According to Australian news outlet SBS News, effective 17th April 2019, there are new rules that allow airport authorities to shorten or cancel visitor visas if they fail to declare prohibited items they attempt to bring into the country.
Based on the Australian Border Force’s (ABF) website, travellers should take note of what items they can and cannot bring into the country. Some of the more common categories of items are listed below:
Food
Source: Twinings
According to the ABF’s website, travellers need to declare any food item they are bringing into Australia on Incoming Passenger Cards. Below are some of the most common food items travellers have to declare;
- Tea
- Spices
- Pickles
- Rice
- Nuts
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, etc.)
- Honey products
- Meat items
Medicine
Source: BBC News
Certain medicines like steroids are not allowed into Australia, as the ABF advises travellers not to bring it with them. Meanwhile, below are the types of medicines that need to be declared by travellers as long as they have a written prescription in English;
- Hormones
- Kava (a medicinal plant)
- Medicine for personal use
- Sedatives
Seasonal events
Source: FMT
For students who might be travelling back to Australia after Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, or Deepavali holidays, the ABF advises it is best to declare any items they may be bringing back that are related to those festivals (i.e. food or other traditional items). Indian sweets like barfi, ras malai, rasgulla, and pedas are not allowed into Australia, while fresh and dried fruits, flowers, and nuts are also not allowed.
Effective 17th April, if a visitor fails to declare any of the items listed by the ABF, they can have their visa shortened or cancelled by immigration authorities. On top of that, people found guilty of not following these rules can even be prevented from travelling to Australia for 3 years.
So, if you’re travelling to Australia anytime soon, be sure to check out ABF’s website here to find more information about what you need to declare before taking off. Safe travels!
Also read: Australian Govt Cuts Immigration by 15%, Offers Foreigners Visas to Stay Outside Big Cities
