Arrival at an Australian Airport
When you arrive at an Australian airport
Everyone who arrives at an Australian airport must present their travel documents and Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) to officers in immigration clearance.
See: Passenger Cards
Travellers who are not Australian citizens also need to obtain a valid visa or authority to enter Australia. This must be obtained before travelling to Australia. Special provisions apply to most New Zealand citizens, and to people eligible to transit Australia without a visa.
See:
Travel Documents for Entry to Australia
Fact Sheet 17 New Zealanders in Australia
Transit Without Visa Arrangements
Anyone who arrives without a valid travel document, visa or authority to enter Australia, may be delayed until their identity and claims to enter Australia are checked. If a person does not meet immigration clearance requirements, they may be refused entry to Australia. For more details see 'Immigration clearance at the airport' section below.
After passing through immigration clearance, baggage can be collected, which may be checked by Customs or Quarantine officers.
For more information about Customs or Quarantine requirements, go to the following websites.
See:
Australian Customs Service
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Immigration clearance at the airport
The role of the department at Australian airports is to facilitate the travel of legitimate travellers as efficiently as possible, whilst maintaining the integrity of Australia's borders.
Part of this facilitation includes processing travellers through immigration clearance.
Australian Customs Service officers handle immigration clearance processing at Australian airports on behalf of the department. As part of immigration clearance processing, clearance officers will examine your travel documents and authority to enter Australia.
See: Travel Documents for Entry to Australia
Once your identity and authority to enter Australia are confirmed and any other information required is provided, the clearance officer formally clears you for entry to Australia.
If there are any issues surrounding your identity or authority to enter Australia, the matter is referred to immigration staff at the airport to resolve. Immigration officers may speak briefly with you to make enquiries about your travel plans, travel history, contacts in Australia, or other related details.
In some cases, a formal interview may be required to ascertain further information about your immigration status. The interview is conducted by immigration staff in immigration offices at the airport, and may be recorded. Non-English speaking travellers may be interviewed with the help of an interpreter.
See: Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)
If a person does not meet immigration clearance requirements, they may be refused entry to Australia and removed as soon as practicable.