Arrival in Australia

Travel Information, Customs and Quarantine

Before landing in Australia, passengers are given an Incoming Passenger Card to fill in. The Incoming Passenger Card is a legal document. You must tick YES if you are carrying any food, plant material including wooden souvenirs, or animal products. This includes fruit given to you during your flight. If you have items you don’t wish to declare, you can dispose of them in quarantine bins in the airport terminal. Don’t be afraid to ask airline staff if you have any questions.

Australia has extensive Quarantine laws so it is advisable to check the Australian Governments Department of Agriculture to help decide on the products you may wish to bring to Australia. Some products may be seized as you go through a security check at the airport and by not declaring goods you are carrying you may receive a fine or in extreme cases imprisoned.

If you are carrying more than AU$10,000 in cash, you must also declare this on your Incoming Passenger Card. It is strongly recommended, however, that you do not carry large sums of cash but arrange for an electronic transfer of funds into your Australian bank account once it has been opened.

When you first arrive in Australia, you will be required to make your way through Australian Immigration (follow the signs for Arriving Passengers as you leave the plane). An Immigration Officer will ask to see your completed Incoming Passenger Card (given to you on the plane) along with your passport and student visa evidence. The Immigration Officer will check your documents and may ask you a few questions about your plans during your stay in Australia.

Bribery

Bribery is defined as the act of taking or receiving something with the intention of influencing the recipient in some way favourable to the party providing the bribe.

Australia is rated as one of the most transparent countries in the world, and visitors are strongly advised: DO NOT OFFER BRIBES to any Government officials including Police, Customs etc.

Australian Laws have strict penalties for Bribery the maximum penalty for an individual is 10 years Imprisonment or a fine of 10,000 penalty points (AU$1,100,000)

Baggage Claim

Once you have passed through the immigration checks, you will move to baggage claim (follow the signs) and collect your luggage. Check that nothing is missing or damaged. If something is missing or damaged, go to the Baggage Counter and advise them of your problem. Staff at the Baggage Counter will help you to find your belongings or lodge a claim for damage.

Australian Customs

Once you have your luggage, you will go through Customs. Be careful about what you bring into Australia. Some items you might bring from overseas can carry pests and diseases that Australia does not have. You must declare ALL food, meat, fruit, plants, seeds, wooden souvenirs, animal or plant materials or their derivatives.

For more detailed information about bringing in food, animals, plants, animal or plant materials or their derivatives, visit www.daffa.gov.au/aqis.

Airport Arrivals Hall

You will be able to leave the restricted area and enter the Arrivals Hall once you have cleared Customs. Here you will find a number of retail and food outlets along with public telephones, an information booth and money exchange facilities. If you arrive on a weekend, you may like to exchange money here as most banks are not open on Saturdays and Sundays.

After Clearing Customs

• Call home
• Settle into accommodation
• Contact Platinum Institute Australia
• Purchase household items and food

Within a Week of Arriving

• Enrol children in school (if applicable)
• Attend international student orientation
• Get student ID card
• Advise health insurance company of address & get card
• Open a bank account
• Get textbooks
• Start classes
• Apply for tax file number if seeking work