Coming to Australia
Quarantine—protecting Australia’s unique environment

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service has trained beagles to check incoming baggage, mail and cargo across Australian points of entry. The beagle’s sense of smell is 100 times more sensitive than that of a human. They are trained to detect 30 different items of concern and to sit down and wait next to a bag when they detect a risky item
AQIS
Protecting Australia from unwanted pests and diseases is essential for the preservation of our plants and animals and our agricultural industries. Australia’s geographic isolation in the days before mass air travel and international trade served as a natural barrier. Today that is the job of Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).
Australian quarantine measures are among the most stringent in the world. Every year close to 9.5 million passengers and crew pass through Australian seaports and airports, creating a significant challenge for quarantine surveillance. Almost every passenger arriving in Australia now has luggage checked on arrival, by either a quarantine officer, detector dog or X-ray machine. Even international mail sent to Australia is screened by AQIS, as are all air and sea cargo containers.
Australia is extremely vigilant about remaining free of exotic pests and disease. Travellers to Australia must declare anything made from plants or animals—including meat, dairy or other animal products; wooden articles; fruit; vegetables; seeds; nuts; and live animals. The penalties for breaching Australia’s quarantine laws include fines or imprisonment.
E-cert is Australia’s Internet-based system for tracking agricultural imports and exports. The electronic system helps verify that traded agricultural products comply with food safety and quarantine requirements. The beauty of the system is that it is cheaper, faster and more secure than any paper-based system.
Jordan was the first Middle Eastern country to adopt E-cert. The system provides a quick and effective way for Jordan to verify certification covering Australian meat shipments as well as other imports into the country. It confirms the authenticity of shipments, reduces fraud and enhances Jordan’s border security arrangements.
E-cert is of great interest to agricultural inspection and quarantine authorities around the world, with trials taking place in Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The famous ‘three sisters’, located in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales
David B. Simmonds/Tourism Australia
Visa and immigration requirements
Australia welcomes many millions of overseas visitors. However, anyone who is not an Australian citizen needs a valid visa to enter and spend time in Australia. There are different visas for tourists, business people, sports people, students and others. All visas must be obtained before travelling. The only exception is for New Zealanders, who are granted an electronic visa on arrival in Australia. Visitors can apply for Australian visas at Australian government missions overseas or electronically through travel agents and airlines in many parts of the world. People can also now apply for certain visas via the Internet.
Australia’s electronic travel authority (ETA) system is the most advanced and streamlined travel authorisation system in the world. It allows visitors from 34 countries in Europe, Asia and North America to obtain authority to enter Australia when they book their travel. Almost 3 million people travelled to Australia using an ETA from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004.
Health insurance
Visitors to Australia generally do not have access to Australia’s subsidised health care system. However, residents of countries with which Australia has reciprocal health care agreements may have restricted access to Australia’s public health insurance system. In all cases visitors should obtain advice about appropriate health insurance.
arvo: afternoon
as happy as Larry: content, satisfied
Aussie battler: a hard-working Australian
back of Burke: far away
barrack for: support a particular sports team
digger: an Australian soldier
esky: portable ice chest
fair dinkum: true, genuine
g’day: hello
go for your life: yes, you can …/no problem
hard yakka: hard work, usually physical
kiwi: someone from New Zealand
mate: friend; also, form of address usually between males
she’ll be right: everything will be okay
thongs: flip-flops
true blue Aussie: really Australian
ute: pick-up truck
Online
- Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Australian Customs Service
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship
- Tourism Australia
- Tourist information
Last update May 2005