Australia : Formalities

Clearance

The ports of entry all have 24-hour service. There are severe penalties for stopping anywhere else before clearing in, up to an Aus$50,000 fine. One should fly the Q flag as soon as one enters Australian territorial waters.

There are particularly strict rules concerning stops in any of the islands in the Torres Strait. The area is under constant surveillance by customs planes. If an emergency stop is made at one of the islands, no one must land or have contact with any other vessel. As this is an international waterway, vessels are allowed to transit without clearing into Australia provided the above rules are observed. The nearest port of entry is at Thursday Island.

For more infomation see www.daffa.gov.au/aqis/quarantine/naqs/pubs/torres-strait

Notice of Arrival

By law the captain must give notice of arrival between 96 hours and 90 days before arrival.
This can be done by:
- sending an email to yachtreport@customs.gov.au;
- sending a fax to +61 2 6275 6331;
- phoning the Australian Customs National Communications Centre on +61 3 9244 8973.

You will need to provide the following information:
- The name of your yacht;
- Intended first port of arrival;
- Estimated arrival time;
- Last four ports;
- Details of people on board including name, date of birth, nationality and passport number;
- Details of any illness or disease recently encountered;
- If you have any animals on board;
- If you have any firearms on board.
Request a confirmation and print it out for reference.

Australian customs do realise that not all vessels are fitted with the latest communications equipment and therefore it may not be possible to e-mail from onboard. This requirement seems to cause confusion as people interpret it as notification must be given 96 hours prior to arrival. This is not the case. This is the minimum requirement. Therefore a skipper can report his impending arrival prior to departing his home port up to 90 days prior to his expected arrival in Australia.

If by chance the vessel arrives prior to lapsing of the 96 hours of arrival it can wait out the time anywhere it is safe to do so. If due to dangerous seas, or there is a medical emergency etc., then the vessel is able to progress to a safe haven or the Boarding Station.

Since this new regulation came into force in 2006 several yacht captains have been taken to court for failure to comply with this regulation.

Clearance at the Port of Entry

At the port of entry, clearance is done by Customs, Immigration and Quarantine(AQIS). They may require a list of ship's stores, dutiable items and information about any animals on board as well as the previous port clearance and the usual crew list and offical papers.

Every person on board must have a valid visa, otherwise the captain will be fined Aus$1000 for every person arriving without a visa, including the captain himself. Everyone must remain on board until clearance is completed.

On arrival the captain must complete a arrival report, which can be found online at http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/b333.pdf

Clearing Out

Clearing out can only be done at one of the ports of entry. The documents needed to get customs clearance are passports, crew list, list of ship's stores and registration certificate. Australian yachts must be registered before leaving Australia.

After clearing out, one is not allowed to stop at any other places, but anchoring for the night or in bad weather is permitted, provided one does not go ashore.

Australian Quarantine Regulations

Up todate details of the quarantine regulations for yachts are on http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/avm/vessels/guidelines-under25

Australia has also introduced a scheme of limited pratique for vessels which present a potential biosecurity risk due to timber pests. See this report for the details.

Other Sources of Offical Information

Australia Customs has full details of clearance procedure and reporting requirements on http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page6080.asp" "http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4539.asp#e391"

Alternatively, email yachtreport@customs.gov.au.

Up todate details of the quarantine regulations for yachts are on http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/avm/vessels/guidelines-under25

Last updated May 2010.

Immigration

All nationalities, with the sole exception of New Zealanders, must obtain a visa in advance. There are Australian diplomatic missions in American Samoa, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and Western Samoa, where visas can be obtained. A multiple entry visa valid for the length of the passport's validity can be obtained.

New Zealand citizens must now obtain a visa in advance before entry to Thursday Island as the Torres Strait area has been declared an excised migration zone.

Yachts travelling to or from Cocos Keeling and Christmas Islands and the mainland of Australia are deemed to have not left Australia if their trip is within 30 days of departure from the mainland Australia or these islands. Persons on board these yachts must ensure that their visa covers the entire period of their stay including travel time between the mainland of Australia and these islands.

Persons travelling to Norfolk Island are immigration cleared both on arrival and departure on the mainland Australia and Norfolk Island. Therefore, they must have a multiple entry visa for return to the mainland Australia. Customs and Quarantine clearances are required on departure from and arrival to the mainland Australia.

A multiple entry visa must be obtained by those wishing to stop also at one of Australia's territories (Cocos Keeling or Christmas Island).

If planning to stay longer than 3 months, it is advisable to apply for the necessary visa prior to arrival as the application requirements can be more difficult once in Australia. Also see Australian Visas report for more information.

See the Australian Government website for the current regulations.

Last updated December 2008.

Customs

Firearms must be declared on entry. All military-type firearms (greater than .22), machine guns, pistols, revolvers, ammunition, as well as flick knives and knuckledusters are prohibited imports, and will be sealed on board or taken into custody at the first port of entry. Arrangements can be made to transport them to the port of departure if sufficient notice is given of that port and the date of departure. Sporting rifles and shotguns may be kept on board if a permit is obtained from the police and there is a suitable storage facility. This last condition also applies if prohibited imports are to be sealed on board.

Foreign yachts may now be temporarily inported into Australia for up to 3 years without paying duty or Goods and Services Tax. This can be accumulated over different seasons, however after the maximum 3 year period, yachts must be away from Australia for another three years before being allowed back into Australia - otherwise duty and GST are payable immediately.

Australia now has strict regulations for the import of ozone depleting gasses contained in refrigeration equipment on yachts. A one off ozone gas license must now be applied for prior to importing your yacht into Australia . The license can be obtained by The Federal Dept of Environment. More information is available at ozone@environment.gov.au

It is possible that you may be asked to give customs a bank or cash security to the value of the duty that would be paid if the yacht were imported. If paying cash, advance notice of departure and the port of exit must be given to customs in order to get a refund. For information about importing a yacht into Australia see report here.

Customs require the itinerary that the yacht proposes to follow while in Australia (this may just be a verbal report). Yachts are expected to keep customs informed of their whereabouts and to notify the nearest customs office if they change their itinerary. In addition, they must check in with Customs at each port they visit where there is a Customs post and at least every 3 months.

Prescription drugs must be declared on arrival and their consumption recorded in the log book, which customs may check on departure. The medical chest will be sealed.

Anyone over 18 years of age is entitled to bring in 2.25 litres of alcohol and 250 gm tobacco or 250 cigarettes. All quantities in excess of this will be sealed on board. NOTE: In some communities alcohol is not permitted and it is an offence to bring any into them.

Goods and Services Tax: A tax of 10 per cent is included in the price of most goods, except food, alcohol, clothing and fuel. Refunds on this tax (with some exceptions) are available for visitors to Australia. One should obtain a tax invoice from retailers when purchasing goods. Full details available at http://www.customs.gov.au "Tourist Refund Scheme".

Cash over $A10,000 (or equivalent) must be declared on arrival and departure.

Australia is free from many human, animal and plant diseases including rabies. All foodstuffs and plants, regardless of their origin, packaging or nature, are subject to a quarantine examination on arrival. All fresh produce as well as frozen and canned meat will be removed. Souvenirs will also be inspected including shells, feathers, wooden artefacts and any matting. For more information see Quarantine Inspection Of Souvenirs

Australian Customs offices have the powers to ask everyone to vacate a vessel if they wish to carry out a search.

Last updated June 2010.

Health

Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA)
Tel:(02) 6289 3252
This organisation will grant permission to retain prescription drugs in the first aid kit.

Documents

A cruising permit, valid for the period of the captain's visa, is obtained from customs on arrival, being granted when the officials are satisfied that the applicant is a genuine tourist, and has proof of sufficient funds for the maintenance of the vessel and the crew without work visas. Extensions are available from customs, upon application and assessment of the reasons. The permit enables foreign yachts to cruise freely between their port of entry and exit, and allows them to visit ports and places besides the official ports of entry. This permit is not for the use of anyone with the intention of using the vessel for commercial gain while in Australia.

Fees

Departure Fees
There is a departure tax of Aus$47 per person over 12 years old. This is payable whether one leaves by yacht or by air.

AQIS Fees
Quarantine clearance fee is A$330 (2009). If the inspection exceeds 1.5 hours, further fees will be charged at the rate of $90 for the first additional half hour and $45 per subsequent quarter hour. This fee is charged even during normal working hours, when no other official fees are applicable.

Quarantine also has overtime charges in addition to the charges noted above (these charges are for yachts under 25 m; over 25 m charges are $1050 for the first 2 hours of clearance).

There are charges for yachts carrying small animals which are bonded on board and which are applied on top of the above fees.

Overtime fees are charged by customs and immigration if formalities are completed between 1630 and 0830, at weekends or on public holidays.

Last updated July 2009.

Restrictions

Some restricted areas are marked on the charts.

Aboriginal Reserves and National Parks: Entry to these may be restricted and special permission is required to visit them. The Northern Territory has several of these areas on its coast. For more details, write to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in Darwin or enquire at the port of entry.

The coast and islands west of Gove are part of the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Reserve and one needs a permit for entry, obtainable from the Lands Office in Gove.

Cotton Island is off-limits as it has sacred burial sites.

Coburg Peninsula is a National Park and permission to enter can be obtained from the Ranger Station.

Ashmore Reef is a National Park, no spearfishing is allowed.

Note: In the Northern Territory, one must remember that salt-water crocodiles can be found in the sea and estuaries. Their numbers are growing as they are a protected animal.

In New South Wales living aboard a yacht permanently is illegal, although foreign yachts that are cruising are considered more leniently. The Maritime Services Board in Pittwater are more lenient than those in Sydney Harbour.

Artefacts and protected wildlife products cannot be exported unless special permission is obtained.

Queensland From 1st January 2004 the discharge of both treated and untreated sewage is prohibited in: waters of a boat harbour, canal and marina; the Noosa River, and ; designated areas of state marine parks. From 1 July 2004 this restriction is widened to further areas. In those waterways where discharge of sewage is permitted, the discharged sewage must first pass through a macerator if a fixed toilet is onboard. For more information visit http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/qt/msq.nsf/index/sewage_mgt

For additional restrictions applicable in Queensland, see Queensland page for more details.

Biofouling Requirements

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is introducing biofouling management requirements for arriving international yachts (among other vessels). At least 250 introduced marine species are already established in Australian ports and waters - 70 per cent of these arrived as biofouling organisms on vessels' hulls.

A voluntary phase-in period began on 1 Oct 2005. During the voluntary period AQIS will trial waterline inspections, gather information about current maintenance practices and educate yacht operators about biofouling and the impact it can have on vessels and the environment. Vessels with visibly fouled hulls may be subjected to closer inspection and that may involve removing such vessels from the water. Yachts which arrive with a clean hull will not face the costs of slipping the vessel. The new system will be phased in over 12 months. Initially, the new system will apply only to internationally plying vessels less than 25 m in length and foreign vessels (of any size) that are apprehended for illegal activities or rescued by Australian authorities inside territorial waters.

Full details about the protocol and how it will work may be found on the AQIS website: http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/avm/vessels/guidelines-under25

On the site you'll be able to find the following: Biofouling fact sheet (outlining the biofouling protocol); A comprehensive information document (detailing the background to the protocol and maintenance guidelines for yacht); A biofouling maintenance log book (to assist yacht operators record any biofouling maintenance work performed).

From 1st July 2010, Australia has also introduced a scheme of limited pratique for vessels which present a potential biosecurity risk due to timber pests. See this report for the details.

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is divided into different coloured zones; in the "Green Zones" which cover about one third of the park, no fishing or collecting is allowed. Heavy fines and boarding by authorities to inspect the boat freezer are in operation. Restricted fishing is permitted in some of the other zones. For the latest information and zone maps it is advisable to view the Marine Park Authority's website www.gbrmpa.gov.au before your planned vist to the area.

Last updated May 2010.

Pets

The quarantine laws are strict and the penalties for breaking them severe. General Quarantine Rules - Pets from New Zealand, Norfolk Island, or Cocos Island will be admitted to Australia without quarantine. - Pets from most other countries will be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days and up to 120 days depending on the country from which they are arriving. - Pets are not allowed to be imported into Australia from countries where there is a high incidence of rabies.

Crusing Yachts with animals on board may only anchor, and the animal must be kept on board and confined (in a cage or below decks) at all times. Quarantine must be notified of any intention to change mooring at least 48 hours prior to moving, as well as the proposed itinerary in Australian waters.

Permission to go to a dock to take fuel or water must be obtained in advance. While at the dock, the animal must be locked below. Permission must also be obtained before sailing to another area. The boat must be locked up whenever the crew is away.

There is no additional charge for this survellance unless there is a problem to be delt with. All waste must be contained and is then removed by the quarantine officer.

If embarking animals in Australia, they must have a health certificate issued by a veterinarian.

Full details and instructions can be obtained from the Australian Government AQIS website.

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