Sydney Airport Duty-Free |SYD| International

Duty-free restrictions for passengers arriving at SYD Airport

Both foreign travellers and Australian residents bringing duty-free products to Australia should be aware of certain restrictions. If you don't follow these rules, everything you import into the country, not just the excess, will be subject to commitment and review.

Personal items - free of duty and tax

Personal belongings, such as clothes, footwear, and personal care products, are not bound by duty and tax if travellers own them for more than a year or have brought them for a short time from another country. However, customs clearance may be required.

Allowed duty-free products at Sydney Airport

If you purchased goods during Sydney Airport duty-free shopping after entering the country or brought them in the hand luggage and checked baggage, you won`t need to pay any taxes.

However, be aware that exceeding Australia's tax-free concession limits will result in taxes being applied to all items of that type, not only the products exceeding the limit.

Alcoholic beverages

Individuals who are 18 years of age or older, travelling to Australia, are allowed to purchase a maximum of 2.25 litres of duty-free spirits, wine, or champagne. This limit applies to all alcoholic beverages that you carry in your checked baggage during your travels.

Remember that alcoholic products are restricted items classified as LAGs (liquids, aerosols, and gels). Alcoholic beverages in containers larger than 100 millilitres (ml) are prohibited from being brought on board. If you have bought alcohol at your last port of arrival to Australia or before the last transit point before entering Australia, excess alcoholic beverages may not be accepted in your cabin baggage.

To prevent your items from being confiscated upon arrival in Australia, you can contact the customer service of a particular destination for assistance. If you would like to buy duty-free alcohol products, you can pre-order them online at one of Sydney Airport's duty-free stores and collect them after your arrival at SYD.

Tobacco products

An individual who is older than 18 can bring to Sydney an unopened pack of cigarettes (containing no more than 25 cigarettes or what could be compared to 25 grams of tobacco items) or an opened pack of cigarettes. If you carry more than this number of cigarettes, you will be charged a certain amount - whether the pack of cigarettes is opened or not.

General goods

You will not need to pay any tax obligation when bringing general goods into Australia, which include

1. presents;
2. souvenirs;
3. devices;
4. leather products;
5. jewellery;
6. watches;
7. scents;
8. sporting gear.

Please note that alcohol and cigarettes are not covered here.

The total price of imported duty-free products cannot exceed AU$900 for adults and AU$450 for minors (those younger than 18). The same rule is applicable to airline stewards.

Visit the U.S. Customs and Boundary Security site for more complete information.

How to claim duty-free at Sydney Airport?

If you're going to visit Australia soon, make sure to download the TRS application - this will allow you to successfully get your duty-free tax refund at Sydney Airport. The government's Department of Home Affairs has fostered an easy-to-understand TRS App that provides you with all the essential data you'll need to get a tax refund.

With only a couple of snaps, the application creates a QR code, which is your TRS guarantee code. You must introduce this code at the SYD Airport TRS office before your departure to actually claim your duty-free refund at SYD Airport.

The TRS application provides you with:

• Flight details;
• Information on products, for which you are claiming duty-free tax at Sydney Airport;
• Information on tax refund types, such as GST (goods and services tax) or WET (wine equalisation tax);
• Details on the ways you can get a tax refund.

What is the Tourist Refund Scheme at Sydney Airport, Australia?

As a part of Australia's tax system, the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) allows tourists who leave the country with their purchases to receive reimbursement for taxes they have paid for said goods. As long as they don't belong to one of the aircrews, anybody may use TRS when visiting or living in Australia. Once you are at the airport, you should carry these items as hand luggage, unless these products are restricted by regulations about powder and LAG restrictions. These items must be inspected by the Australian Border Force (ABF).

You can get a duty-free refund at Sydney Airport before your departure for the following categories of products:

1. purchases that have been made within no less than 2 months before departure;
2. a total price of purchases made in one shop which amounts to or exceeds AU$300.00 (including GST);
3. products that you have paid for as a traveller;
4. other terms and conditions provided for by the Australian Border Force.

Please note that the ABF authorities must be presented with an original copy of the tax invoice.

Where to claim duty-free at Sydney Airport?

At Kingsford Smith Airport, you can use the following locations to claim a tax refund:

• For products in your hand luggage: To reach the TRS office, you must first check in and pass through the Passport Control and Security procedures. Then, you should go right to the Heinemann Duty Free store. To ensure a smooth refund process, please be in the airport duty-free shopping area in Sydney at least 1.5 hours before your flight's departure. TRS officers will process your claim and provide you with any necessary information.
• For products packed in your baggage: this applies if you want to claim the tax refund on products that cannot be transported in carry-on luggage due to restrictions on powders, gels, and liquids. In this case, you should carry your purchases to the Australian Border Force Office for confirmation prior to the check-in procedure. You can find the ABF office in T1 (Arrivals level) near the lifts and Swissport office.

In the event that TRS counters are closed, you can claim a tax refund by filling in a special form and putting it into the dropbox at the TRS office, which is located on the right side of the Heinemann Duty Free shop.

What duty-free shops are available at Sydney Airport?

Whether you're departing from Terminal 1, Terminal 2, or Terminal 3, you'll find a wide selection of stores to choose from. You can explore the Sydney airport duty-free shopping catalogue on our website to learn more about each retailer and its offerings. Find the list of duty-free stores at SYD Airport below:

• A Little Something. Location: T1 International, After Security near Gate 51.
• HEINEMANN. Location: T1 International, After Security, Heinemann Mega B2-920; after Security, Pier B; T1 Arrivals Pier B; T1 Arrivals Pier C.