Travelling can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. One thing that can add to the stress is not knowing your duty free allowances. If you’re caught with items that exceed your limits, you could face fines or even have your items confiscated.

That’s why it’s important to familiarise yourself with duty free allowances. Since every country has different limits, knowing what you can bring and how much helps avoid surprises at customs. It can also help you plan your shopping and ensure a smooth travel experience.

To help you out, we’re rounding up everything you need to know about duty free allowances in this blog. We’ll even throw in tips on how to avoid dealing with duty free limits and maximise your duty free shopping experience. Whether you’re flying in or out of Australia, or even transiting through the country, this guide has what you need to know to make the most out of your duty free shopping.

Before diving into the duty free allowances, let’s first refresh our knowledge of what exactly it means.

A duty free allowance is the amount of goods you can bring into a country without paying customs duty or taxes. It lets travellers bring certain personal items like alcohol, tobacco, and gifts without being taxed.

However, there are often restrictions on the quantity of personal goods you can bring in tax-free. This is especially true for items like alcohol and tobacco, which are often subject to excise duty in addition to customs duties.

For instance, if you’re travelling from the United States to Australia, you might be able to bring back a certain number of bottles of liqueur or certain grams of tobacco without paying any additional taxes. However, if you exceed your duty free allowance, you'll be subject to customs duties and taxes.

It's important to note that duty free allowances can vary depending on the country you're travelling to and your citizenship. For example, residents of certain countries may have higher allowances or be exempt from paying duties altogether.

If you’re travelling to Australia, your duty free allowance depends on a few things, like your age, what you're bringing in, and if you're travelling with family. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• General goods: Travellers 18 years of age and older can bring in up to AUD$900 worth of general goods without paying duty. This includes things like souvenirs, clothes, cameras, electronic equipment like laptops, and sporting goods. If you're under 18, the limit is AUD$450.
• Alcohol allowance: If you're 18 or older, you can bring in up to 2.25 litres of wine and alcoholic beverages duty free. That's about three bottles of wine!
• Tobacco allowance: The allowance coming into Australia is 25g of Tobacco or 25 sticks of cigarettes.

Travelling with family? Good news! You can combine your family's allowances. For instance, a family of two adults and two children would have a combined allowance of AUD$2,700 for general goods.

Keep in mind, however, that the duty free concession only applies to goods for personal use. Bringing in an open packet of cigarettes or a half-empty bottle of liquor won't qualify.

Also, these are just general allowances. There might be other restrictions for certain items or commercial goods. For the latest information and any exceptions, it's always a good idea to check the Australian Border Force website or contact them directly.

Flying into Australia and don’t want to deal with duty free limits? What if we tell you that there’s a way to get your duty free favourites without having to worry about exceeding your duty free allowance?

Yes, it’s totally possible when you shop on Laneway! This Click-and-Collect service by Melbourne International Airport lets you shop duty free goods online before your flight and pick it up at the airport when you arrive. 

Plus, Laneway Collection Counters are conveniently located right after the security checks. So, you don’t have to worry about your purchases being confiscated or counted towards your allowance.

Shopping at Laneway also brings a host of benefits like:

• The Best Brands in One Place: From popular global brands to homegrown products, we’ve gathered the bestselling duty free items from the airport’s duty free stores to give you only the best.
• Convenience: You can shop from the comfort of your home or while waiting for your flight, and your purchases will be ready when you land.
• 24/7 Availability: Our website and collection counters are available 24/7. That means there’s no need to wait for regular shopping hours. Checkout your purchases whenever you want and pick them up whenever you land. It’s perfect for early morning or late evening flights.
• Safe Payment Options: Laneway accepts a wide variety of payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, WeChat Pay, and Union Pay.
• Lesser Luggage Fees: No need to pack your purchases into your luggage, saving you space and potentially avoiding extra baggage fees.

One thing you can take out of your mind when leaving Australia is complying with Australian duty free allowances. There is no limit to how much goods you can take out of the country. What you need to worry about is complying with the customs regulations of your destination country.

As we’ve explained above, each country has different duty free regulations. So, if you’re flying out of Australia, make sure to check the duty free allowance of the country you’re travelling to and plan your shopping accordingly.

But no worries. You can still take advantage of Laneway’s convenient Click-and-Collect service and duty free prices when you’re flying out of Australia. Just buy all you need online at least 24 hours before your flight and pick them up when you arrive at the airport.

If you’re a tourist and have made non-duty free purchases, you may also be eligible for GST refunds on unused goods under the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS). To qualify, you must carry these items with you, and they need to meet specific criteria, such as a minimum purchase value and timing of the refund claim (within 60 days of purchase).

Travelling soon? Here’s a quick look at the duty free allowances of the most popular tourist destinations for Australians:

• United States: Travellers can bring up to USD 800 worth of personal effects and gifts without paying duty. Restrictions apply to tobacco and alcohol.
• United Kingdom: The duty free allowance includes 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of wine, 4 litres of liquors with over 22% alcohol, like sparkling wines, and goods worth up to £390.
• New Zealand: The allowance into New Zealand is three bottles (or other containers) each containing max. 1.125L of spirit, liquor or other spirituous beverages; and 4.5L of wine or 4.5L of beer; 50 cigarettes or 50 grams of cigars or 50 grams of tobacco or a combination.
• Japan: Up to 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes, and personal goods valued under JPY 200,000 are allowed duty free.

Keep in mind that these allowances are subject to change without prior notice. So, make sure to check the specific country’s customs website for the latest information.

Why worry about duty free allowances when you can shop smarter with Laneway? Skip the stress of carrying goods through customs and enjoy the convenience of picking up your purchases after security. Whether it’s alcoholic drinks, fragrances, or other duty free items, Laneway lets you make the most of your duty free shopping without having to worry about customs limits.

Don’t miss out on the chance to travel lighter, avoid baggage fees, and still get everything you need. With Laneway’s Click and Collect service, it’s easy, secure, and tailored for the savvy traveller. Start shopping now and make your next trip smoother and hassle-free!

Disclaimer: Only passengers travelling internationally from/to Melbourne Airport can purchase goods via the Laneway. Please note that some goods may have minimum age requirements (for example alcohol/tobacco) and ID will need to be provided at the time you collect the goods from the relevant collection point. Purchases of alcohol and tobacco via the Laneway must not be made by any person who is under 18 years of age.