Travel Agent Information
Tips for Clients
Clients wishing to purchase duty free items when travelling to Australia need to be aware that these items (if packed in carry-on baggage) are subject to the same restrictions as other liquids, aerosols and gels.
Australia applies restrictions for flights to and from Australia. Australia requires airlines to put in place procedures at overseas airports with flights to Australia, to ensure passengers do not have liquids, aerosols and gels in their possession onboard the flight other than those allowed. In general the only liquids, aerosols and gels that are allowed in a passenger's carry-on baggage are:
- liquids, aerosols and gels in containers of 100 millilitres or less in a resealable bag no more than 80 cm around the sealed area (e.g. 20x20 cm or 15x25 cm);
- duty free liquids, aerosols and gels purchased at the airport and delivered to the boarding gate for the passenger—no other duty free will be permitted (e.g. duty free purchased at Heathrow will not be permitted through Singapore); and
- a liquid, aerosol or gel product supplied to the passenger onboard the aircraft after departing for Australia (e.g. cans of drink supplied in-flight or duty free purchased onboard the aircraft).
However there are some countries where duty free purchases are not required to be delivered to the boarding gate, these countries are:
- United States;
- New Zealand;
- Japan; and
- Taiwan.
In these countries passengers can purchase duty free items after the screening point and carry them directly onto their flight to Australia. These same countries do not allow duty free items purchased in other countries through their screening points. Where clients are departing Australia you may wish to advise that duty free purchases, even if placed in a Security Tamper Evident Bag, will not be accepted in transit in these countries.
From 1 July 2012 advanced liquid explosive detection equipment is being introduced at the transit screening points of Australia’s eight international gateway airports being Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney Airports. Passengers passing through the transit screening point at one of these airports may be able to take their duty free liquid, aerosol and gel items through the screening point if the items are in the sealed bag provided at the time of purchase, have accompanying proof of purchase and pass screening by the new technologies. For more information visit the inbound transit requirement page.
All other information on liquid, aerosol and gel restrictions is available here.
Body scanners are now being used for aviation security screening at Australian international gateway airports. Body scanners have been installed at Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney Airports and will be used to screen outbound international passengers on a random basis. For more information, please refer to our 'Passenger Fact Sheet' [
PDF: 905 KB] or see our answers to frequently asked questions.
Download the Important Security Tips flyer for your clients or obtain security tips text for e-tickets and printed itineraries.