Going to Australia - hand luggage
I'm going to Australia to see my children, I have my laptop and my phone, can I buy 2 iPhones for my children and have them in my hand luggage?
Best Answer
Given your description, it sounds like that the phones will remain in Australia with the children. If that's the case you will need to declare the phones and pay duty on them as the combination of the two will be above $900 in value, and you will also need to pay duty on any other goods you plan on leaving in Australia as once you're above the limit duty applies to all goods of that type.
I'm assuming you will take your laptop and phone home with you, so they will be considered "imported temporarily" only and should not be charged duty, though as noted below you may need to pay a security deposit to ensure you're not misrepresenting your plans.
It is worth noting that if you are travelling with one or more family members you are allowed to pool your duty free allowances. This would increase your duty free limits to $1800 if travelling with one other adult, and as such you may then be below the duty free limit (depending on what you paid for the phones and/or their price in Australia) if you don't plan on leaving other goods with your children in Australia.
The relevant information from Australia's customs department:
Personal goods are free from duty and tax if they are:
- owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more
- imported temporarily (a security may be required by the Department)
...
General goods
If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring up to A$900 worth of general goods into Australia duty-free.
...
General goods include gifts, souvenirs, cameras, electronic equipment, leather goods, perfume concentrates, jewellery, watches and sporting equipment.
What happens if I exceed the duty-free limits?
If you exceed Australia’s duty-free limits, duty and tax will apply on all items of that type (general goods, alcohol or tobacco), not just the goods over the limit.
If you have anything in excess of your duty-free concession, declare the goods and provide proof of purchase to us for calculation of any duty and tax to be paid.
Failure to declare goods in excess of your concession could result in penalties.
Pictures about "Going to Australia - hand luggage"
What items are not allowed on a plane in hand luggage Australia?
Dangerous goods are items or substances that when transported by aircraft are a risk to health, safety, property or the environment- explosives.
- compressed gases.
- poisons.
- lithium batteries.
- radioactive materials.
- strong acids.
- aerosols.
- flammable liquids.
What can I take in hand luggage Australia?
If you are flying within Australia on a domestic flight, there are no restrictions on how much powders, liquids, aerosols and gels you can carry onboard. If you are travelling domestically, but departing from an international terminal, there are limits on powders, liquids, aerosols and gels.How much luggage can you take to Australia?
Economy. Both domestic and international short haul guests enjoy a free allowance of one 23-kilogram bag, even on Saver fares. On international long haul flights, Economy guests can take two pieces with a maximum weight of 23-kilograms each. No single piece of luggage can exceed 32-kilograms in weight.What liquids can you take on domestic flights in Australia?
Liquid, aerosol or gel items must be in containers of 100 millilitres (volume), 100 grams (weight) or less. Containers must fit into one transparent and re-sealable plastic bag like a snap-lock sandwich bag.Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Monstera, Monstera, Valeriia Miller, Valeriia Miller