Passenger Movement Charge (PMC)
The Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) is an A$70 cost for the departure of a person from Australia to another country regardless of whether the person returns to Australia. The PMC was introduced in July 1995 replacing the Departure Tax, and is administered by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the
Passenger Movement Charge Act 1978 and collected under the
Passenger Movement Charge Collection Act 1978.
How is PMC collected?
PMC is collected when a ticket is sold to a passenger and then forwarded by the carrier (airline, shipping companies and air charter operators) to the Department. Manual collection of the PMC is necessary for small itinerant flights and sea craft. An Australian Border Force Officer will collect A$70 AUD directly from each passenger, the captain, or agent for each voyage for the total number of passengers at the place of departure. An official receipt is provided after payment of the PMC has been collected.
The carrier usually makes payment to the Department by direct credit. If a traveller is paying the Department directly, the following payment methods are available, in conjunction with the completion of the Departments B700 (hardcopy) form:
- Cash
- Credit card
- BPAY
- Cheque (exceptional circumstances only).
Does everyone have to pay the PMC?
Some passengers are exempt from the PMC and should be identified at the time of ticket sale.
You are exempt if you are any of the following:
- 11 years of age or younger at the date of departure.
- A traditional inhabitant of Torres Strait Islands or Papua New Guinea travelling in connection with the performance of traditional activities in the Torres Strait and adjacent territory.
- A member of a foreign defence force departing on a military aircraft or a military ship as part of your military employment, including spouse and/or child of that defence force member.
- The crew of an aircraft or vessel (operational and positioning) including medical attendants.
- A transit passenger (air or sea) who does not undergo Customs and Immigration processing.
- An emergency passenger who lands in Australia for reasons beyond your control e.g. illness, mechanical failure or other emergency (includes illness/injury of a person on a Medivac flight, however the accompanying passenger is not exempt).
- A passenger on a single journey who departs Australia more than once is only liable to pay PMC once (for example cruise passengers stopping at more than one Australian port).
- A diplomatic or consular representative of a country other than Australia, your family and your staff and their families travelling on a diplomatic passport with subclass visa 995 or 403.
- A passenger departing Australia to an installation in the Greater Sunrise special regime area for the purpose of prospecting for petroleum or undertaking petroleum operations.
- A protective service officer (as defined in the Australian Federal Police Act 1979) with the purpose of enhancing the security of the aircraft.
- You are travelling to an Indian Ocean Territory (Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands), unless you intend to depart from there for an overseas destination.
- When travelling between the Australian mainland and/or an Indian Ocean Territory can only be reasonably done by first departing for another country, provided the stay in the other country does not exceed seven days.
Full details of exemptions can be found in Section 5 Passenger Movement Charge Collection Act 1978.
PMC refunds
You are eligible for a refund of A$70 if:
- your departure did not occur
- your departure takes place, and you return to Australia without entering another country
- your flight is cancelled and you do not travel
- your PMC exemption was incorrectly applied
- you are entitled to a refund under the PMC regulations.
If the travel is re-booked, the PMC liability will be applied to the new travel arrangements by the carrier. If applicable, a request for refund should be made directly to the carrier.
If you paid the PMC directly, you should write to the department to request a refund, provide details of travel, and proof of payment. Carriers can also request a refund on behalf of a passenger directly with the Department.
You can email the department at
pmcadministration@abf.gov.au.
How to establish a PMC arrangement
Regular public transport operators, Air Charter and Shipping Operators should establish an arrangement through the Department. Carriers should complete a Client Particulars form and send it to pmcadministration@abf.gov.au.
Download the form:
Client Particulars Form.
The Department will prepare the arrangement and forward the documentation to the carrier for completion.
For further information, contact the PMC administration office at
pmcadministration@abf.gov.au.
Code-share and PMC
A Code-share agreement is where two or more airlines share the same flight. One airline is the operating carrier, whose aircraft and crew operate the flight. The other, is the marketing carrier. Regular public transport operators with passengers travelling under code-share agreements can learn more about reporting and payment of PMC responsibilities in the PMC arrangement. Carriers must report all commercial code-share agreements to the department.
Contacts
PMC Remittance and Accounts
Passenger Movement Charge Unit
Department Of Home Affairs
GPO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616
Email: pmc@homeaffairs.gov.au.
PMC Administration and Policy
PMC Administration Office
Department Of Home Affairs
GPO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616
3 Molonglo Drive Brindabella Park ACT 2611
Email: pmcadministration@abf.gov.au.
