Arrival Australia

Arriving in Australia! Just sounds so great and it will be

Once arriving in Australia after some hours or many hours on the plane, but well worth it and you might find yourself after you land tired, sleepy and just wanting to jump into bed or so excited that you just want to inhale everything and cant wait to go and see Australia all at once, but you can be sure your adventure is about to start.  Here are some tips to make to make your arrival relaxing and stress free:
 

You arrived in Australia!

During some point in your flight to Australia you will be handed an incoming Passenger Card to fill in.  This is where you make a list of any items in your luggage that might have to be declared to Customs officials.  If you are not sure you can just list everything, especially this process being new to you.

And finally when you land if you are unsure of where to go or what to do just find and official and ask for help, they will guide you to your checking point.


Clearing Immigration and Customs checkpoints since you are an international student and all…

Standing in the airport follow the sign to an Immigration check-point, if you are not from Australia you need to clear yourself in immigration, it doesn’t matter that you’re a student and have all your papers in order, is just a process that you must do.  Show your passport, visa and incoming passenger card.  You may also have to show your Confirmation of Enrolment.   Once you have cleared and have shown all the necessary documents, which best is to pack on your carry on for no issues; you will be send to baggage hall, or also known as baggage claim and proceed to Customs and baggage examination.  

The government has assigned colors for this, and stated by them:
(Color green) Nothing to declare

(Color red) something to declare

Depending if you have something to declare or not are the color you will follow.  If you follow the red channel, your luggage, including your hand luggage will be x-rayed.  A Customs official will ask you to open your luggage so they may inspect them, there is no need to be alarmed or frightened; this is a normal procedure, especially for all international individuals entering Australia.  They just want to make sure you are not carrying something that you shouldn’t or that could cause issues later on.  Like food that shouldn’t be done.

If Customs official decides that an item is not quarantined, you will be allowed to keep the items and move though the Customs checkpoint; Like your camera, magazines etc.  If the item is quarantined, this item will either be destroyed or confiscated and will be returned at a later date.  But keep in mind if you are not traveling with anything that is harmful, illegal or against security you should be fine.  

When you encounter a message that says: Declare or Beware! It means you should declare all items listed below. They are warning you because you cannot play with the officials nor the government system, is important you declare everything and you are honest.  If you fail to declare or dispose any quarantined items or make false declaration you will be caught.  This message greets all passengers entering Australia on international flights.  If you do not follow the rules you could be fined $220 on the spot or prosecuted and fined over $60,000 and risk 10 years in jail according to the Australian government.

You will not be penalized if you follow the rules, listen to Customs and if you’re good are declared and you can move on to the next step.
 

Quarantine matters!

Is just referring to items that are prohibited to enter in Australia, certain food and obviously drugs is an example you cannot transfer them in nor out of no where that is illegal and has jail time.  The list is on the Australian quarantine and Inspection service website at www.agis.gove.au for the complete list.

But to get you off on the good foot, here are a few that you might want to consider twice before coming to Australia with this:

• Food (including cooked and raw food, ingredients, paste, like tomato paste, dried fruits and vegetables, canned meant products, dairy products, egg and egg products, fish and other seafood products, instant noodles and rice, herbs and spices, biscuits, cakes and confectionary, tea, coffee and other beverages)
• Plant material (including painted, lacquered or raw wooden carving, handicrafts, souvenirs made from plant material, straw products, bamboo, cane or rattan basket ware, potpourri, fresh or dried flowers and items that contain bark)
• Animal products (including feathers, bones, horns, wool, animal hair, skins, furs, shells, coral, bee products, live animals, and birds’ eggs)
• Amount of money you carry with you.  If you carry AU$10,000 or more you must report it on arrival or departure.  Does not matter what currency the money is in, if you have any doubts on how much you are carrying you may ask any guard at the airport to point you in the right direction for assistance.
• List provided by the Australian government.

Prescription and medicine is also a big deal when traveling.  There are restrictions that you should take in mind on the medicine that you can take and not.  You can check with the Australian Therapeutically Goods Administration at www.tga.gov.au for more information and this guide will also provide more information on medicine later on.

As in Australia and other locations, all firearms, weapons and ammunitions are also prohibited.


Leaving the Airport and beginning your journey

Now that you have your baggage, you have been cleared and you have all you need, checking points behind you, welcome to Australia! Let begin.  You will be directed to arrivals hall where you can exchange some money into Australian dollars.  (Currency Exchange booths are throughout the airport.)  You also might want to check the currency of your dollar and compare it to the Australian dollar to make sure you have enough and you take enough and you can balance it out.
As for people who are picking you up, like friends, family members or someone you arrange to come and get you will be waiting by the arrival hall and that is where you will go after finishing the process in the airport.  

Public transportation is also available at all international airports and most regional airports as well; you can count on taxi services, busses and trains, fairies, all of which is also later on discuss or you can find out more information by contacting the airport.
 

Some airports of the cities include:

Sydney Airport: www.sydneyairport.com.au
Melbourne Airport: www.melbourneairport.com.au
Brisbane Airport: www.bne.com.au
Adelaide Airport: www.aal.com.au
Perth Airport: www.perthairport.net.au
Canberra Airport: www.canberraairport.com.au
Darwin Airport: www.darwinairport.com.au
Hobart Airport: www.hobartairpt.com.au


The airports have displayed signs in order to help you get around.  If you are transferring to a domestic flight, follow the signs to the domestic terminal.  Look out for intra-airport terminal shuttles services that can also help you travel with in the airport and arrive to your destination.