How many cigarettes can I bring into Australia?

Australia allows 25 cigarettes per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.

Do I have to declare cigarettes at Australia customs?

Only above the allowance. Up to 25 cigarettes there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.

What happens if I do not declare cigarettes in Australia?

If you declare the excess yourself, the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. If it is treated as smuggling, an administrative fine is imposed; it is prosecuted as a criminal offence.

Do duty-free purchases count toward the Australia allowance for cigarettes?

Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.

Can I post or ship cigarettes to Australia instead of carrying it?

Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.

Is there a minimum age for the cigarettes allowance in Australia?

Yes — 18 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for cigarettes at all, not a smaller one.

Can I take cigarettes out of Australia?

Australia publishes no separate rule for taking cigarettes out; the destination's rules are what will apply.

Does the Australia limit for cigarettes apply per person or per family?

Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.

Where does this rule come from?

Australian Border Force (ABF) states it in Tobacco. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “If you are aged 18 or over, you are allowed to bring in duty-free: one unopen packet of up to 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of other tobacco products and one open packet of cigarettes.”

How does Australia compare with other countries on cigarettes?

Of the 21 countries covered here, 0 prohibit cigarettes, 17 limit it and 4 let it through. Australia is among the ones that set a limit.

How much Cigarettes can I bring into Australia?

Restricted

You can bring Cigarettes into Australia only within the stated limits.

Extra conditions apply

Carried Limited

Declaration Above allowance

Limit 25 piece

What you need to know

25 piece
Channels: Carried with the traveler
Extra conditions apply
1 pack
Channels: Carried with the traveler
Extra conditions apply
Only one of these allowances can be used per trip.

Important

This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.

If you do not declare

Step 1: Standard duty
Step 2: Administrative fine, Criminal prosecution

Official sources

Last verified 2026-09-19

Tobacco Australian Border Force
Tobacco Australian Border Force

Questions about Cigarettes in Australia

How many cigarettes can I bring into Australia?: Australia allows 25 cigarettes per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
Do I have to declare cigarettes at Australia customs?: Only above the allowance. Up to 25 cigarettes there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.
What happens if I do not declare cigarettes in Australia?: If you declare the excess yourself, the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. If it is treated as smuggling, an administrative fine is imposed; it is prosecuted as a criminal offence.
Do duty-free purchases count toward the Australia allowance for cigarettes?: Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.
Can I post or ship cigarettes to Australia instead of carrying it?: Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
Is there a minimum age for the cigarettes allowance in Australia?: Yes — 18 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for cigarettes at all, not a smaller one.
Can I take cigarettes out of Australia?: Australia publishes no separate rule for taking cigarettes out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Does the Australia limit for cigarettes apply per person or per family?: Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
Where does this rule come from?: Australian Border Force (ABF) states it in Tobacco. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “If you are aged 18 or over, you are allowed to bring in duty-free: one unopen packet of up to 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of other tobacco products and one open packet of cigarettes.”
How does Australia compare with other countries on cigarettes?: Of the 21 countries covered here, 0 prohibit cigarettes, 17 limit it and 4 let it through. Australia is among the ones that set a limit.

Related items

Accompanied cash Accompanying goods, non-commercial (flat-rate band) Agricultural/forestry/fishery/livestock products (general sub-cap) Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)

Related countries

Canada China France Germany

Other items in this group

Cigarillos (cigars weighing not more than 3 g each) Cigars Cigars and other tobacco (by weight) Cuban-origin cigars and other tobacco products Cut/loose tobacco Disposable e-cigarette