🇬🇧 United Kingdom vs 🇦🇺 Australia
Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs authority | His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) | Australian Border Force (ABF) |
| VAT / GST | 20% | 10% |
| De minimis (USD) | USD 190 | USD 680 |
| Cash declaration (USD) | USD 12500 | USD 7600 |
| Duty-free alcohol (L) | 4 | 2.25 |
| Duty-free cigarettes | 200 | 25 |
| Duty-free personal goods (USD) | USD 1100 | USD 680 |
| Prohibited categories | Illegal firearms and offensive weapons (flick knives, knuckledusters); Class A, B, and C controlled substances without authorisation; Obscene publications and indecent images; Counterfeit currency; Products from endangered species without CITES permits | Illicit drugs and psychotropic substances; Weapons (automatic/semi-automatic firearms, prohibited weapons); Pornographic material involving minors; Products from endangered species without CITES permits; Steroids and human growth hormone without prescription |
| Restricted categories | Firearms and weapons (requires licence); Controlled drugs (prescription required); Certain food products from outside EU/GB (health certificate may be required); Plants and plant products (phytosanitary certificate required); Live animals (health certificate and pre-notification required) | Food (all food items must be declared; many require biosecurity permits); Plants and plant materials (must be declared; import conditions apply); Animals and animal products (biosecurity conditions apply); Certain medications and therapeutic goods (TGA approval required); Firearms and weapons (import licence required) |
| Known scams | Unofficial 'UK ETA' booking sites charging well above the official £10 fee. Apply only via gov.uk. • Fake HMRC/Border Force payment-demand SMS or emails after recent arrivals. HMRC never asks for payment by SMS link. | Fake ETA / eVisitor websites charging service fees on top of (or instead of) the official A$20 charge. Apply only via immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. • 'Border Force fine' SMS demanding immediate payment for an undeclared item. ABF does not issue fines by SMS link. |
Detailed pages: United Kingdom • Australia
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