Let us know you are coming
Cruise ships
Cruise ships are subject to Customs, Immigration and Biosecurity controls when entering and/or departing Australia.
A cruise ship is defined as a ship that has more than 100 sleeping facilities for passengers paying for a service of sea transport.
Cruise ships providing direct international sea transport require full immigration clearance and inwards Advance Passenger Processing (APP) for all passengers and crew.
Cruise ship representatives seeking to understand APP reporting obligations or to obtain necessary system access to complete APP can contact their shipping agent for assistance.
Where a vessel is seeking to enter an Australian Non-Appointed port, permission is required for first port of entry and/or to enter subsequent ports.
Maritime Traveller Processing Committee (MTPC) approval is required for cruise ships wanting to enter seaports
other than the Ports of:
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Brisbane (excluding Tangalooma)
- Cairns (excluding Yorkeys Knob)
- Port Adelaide
- Hobart.
Cruise ships seeking to arrive, depart or visit any other seaports (including Tangalooma and Yorkeys Knob) must submit an application through MTPC.
Requests are subject to Australian Border Force (ABF) and Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) resource availability and infrastructure at the requested port.
Find out more about the Biosecurity requirements for the management of Cruise Vessel arriving into Australia, see DAFF Biosecurity Cruise Vessels.
Large passenger vessels
Large passenger vessels are defined as a ship with 99 or less sleeping facilities for passengers paying for a service of sea transport.
Large passenger vessels are subject to customs, immigration and biosecurity controls when entering and/or departing Australia. This includes requiring permission to enter an Australian Non-Appointed First port of Entry and/or to enter subsequent Ports of Call.
MTPC approval is required for large passenger vessels wanting to enter seaports
other than the Ports of:
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Brisbane (excluding Tangalooma)
- Cairns (excluding Yorkeys Knob)
- Port Adelaide
- Hobart
- Broome
- Darwin.
Large passenger vessels wanting to arrive, depart or visit any other seaports (including Tangalooma and Yorkeys Knob) must submit an MTPC application.
Superyachts
Large motor or sailing vessels (superyachts) of over 24 metres in length, whether for private use or commercial recreational or sporting activities, are subject to customs, immigration and biosecurity controls when entering and/or departing Australia.
Recent changes to reporting and border clearance procedures have resulted in a superyacht owner/operator/master or agent being required to seek permission to enter Australia through non-appointed ports.
This applies to both private superyachts and those intending to operate as special recreational vessels (SRVs) in Australia for commercial purposes and under temporary licence arrangements as described under the
Special Recreational Vessels Act (2019) and Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012.
A ship’s owner/operator/master or agent
must submit a request through the Maritime Travellers Processing Committee (MTPC), for superyachts that are:
- operating privately, but proposing to arrive in Australia at non-appointed ports, or
- operating as an SRV (under a temporary coastal trading licence) proposing to arrive or visit non-appointed ports.
Maritime Traveller Processing Committee
The MTPC co-ordinates the exercise of various statutory controls and responsibilities carried out at seaports. One of the MTPC’s functions is to review requests from the cruise ship industry seeking to arrive or depart from minor, restricted and non-designated seaports where there is no permanent ABF or DAFF presence.
Making an application to the Maritime Traveller Processing Committee
If MTPC approval is required, cruise ship or large passenger vessel operators or their agents must submit an application through the
Air and Sea Approvals Portal (ASAP). This will require account creation.
The MTPC will liaise with relevant border agencies to confirm availability for border clearance processes.
Application process for Cruise ships and large passenger vessels
If MTPC approval is required, cruise ship or large passenger vessel operators or their agents must submit their application in the ASAP
at least 30 days before the arrival and no more than 2 years in advance. The application must contain the full itinerary, vessel details and port intentions (for example, passenger/crew exchange, shore excursions, and sail by/anchor only).
Cruise vessels wanting to undertake Round Trip Cruises must apply through the
ASAP.
For particular requirements which the cruises are subject to see
Round Trip Cruise parameters.
Further information can be obtained by reading the
MTPC Air and Sea Approval Portal FAQs or by
contacting the MTPC.
Note: Approved arrival clearance of vessels at non-appointed ports will incur Australian Border Force and DAFF cost recovery charges. The ABF does not levy any charges for clearance at appointed ports. However, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry operates on a full cost recovery basis.
Cruise ship visitors and on-board functions
The cruise ship operator should seek permission from the MTPC through the
ASAP at least 10 business days before inviting visitors to board a cruise ship for a function or other purpose not related directly to the vessel's operations (for example, media events, marketing events or fund-raising activities).
Embarkation and disembarkation
Any requests to embark or disembark passengers non-appointed ports must come through the MTPC through the
ASAP. Any passengers wishing to leave/join a vessel at a non-appointed port must gain approval if is not an emergency.
Application process for Superyachts
If MTPC approval is required, vessel operator/owners/masters or their agents must submit an MTPC application through the
ASAP no later than 10 business days before the arrival and no more than 12 months in advance. The application must contain the full itinerary, vessel details and port intentions (for example, passenger/crew exchange, shore excursions, and sail by/anchor only).
Superyachts approved for arrival at non-appointed ports will be subject to the operator/owners/masters or their agents meeting ABF and DAFF border clearance costs associated with attending non-appointed ports to clear the vessel and persons/goods.
Note: Superyachts operating under a
coastal trading licence will potentially incur costs at
all non-appointed ports visited during a voyage.
Further information can be obtained by reading the
MTPC Air and Sea Approval Portal FAQs or by
contacting the MTPC.
Reporting requirements for Superyachts
Superyachts (non-commercial) arriving in Australia through a non-appointed port remain subject to the impending arrival reporting requirements as outlined in
Let us know you’re coming and information requirements as outlined in
Yachts and pleasure craft.
Superyachts operating under a coastal trading licence are considered international commercial vessels and must also comply with the standard reporting and operating requirements for international commercial vessels under the Coastal Trading Act and customs legislation.
Immigration and Customs clearance options
The ABF determine the most efficient and effective method of clearance.
Current options include:
- on a wharf, at a dedicated or temporary facility, or
- en route, between the last port overseas and the first port of arrival in Australia.
To submit an en route clearance application, seek approval through the MTPC via the
ASAP,
at least 6 months before the arrival and no more than 2 years in advance.
En route clearances require ABF officers to join the vessel prior to departure from the last overseas port. The agent or operator is responsible for all costs associated with the officer’s overseas travel including airfares, accommodation, meals and ground transport.
How to contact the Maritime Traveller Processing Committee
The MTPC operates Monday – Friday 8.30 am – 4.30 pm AEST (excluding public holidays). You can contact the MTPC by email
mtpc@abf.gov.au. The MTPC inbox is only monitored during business hours.
