Passenger Movement Charge (PMC)
The Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) is a $60 Australian (AUD) cost for the departure of a person from Australia for another country, whether or not the person returns to Australia. The PMC was introduced in July 1995 replacing 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 at the time 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 PMC is necessary for small itinerant flights and sea craft. An Australian Border Force Officer will collect $60 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 the Departments B700 form:
- Cash
- Credit card
- BPAY
- Cheque (exceptional circumstances only)
Does everyone have to pay the PMC?
The following passengers are exempt from payment of the PMC and should be identified at the time of ticket sale:
-
a person under 12 years of age at the date of departure
-
traditional inhabitants of Torres Strait Islands or Papua and 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 their military employment, including spouse and/or child of that defence force member
-
crew of aircraft and vessels (operational and positioning) including medical attendants (Medivac operators’ own attendants) on specific Medivac flights
-
transit (air and sea) passengers who do not undergo Customs and Immigration processing
-
emergency passengers who land in Australia for reasons beyond the person’s control; e.g. illness, mechanical failure or other emergency (includes illness/injury of a person on Medivac flights however, the accompanying passenger is not exempt)
- passengers on
single journeys who depart Australia more than once are only liable to pay PMC once (for example cruise passengers stopping at more than one Australian port)
-
diplomatic and consular representatives of a country other than Australia, their families, staff and their families; travelling on a diplomatic passport with subclass visa 995 or 403
- passengers departing Australia to an installation in the
Greater Sunrise special regime area for the purpose of prospecting for petroleum or undertaking petroleum operations
-
Protective Service Officers (as defined in the Australian Federal Police Act 1979) on an aircraft for the purpose of enhancing the security of the aircraft
- travel to an
Indian Ocean Territory (Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands) unless the passenger intends to depart from there for an overseas destination
- when
travel between the Australian mainland and/or an Indian Ocean Territory can only be reasonably accomplished by first departing for another country, provided the stay in the other country does not exceed seven days
Full details of exemption can be found in Section 5 Passenger Movement Charge Collection Act 1978.
PMC refunds
Passengers are eligible for a refund of $60 AUD if:
- the departure did not occur
- the departure takes place, and the person returns to Australia without entering another country
- a flight is cancelled and the person does not travel
- a PMC exemption was incorrectly applied
- a person is 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 the PMC was paid by the passenger to the Department, the passenger should write to pmcadministration@abf.gov.au to formally request a refund and provide details of travel, and proof of payment. Carriers can also request a refund on behalf of a passenger directly with the Department.
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
The Department will prepare the Arrangement and forward the documentation to the carrier for completion and execution.
For further information, contact the PMC administration office -
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) and the other airline is the marketing carrier. Reporting and payment of PMC responsibilities are outlined in the PMC Arrangement for regular public transport operators with passengers travelling under code-share agreements. Carriers must report to the Department all existing, new or changed commercial code-share agreements.
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
