severe penalties apply for offences against the Wildlife Protection Act.

Travel to Christmas, Cocos (Keeling) and Norfolk Islands

For immigration purposes, vessels and crafts travelling between Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas and Norfolk Island, and mainland of Australia are deemed to have not left Australia. Non-citizens on these vessels and crafts must ensure that their Australian visa covers the entire period of their stay including travel between mainland Australia and these islands.

For customs purposes, arriving in and leaving from Cocos (Keeling), Christmas and/or Norfolk Islands is considered as an international movement. Therefore, people and goods must be customs cleared on arrival and departure.

Australian Border Force and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry clearances are required on both arrival and departure.

Travel Advice

For travel advice on overseas destinations, visit Smartraveller.

For general advice on sea travel, visit travelling by boat.