Quarantine - On Arrival

You must declare all food, plant and animal items on your Incoming Passenger Card. Vessels may be inspected for quarantine risk items. Animals subject to quarantine must remain onboard.

Notifying Your Arrival 

You must apply for quarantine clearance 12-96 hours before entering Australian waters. This is done by completing a Quarantine Pre-Arrival Report for Vessels (referred to at the Before Arrival section of this site). Either the superyacht’s agent or crew will liaise directly with the marina, local Customs and Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) office to confirm the exact arrival time and clearance of the vessel into Australia.

Quarantine Inspection
AQIS officers check super yachts (their crew, stores and any animals) for any pest and disease risk that they could pose to Australia’s biosecurity.

Upon arrival AQIS officers will check

• that crew and passengers are healthy
• the health of any animals/pets onboard
• de-rat/sanitation certificates or issue a new certificate if there is no detection of vermin or other issues
• ballast water requirements have been met.

Declarable Items
Any item that falls into one of the following categories must be declared to AQIS in the Quarantine Pre-Arrival Report for Vessels.

• Food commercially prepared, cooked and raw food and ingredients
• Dairy and egg products
• Animal products
• Seeds and nuts
• Fresh fruit or vegetables
• Live animals and animal products
• Biological specimens including tissue culture
• Craft and hobby lines made from animal or plant material
• Used sporting and camping equipment including tents, footwear, hiking boots, golf equipment and bicycles (need to be checked to ensure they are clean and free from soil contamination) Used freshwater watercraft or fishing equipment including rods and nets, waders, kayaks, paddles and life jackets.
• Plant material

Food/Stores
AQIS will clear the superyacht of all fresh produce. If a superyacht is staying for a short period of time and they have substantial cost and quantity of non-approved provisions onboard there is sometimes the option of bonding these items onboard.
Super yachts may have a substantial quantity of non-approved provisions onboard so there is occasionally an option to bond these items onboard. This usually depends on the length of stay and the proposed vessel movements. For this bonding to take place there must be a lockable area onboard for the goods to be retained and sealed whilst in port.

Pets/Animals
Animals onboard your vessel must be inspected by AQIS officers to determine whether or not they pose a health risk to Australia’s animal and human population. 

Animals must be declared on the Quarantine Pre-Arrival Report for Vessels prior to your yacht entering Australian waters.  The AQIS officer will determine whether any animal will be allowed ashore or needs to remain on the vessel. 

If you are staying in Australia for an extended period of time you will need to apply for a permit to import your pet. 

More information on importing cats and dogs is on the AQIS website.

Used freshwater watercraft, sporting or fishing equipment

Australian waters are free of the freshwater algae, Didymo and it is critical this aquatic pest is kept out.

If you are planning to bring fishing rods and nets, waders, kayaks, paddles, life jackets or any other recreational freshwater equipment into Australia, you must:

• ensure all equipment is thoroughly cleaned (using detergent) and dry (not wet or damp)
• present all equipment (clean and unclean) to an AQIS officer for inspection when you arrive.

AQIS officers may send the equipment for treatment to make sure it is poses no risk of being introduced to Australia.  Import conditions for 'freshwater' commodities may apply - check the AQIS Import Conditions Database (ICON) for import conditions.  Use the term 'fresh water' in the search facility.
 

Australian Interstate Quarantine

If you intend to travel to different states and territories within Australia you also need to be aware of interstate quarantine requirements.

It is possible that pests, diseases and weeds could spread from one part of Australia to another through the movement of:

• plants or plant products
• animals or animal products
• soil
• agricultural machinery and other equipment
• recreational equipment.

Restrictions apply to each state and territory for the movement of these items to protect Australia’s biosecurity and access to local and overseas markets.

The Quarantine Domestic website is the most reliable source of information on interstate quarantine.  Alternatively, telephone 1800 084 881 during business hours Monday to Friday.

Quarantine in Northern Australia

Northern Australia is particularly vulnerable to pest, disease and weed incursions due to its close proximity to Southeast Asia and other Pacific nations.

Cape York and the Torres Strait are the most likely entry points for many exotic pests, weeds and diseases including papaya fruit fly, screw-worm fly, and red banded mango caterpillar.

These pests have significant potential to damage a number of Australian primary industries.

Visiting Cape York and the Torres Strait

All visitors to Northern Australia must observe the special quarantine requirements that apply in the Cape York and Torres Strait.

• It is illegal to move plant and animal material, including fruit, from the Torres Strait to the mainland
• Restrictions apply on moving plant material, including fruit, south from Cape York.

Visitors are encouraged to tune into radio FM 88.0 - the quarantine station transmitted on the Cape York tourist route.

Before visiting remote areas find out if quarantine restrictions apply. If they do, draw them to the attention of other travellers.

Don't take, or encourage others to take, animal or plant material ashore from visiting vessels.

Information on the Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy is available on the AQIS website.

Disclaimer:
The information on this site is subject to change and that for the most up to date information the relevant government agencies should be consulted via their websites.  It remains the responsibility of the owner, master or appointed agent to ensure they are relying on current information as to their specific obligations.