All travellers to Australia must carry a valid passport or similar acceptable travel document. All travellers except holders of Australian and New Zealand passports will need a visa to enter Australia .
A visa can be obtained from your nearest Australian high commission, embassy or consulate. New Zealand passport holders may apply for a visa on arrival in Australia .
The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) which can be issued on the spot by a travel agent replaces the traditional visa and is becoming increasingly available through travel agents.
Every traveller may bring some goods intended as gifts duty/tax-free into Australia . Adults over 18 years of age may also bring alcoholic liquor and cigarettes or tobacco products duty/tax free. These articles must accompany you through Customs and must not be intended for commercial purposes. Also tourists visiting Australia for a limited period may bring most articles into the country duty/tax free, provided Customs is satisfied that they are for their own personal use and that they will be taken out of Australia on departure. For Customs duty/tax-free limits, please check this link http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/visas.htm
There is no limit on the amount of Australian and/or foreign cash that may be brought into or taken out of Australia . However, amounts of more than $A10,000, or equivalent in foreign currency, must be reported on arrival and departure.
On departure, overseas travellers may claim a refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) that they paid on goods bought in Australia after 1 July 2000. The refund on goods, costing $A300 or more, only applies to items carried as hand luggage. Tourist Refund Scheme booths are located in the departure areas of international terminals after passport control, where travellers must show their passport, international boarding pass, tax invoice from the retailer and the goods. Customs officers process cash refunds and assist in completing non-cash payment options.