Step-by-step from landing to getting to your accommodation safely.
Landing in Australia for the first time can be overwhelming — customs declarations, biosecurity checks, queues, and a new city all at once. This guide walks you through exactly what to expect and what to do in order, so you reach your accommodation safely and without unnecessary delays or fines.
Flight attendants will distribute Incoming Passenger Cards during the flight. Fill it in carefully — you must declare all food items, plant material, medicines, and currency over AUD $10,000. If you are unsure whether something needs to be declared, tick 'yes' — there is no penalty for over-declaring, but there is a fine of up to $2,664 for failing to declare.
Follow signs to 'Passport Control.' If you have an ePassport (electronic chip, most passports issued after 2010) and are aged 16 or over, you may use a SmartGate — an automated kiosk that reads your biometrics and processes your entry. If SmartGate is unavailable for your passport type, join the overseas passport queue for a Border Force officer. Have your visa grant notice available on your phone or printed.
After passport control, collect your luggage from baggage reclaim, then pass through the Biosecurity Declaration area. Declare all food, including packaged food from home. Dog-sniffing teams patrol baggage carousels — do not try to sneak food through. Items that cannot enter (fresh fruit, meat, dairy, eggs, soil) will be confiscated. If in doubt, declare it.
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all have kiosks in major airport arrivals halls. A $20–$30 prepaid SIM (Boost Mobile on Telstra network, or Optus Prepaid) will give you data and calls immediately. Bring your passport — required for activation. Airport SIMs cost slightly more than in-city stores, but having a working number on day one is worth the extra few dollars.
ATMs are in the arrivals hall — withdraw AUD $100–$200 for your first day. Avoid airport currency exchange booths — the rates are 5–10% worse than an ATM. For transport, check what your city offers: train from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth airports is the cheapest option ($3–$20 depending on city). Uber and taxis are the easiest option with heavy luggage. University airport shuttles can be booked through your international student office in advance. Have your accommodation address saved offline before you land.
If you are carrying physical cash of AUD $10,000 or more (in any currency, combined), you must declare it on your Incoming Passenger Card. Failure to declare can result in the money being seized. This applies to cash, traveller's cheques, and bearer-negotiable instruments. Bank cards and international transfers are not affected.
Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity laws in the world. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy, seeds, and many plant products cannot enter. Biosecurity detection dogs patrol arrivals halls and are highly effective. If caught with undeclared food, you face an on-the-spot fine of up to $2,664. Always declare and let biosecurity officers decide what can stay — it takes 30 seconds.