Heading to Australia with a few packs of Taiwanese instant noodles, some pork floss or your usual cold medicine tucked in your suitcase – that should be fine, right? Trouble is, these “it’s just everyday stuff” items are exactly what most often trips people up at Australia’s biosecurity checks.
Put simply: not all food and medicine is banned, but anything that needs to be declared must be declared honestly. Whether something gets through depends on its ingredients, country of origin, how it’s processed and the import conditions in force at the time; and even if it ends up not being allowed in, declaring it properly and deliberately hiding it lead to completely different outcomes.
This guide is for Taiwanese travellers heading to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or any other Australian city for the first time: from a Chinese-language walkthrough of the IPC arrival card and how to judge instant noodles and meat products, to personal medication and real customs fine cases – everything you need to know in one read.
October 2026 update: Australia’s general airport biosecurity infringement notice amounts are calculated in penalty units; from 1 July 2026, each unit is AUD 364. Some infringement notices start at AUD 728, while certain high-risk and concealment offences can reach AUD 7,280. That doesn’t mean “bring one bag of snacks and you’ll automatically be fined 7,280” – it depends on the provision breached and the risk posed by the item. Official explanation from Australia’s Department of Agriculture
What is Australian customs actually checking? First, tell “customs” and “biosecurity” apart
People tend to lump it all together as “Australian customs”, but on arrival different agencies handle different things. The Australian Border Force (ABF) mainly deals with border matters such as passenger arrivals and declaring goods, while the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is in charge of biosecurity risks from food, plant and animal products, soil and the like.
Australia cares so much about these items because food, plants or animal products from overseas can carry exotic pests and diseases. For travellers, the most useful way to remember it comes down to three rules: check before you leave, fill in your arrival card truthfully, and if in doubt, ask.
Quick Q&A: does declaring mean you can’t bring it? No. Declaring lets biosecurity officers inspect an item and decide whether it meets the conditions; some things can be taken with you after inspection, while others must be disposed of, sent back or treated. The Australian government states clearly that if you fully declare and present your goods, you won’t be penalised under the Biosecurity Act 2015 even if they ultimately don’t meet biosecurity requirements; but declaring does not mean any restricted item can legally be brought in. Source: DAFF guide to travelling to Australia
Australia arrivals cheat sheet: how to judge instant noodles, pork floss, tea and medicine
| Items Taiwanese travellers often bring | What to do before you leave | The detail people most often miss |
|---|---|---|
| Commercially packaged instant noodles, dried noodles | May be allowed with conditions; check for meat, egg and dairy ingredients and the country of manufacture, declare according to the card’s questions, and speak up if you’re unsure | If they contain ingredients from beef, lamb, pork or similar, they may have to meet origin and labelling requirements; “sealed packaging” doesn’t mean everything’s allowed |
| Pork floss (shredded dried meat), jerky, sausages, meat sticks | High risk – best not to bring; only a small number of jerky or meat floss products that meet strict conditions may be allowed | Not every meat product falls under the same rule; with pork products in particular, don’t go by past experience |
| Fresh fruit and vegetables, leftover fruit or sandwiches from the flight | Don’t bring them in – finish them before you get off the plane or drop them in a designated biosecurity bin | Food handed out by the airline isn’t automatically exempt just because it was an in-flight meal |
| Eggs, egg products, dairy products | Strictly restricted – check each item individually | Whole eggs generally require an import permit; some commercial dairy products may be allowed if they meet source, packaging and other conditions |
| Tea bags, coffee, chocolate | Some commercially packaged products may be allowed | Herbal teas, traditional Chinese medicine ingredients, and products containing seeds or plant or animal materials need their ingredients checked separately |
| Traditional Chinese medicine powders, herbs, dried mushrooms, supplements | Don’t treat them like ordinary snacks; check BICON/TGA and declare depending on what they contain | Rules on plant, fungal and animal ingredients may apply alongside medicine regulations |
| Personal cold medicine, painkillers, prescription drugs | Most can be carried if they meet the traveller’s exemption conditions, but check the ingredients | Keep the original packaging and your prescription or doctor’s letter; medicines containing codeine have specific prescription requirements |
| Hiking boots, camping gear, fishing gear | Clean it and declare based on how it’s actually been used | Soil on boot soles, bits of plant material and gear used in freshwater activities may all be inspected |
This table is a quick reference for packing, not an import permit. For any individual item, the rules in force at the time in Australia’s DAFF guide to what you can bring and the BICON import conditions system take precedence.
Can you really bring instant noodles to Australia? It’s about the ingredients, not the word “noodles” on the pack
For commercially manufactured, shelf-stable instant noodles that meet the conditions, the Australian government does list situations where you can bring them. But popular Taiwanese flavours like beef noodle or pork chop noodle don’t necessarily have seasoning powder or sauce sachets made only from plant ingredients.
If you’re planning to pack instant noodles, here’s what we recommend:
- Check the ingredients list for meat, egg or dairy, and whether it contains actual chunks of meat or animal-derived ingredients.
- Keep it in its unopened original packaging so officers can see the ingredients and country-of-manufacture labelling.
- Look up the conditions that apply to the actual recipe on BICON; for mixed foods, you may need to check ingredient by ingredient.
- If it needs declaring or you’re not sure, tick the box truthfully and explain on the spot – don’t just pick No because “a friend brought it before”.
The easier option: on a short trip, if you’re just worried about getting hungry at night, buying something at a local supermarket after you land is usually far less hassle than explaining a whole bag of food at the airport. Source: DAFF food item details
Why are pork floss, jerky and sausages such common pitfalls?
Meat and animal products can carry biosecurity risks such as foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever. Australia doesn’t completely ban every jerky or meat floss import that meets the conditions, but the restrictions involve the meat’s source, country of origin, processing, packaging, weight and more – so “it’s vacuum-packed from Taiwan, it should be fine” is a really poor way to judge.
Especially for pork jerky, pork floss, sausages and cooked meat dishes, the safest choice when packing for a trip is not to bring them at all. If you’ve already brought non-compliant food onto the plane, you can put it in one of the airport’s designated biosecurity bins before you go through arrivals; don’t hide it in your clothes or deep in your luggage. Source: DAFF
How to fill in Australia’s IPC arrival card: what all 11 questions mean
The IPC (Incoming Passenger Card) is Australia’s arrival card for passengers. Most travellers still need to fill one in on arrival; paper cards are usually handed out on the plane or picked up in the arrivals area. The paper card should be completed in English. The ABF provides a Traditional Chinese translated sample for reference, but that Chinese PDF is an example – it’s not an official form you can hand in.
- Australian Border Force: official IPC information
- Official Traditional Chinese IPC reference PDF (2 pages)
The 11 questions on the front: which ones are a Yes?
The table below is a plain-language summary to help you prepare, not a word-for-word translation. Go by the questions and thresholds on the current English card you’re actually given – don’t answer based only on screenshots from older articles.
| No. | What it’s asking, in plain terms | Tips for filling it in |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are you carrying anything that may be restricted or prohibited, such as certain medicines or weapons? | Check what category your medicine falls into first; if you can’t tell, tick Yes and explain |
| 2 | Do you have alcohol, cigarettes or tobacco over the duty-free allowance? | Note that the card refers to quantity thresholds – bringing one bottle doesn’t automatically mean ticking Yes |
| 3 | Is the total value of goods bought overseas or duty-free over the set limit? | Answer based on the duty-free allowance at the time and the actual total value |
| 4 | Are you carrying goods or samples for commercial purposes? | Carrying samples for your company may count |
| 5 | Are you carrying AUD 10,000 or more in cash, or the equivalent in foreign currency, in total? | You must declare it if you reach the threshold; carrying more than this amount isn’t banned |
| 6 | Are you bringing meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, fruit or vegetables? | The common food-risk question |
| 7 | Are you bringing grains, seeds, nuts, plants, herbs, wooden items and similar? | Watch out for traditional Chinese medicine ingredients and plant-based souvenirs |
| 8 | Are you bringing animals, animal products, pet food, bee products, shells and similar? | Dried and processed doesn’t necessarily mean exempt |
| 9 | Are you bringing soil, or items that may have soil on them or have been used in freshwater environments? | Pay special attention to hiking boots, tents and fishing gear |
| 10 | Have you recently been in contact with farms, livestock, nature reserves or freshwater environments? | Answer honestly based on the time period listed on the actual card |
| 11 | Have you recently been to any of the specific regions listed on the card? | Answer based on the regions and time period listed on the card |
Heads-up: the ABF’s official Traditional Chinese sample was designed in 2019, so its fields and wording may differ from the new version of the actual card. For things like how many days back question 10 covers, go by the latest English card in your hands, rather than treating the old PDF as a permanent fixed rule. ABF Traditional Chinese sample
Filling in the front and back of the IPC, step by step
- Passport details: fill in your family name, given names and passport number exactly as spelled in English on your passport.
- Flight and address: fill in the flight number you actually took and the address where you’re staying on your first night; it helps to save your hotel’s English address in an offline note on your phone beforehand.
- The 11 declaration questions: tick Yes or No for each one; if you don’t know which category an item falls under, tell an officer rather than guessing No.
- Details on the back: fill in the country where you boarded, your date of birth, occupation, nationality as shown on your passport, purpose of your visit to Australia, contact details in Australia and so on, as each question asks.
- Signature and date: make sure everything that needs filling in on both sides is done, then sign.
- Arrival inspection: follow the process directed on the spot; officers may look at your items, ask about ingredients or send your bags through an X-ray.
If you don’t speak English, there’s no need to guess. Have the English names and ingredient labels of your food and medicine ready; when an officer asks, show them honestly – it’s far clearer than just saying It’s food.
Has Australia fully switched to a digital arrival card in 2026?
Not yet. Australia is rolling out the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD), and some eligible Qantas passengers can already join a trial through an app, completing their digital arrival details up to 72 hours before departure. In July 2026 the ABF announced plans to gradually expand it to all international airports and seaports by the end of 2027. So in 2026, don’t assume everyone can use the digital version; follow the process your airline and the ABF give you for that trip. ABF announcement, 13 July 2026
Do you need to declare cold medicine in Australia? 4 things to check for personal medication
Cold medicine, painkillers, allergy medication and drugs for chronic conditions are often even more confusing than food. That’s because what matters is the active ingredient, its purpose, the quantity and its legal classification – not just the words “cold medicine” on the box.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Office of Drug Control (ODC) explain that many medicines for personal use can be brought in when they meet the traveller’s exemption. Before you leave, make sure you:
- Only bring a personal-use quantity for yourself or immediate family travelling with you – don’t buy or pass on medicine for friends in Australia.
- Generally bring no more than a 3-month supply, and note that a small number of special medicines may have additional limits.
- Keep the original packaging and pharmacy labels; for prescription drugs, having your prescription or an English doctor’s letter stating the drug name and dosage makes inspection easier.
- Be ready to declare your medicine honestly to the ABF and show it. Especially for anything with controlled ingredients, unclear ingredients or herbal products, don’t just toss them into unlabelled pill bags.
Pay special attention to codeine: Australia’s ODC says travellers carrying medicines containing codeine, whatever the strength, should have a prescription or doctor’s letter. Other strong painkillers, sleeping pills and sedatives, and prescription medicines for attention-related conditions should also be checked against the rules by their exact drug name. This doesn’t mean all cold medicine is banned from entry – nor does it mean “if you have a prescription, you can bring anything”.
Check the official sources: TGA rules on bringing medicines into Australia / ODC guidance for travellers carrying medicines
Cold medicine, over-the-counter drugs and traditional Chinese medicine: how do they differ?
| Situation | What we recommend |
|---|---|
| Regular over-the-counter medicine with clear ingredients | Keep the full box and check first whether the active ingredient is restricted; declare as the card asks or tell an officer |
| Prescription medicine | Keep the original packaging and pharmacy bag, and carry your prescription or doctor’s letter; watch the 3-month supply limit and any special rules |
| Medicines containing codeine | You must have a doctor’s prescription or letter; check with the ODC before you leave |
| Traditional Chinese medicine ingredients, herbal powders, animal-derived remedies | May be covered by both medicine and biosecurity rules; check TGA/DAFF/BICON, and avoid bringing loose, unlabelled raw ingredients |
Handy tip: don’t put all your chronic-condition medication in checked luggage – keep at least what you need for the journey in your carry-on, following your airline’s rules; if liquids, needles or medicines that need refrigeration are involved, check security screening and carriage requirements with your airline first.
Is the declaration lane slower? Declaring properly actually gives you peace of mind
Plenty of people worry that ticking Yes will get them “special attention”, so they just pick No for everything. That’s the risk least worth taking.
Once you declare honestly, biosecurity officers decide based on risk whether an inspection is needed. Low-risk items may be cleared straight after a check; items that don’t meet the rules may have to be disposed of, treated or sent back. Declaring doesn’t guarantee a quick exit either – the actual flow and inspection times vary by airport – but it’s deliberately not declaring that can turn a minor matter into a breach.
Three situations before you go through arrivals, three different approaches:
- You know it’s prohibited: don’t pack it before you leave, or drop it in a designated bin before the arrival inspection.
- You’re not sure, but you’ve brought it: declare it truthfully, keep the packaging intact and let an officer decide.
- You have nothing that needs declaring: answer each IPC question truthfully and follow the on-site instructions to get through.
Even if you tick No, your bags may still be X-rayed, checked by detector dogs or searched by hand. DAFF traveller FAQs
How much are Australian customs fines? 2026 amounts and real cases
Common airport biosecurity infringement notice amounts in 2026
According to the Department of Agriculture’s official information as of October 2026, 1 penalty unit = AUD 364 (from 1 July 2026). Amounts vary depending on the provision breached, the risk involved and whether there was any concealment:
| Infringement notice tier | 2026 amount | Summary of when it applies (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 penalty units | AUD 728 | The minimum infringement notice for certain breaches such as failing to answer questions, comply with directions or provide correct information as required |
| 6 penalty units | AUD 2,184 | Some high-risk goods not declared, with suspected false information provided |
| 12 penalty units | AUD 4,368 | Higher-risk categories not declared, with suspected false information provided |
| 20 penalty units | AUD 7,280 | Deliberate concealment of restricted goods that meets specific legal criteria |
The table shows amounts under the infringement notice scheme, which isn’t the only possible legal consequence in every case; there may also be civil proceedings, criminal prosecution or visa cancellation. Please don’t take the top amount and claim “everyone who brings instant noodles gets fined 7,280”. DAFF official 2026 penalty information
Real case 1: two McMuffins and a ham croissant, fined AUD 2,664
In 2022, a traveller flying from Indonesia into Darwin had two undeclared egg and beef sausage McMuffins and a ham croissant in their backpack. They were found by a detector dog, and the traveller ended up with an infringement notice of AUD 2,664. This is a real historical case made public by Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, not a current 2026 fixed amount. Official case (1 August 2022)
Real case 2: large amounts of undeclared meat – two travellers each fined AUD 3,300 and had their visas cancelled
In 2023, two separate travellers at Perth Airport were each fined AUD 3,300 for failing to declare pork, beef, fruit, plant products and more, and had their visas cancelled. Again, these were the actual penalties at the time and can’t be used as a 2026 penalty table. Official case (3 May 2023)
What these examples show is that Australia comes down hardest on high-risk items and false declarations. If you have any doubts, speak up – it’s far better than gambling on what people online say “probably won’t get caught”.
From departure to clearing customs: a 5-minute luggage and declaration checklist
- Does your food contain meat, egg, dairy, seeds, bee products or plant or animal ingredients?
- Is your food still in its full packaging with ingredients and country-of-manufacture information?
- Have you kept the boxes and any necessary paperwork for your cold medicine and chronic-condition medication?
- Have you cleaned soil and plant debris off your shoe soles, luggage, and hiking or fishing gear?
- Have you downloaded the ABF’s Traditional Chinese IPC sample, and do you know the paper card must be filled in English?
- Have you saved your first-night hotel’s English address, phone number and emergency contact details?
- If you have any items you’re unsure about, are you ready to tell an officer when you arrive?
Before looking up a specific product, ask yourself these 3 questions
Take “a pack of Taiwanese spicy beef instant noodles” as an example. What you really need to check isn’t whether people online say it’s OK, but: What are the actual ingredients? Which country of manufacture is on the label? What are the government’s current conditions for those ingredients? Only once you’ve answered those three can you make a responsible decision.
After customs: when’s the best time to set up your Australia eSIM?
The key to getting through biosecurity is declaring honestly – you don’t need to buy an eSIM to clear customs. That said, once you’re through the checks and into the arrivals hall, you’ll often need data right away: to pull up your hotel booking, check airport trains, contact your pickup driver or find your accommodation on Google Maps.
If your phone supports eSIM, we recommend installing it in Taiwan while you’re on stable Wi-Fi, following your plan’s instructions, and saving your proof of purchase, QR code and accommodation address. Once you land, turn on mobile data and, if needed, data roaming according to when your plan is meant to be activated; different products may start counting days from installation, activation or first connection, so go by the actual instructions for your plan.
JEKO offers Australia travel eSIMs with different data options, so you can choose based on trip length, navigation needs and how much data you use:
- Australia daily data eSIM: for those who’d like to plan their travel data around a daily allowance.
- Australia total data eSIM: for those who’d prefer a fixed total data allowance for the whole trip.
- Australia unlimited data eSIM: for those who check maps and upload photos a lot; for the fair use policy, speed throttling and the actual networks provided, go by the product page.
Pro tip: back up your IPC reference material, Australian hotel address and offline maps on your phone in advance. That way, even if the airport signal is patchy or your eSIM hasn’t connected yet, you won’t be left with no idea where your hotel is.
Australian customs and IPC: frequently asked questions
Q1: Can I bring Taiwanese instant noodles to Australia?
Some commercially packaged, shelf-stable instant noodles that meet the conditions can be brought in, but you need to check ingredients such as meat, egg and dairy and the country-of-origin labelling; restrictions may differ if they contain animal ingredients. You can’t treat “instant noodles” as a whole category that’s automatically allowed – if in doubt, check BICON and declare honestly.
Q2: Can I bring pork floss or pork jerky to Australia?
Pork products are a high-risk category, so we recommend not bringing them. Some jerky or meat floss may have special entry conditions, but vacuum packaging alone doesn’t mean a product complies.
Q3: Can I bring cold medicine or painkillers into Australia?
Many personal medicines can meet the traveller’s exemption conditions – usually no more than a 3-month supply – and you should keep the original packaging and any necessary paperwork; anything with special controlled ingredients needs to be checked separately, and you should declare it honestly to the ABF.
Q4: Is there a Chinese version of Australia’s IPC arrival card?
The ABF provides a Traditional Chinese reference sample; the official paper arrival card should be completed in English, and the Chinese sample isn’t a Chinese version you can hand in.
Q5: If I don’t understand the IPC questions, can I just answer No to everything?
No. You must answer based on your actual circumstances; if you’re unsure, you can tick Yes and explain to staff, or ask for help. Failing to declare or making a false declaration can lead to fines and other consequences.
Q6: Will declared food always be confiscated?
Not necessarily. Once declared, officers assess it against the actual conditions, and some items can be released; only items that don’t comply may be treated, sent back or destroyed.
Q7: Can I take fruit or sandwiches I didn’t finish on the plane with me?
Generally, don’t take them through the biosecurity check. Before clearing customs, finish them or put them in a designated biosecurity bin as directed at the airport – and don’t ignore declaration requirements just because the food came from the airline.
Q8: Is AUD 7,280 the maximum Australian customs fine?
No. AUD 7,280 is the 2026 airport infringement notice tier for specified situations, not the maximum amount across all legal avenues; serious breaches can also bring civil, criminal and visa consequences.
Q9: Can everyone fill in their Australian arrival card on their phone in 2026?
Not yet. Australia’s ATD is being trialled in stages, and not every airline or flight supports it. Travellers who aren’t part of the trial or haven’t received instructions that apply to them still need to use the paper IPC as required on arrival.
Q10: Do I need mobile data to get through customs in Australia?
No. The electronic visa, arrival declaration and biosecurity checks each have their own rules. A travel eSIM is mainly there to make navigation, checking transport and contacting your accommodation easier after you clear customs – it’s not a condition for being allowed into the country.
One last reminder: if you want to save time, the key isn’t dodging checks – it’s not packing the wrong things or filling in the card carelessly
When you travel to Australia, leaving a few packs of instant noodles or pork floss behind is no great loss; what can really get your holiday off to a bad start is carrying food, medicine or plant products and not declaring them because you didn’t want the hassle.
Check ingredients before you leave, keep labels on when you pack, declare honestly on your IPC – and if you’re unsure, ask an officer. This approach is far more reliable than memorising some online “what you can bring” list from years ago. Wishing you a smooth arrival – save your time for the fun parts of your Australia trip!