On 1 July 2016, we commenced delivering immigration and customs functions in Norfolk Island.
The Australian
Migration Act 1958 (the Act) has been extended to include Norfolk Island. This means that passenger movements between the Australian mainland and Norfolk Island are considered domestic travel for immigration purposes.
The Norfolk Island Customs Ordinance 2016 applies a modified version of the
Customs Act 1901 and associated regulations in Norfolk Island. This means that people and goods arriving in and leaving from Norfolk Island remain international movements for customs purposes.
Advance Passenger Processing (APP)
The Australian Government seeks to ensure that only correctly documented passengers and crew travel to Australia. International air carriers play a crucial role in helping keep our borders secure. We work with airlines to ensure they understand their obligations entering Australia as defined in the Act and
Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations).
All passengers and crew (travellers), including all transit passengers travelling to Australia from an overseas location, must be processed through APP.
Immigration arrangements
International arrivals and departures from Norfolk Island
All Australian citizens and foreign nationals arriving in Norfolk Island from an overseas location and departing from Norfolk Island to an overseas destination are subject to
Australian immigration requirements in accordance with the Act and the Regulations.
To ensure APP requirements are met:
- all Australian citizens are required to hold a valid national passport/travel document
- all non-citizens are required to hold a valid passport/travel document as well as a valid visa to meet Australia’s entry requirements.
Flights from an overseas location to Norfolk Island through mainland Australia
Travellers on flights originating from an overseas location to Norfolk Island via mainland Australia must complete Australian Border Force (ABF) clearance at their first port of arrival in mainland Australia.
Travellers must proceed to ABF control for clearance prior to collecting baggage. This applies to all travellers, including those ticketed through to Norfolk Island.
Once ABF clearance and biosecurity checks have been undertaken, travellers should proceed to check-in and reboard the flight to Norfolk Island.
Bags can be tagged to Norfolk Island; however all bags from the flight must be offloaded for travellers to collect at their first port of arrival in mainland Australia.
Flights from Norfolk Island to an overseas destination through mainland Australia
Similar to the arrangements above, travellers must proceed to ABF control and collect their baggage. This applies to all travellers, including those ticketed all the way through to an overseas destination.
Bags could be tagged to the traveller's final destination; however all bags from the flight must be offloaded for travellers to collect at their first port of arrival in mainland Australia.
Once all ABF clearance and biosecurity checks have been undertaken, travellers should proceed to check-in and reboard the flight to their onward destination.
Domestic travel between Norfolk Island and mainland Australia
For immigration purposes, travel between Norfolk Island and mainland Australia is now considered domestic; however airlines continue to operate from international terminals and travellers are subject to customs clearance formalities in both destinations.
Anyone travelling between Norfolk Island and mainland Australia is required to identify themselves.
A
valid
national passport or travel document is the preferred means of passenger identification. Other forms of identification include:
- valid State/Territory motor vehicle licence
- valid State/Territory/Commonwealth Government departmental identity card
- valid document issued by the Commonwealth, or a State or Territory, or by a Commonwealth, State or Territory authority that identifies the person
- valid aviation security identity card issued by the operator of the aircraft, or the operator of an airport in Australia.
Anyone travelling without a valid passport will experience delays in processing. They can also experience difficulties with duty free purchases and in the case of emergencies.
Note: For minors/unaccompanied minors, refer to your airline’s policy and procedures for domestic travel requirements for a minor.
Impact on airlines
All travellers arriving in Norfolk Island from an overseas airport must meet the entry requirements for Australia under the Act and the Regulations.
Airlines should ensure that all travellers who want to travel to/depart Norfolk Island are correctly documented. See
timaticweb for entry requirements in Australia.
Australian Border Operations Centre
Our Border Operations Centre based in Canberra, Australia provides operational advice to help airlines meet their obligations and resolve immigration matters for genuine travellers.
Business hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Phone:+61 1300 368 126 or + 61 6264 1301
Email:
[email protected]
Sitatex: CBRIXCR
