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Can I Bring a Vape into Australia? | Quit Clinics

What are the laws? Is Vaping Illegal in Australia?

Under Australian law it is illegal to buy, possess or use liquid nicotine for vaping without a prescription from a registered Australian medical practitioner. This means that even if you regularly vape in another country, where prescriptions for vaping are not required, just bringing your vape with you to Australia without a prescription is illegal and risks a substantial fine.

The penalty for importing liquid nicotine without a prescription is up to $222,000 under the Customs Act 1901, and individual state and territories’ laws can carry further charges.

Vaping laws allow users to vape non-nicotine liquid in Australia, but the devices and liquid are less common globally. As such, if you bring a vaping device into Australia without a prescription you are permitted to do so, under the condition that it does not hold any nicotine or restricted substances, such as cannabis. If you have a prescription for liquid nicotine from a country that is not Australia, you can bring nicotine into the country on a traveller’s exemption. This rule is in place to allow travellers to carry medicines or medical devices with them for their own personal use or for the use of an immediate family member who they are travelling with.

Nicotine Vapes – How much can you bring into Australia

For those with a valid prescription from an Australia medical practitioner for liquid nicotine, new rules state that travellers are allowed to bring;A maximum of 2 vapes (including disposable devices), 20 vape accessories (including cartridges, capsules or pods), and 200mL of vape substance in liquid form. Please remember that if you are bringing a 200mL volume, the liquid must be in your checked baggage if flying. This is because the liquid nicotine will count as a fluid, and for most airlines will fall under the less than 100ml restriction for hand luggage.

Tobacco Cigarettes – How much can you bring into Australia

When travelling to Australia you are allowed to bring one unopened pack of up to 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of other tobacco products in duty free. If you bring any more then you must declare it and pay the relevant duty and taxes, which is currently $1.24335 per cigarette. You are also allowed to bring in one opened pack of cigarettes.

Can you fly with vape devices in Australia? What you need to know

You can fly with vape devices to Australia. The law is that you cannot possess or distribute nicotine liquid, so bringing an empty vaping device or a device filled with non-nicotine liquid is legal. If you want to bring a vaping device containing nicotine liquid then you are required by law to have a valid prescription, either from an Australian medical professional, or from a foreign medical professional under the traveller’s exemption allowing people entering Australia to carry medicines and medical devices for their own personal consumption.

Rules for flying on a plane

We have gone through the details of the laws regulating nicotine liquid being brought into Australia above, but the other key practicality to consider is that all e-cigarettes or personal vaping devices must be taken in carry-on and not checked luggage. This is because of the battery creating a potential risk of fire, and has the same reason behind needing to carry laptops in carry on. Additionally e-cigarettes or vaping devices must be protected to avoid accidental activation, and all use or charging of e-cigarettes and vaping devices is banned onboard aircrafts for all airlines.

As a quick summary for flying:Do you need to have a prescription to legally bring nicotine liquid into Australia? YESDo you need pre approval from the airline to bring e-cigarettes and vaping devices? NOCan you bring e-cigarettes and vaping devices in your carry-on baggage? YESCan you bring e-cigarettes and vaping devices in your check-in baggage? NOCan you use or charge e-cigarettes and vaping devices onboard planes? NO

Rules when checking in at the airport

If you are bringing e-cigarettes and vaping devices with you as you fly in or to Australia, then abide by the following rules.You must have a valid prescription for your e-cigarette or nicotine liquid (either from an Australian medical professional or from a foreign professional under the traveller’s exemption rule)You must pack your e-cigarettes and vaping devices in your carry-on luggage and NOT in your check-in luggageYou must not bring more than 3 months personal supplyYou must not bring more than the maximum allowable quantity discussed above (2 vapes, 20 vape accessories including pods, capsules or cartridges, and 200mL of nicotine in liquid form).For most airlines you do not need to get pre approval to carry e-cigarettes or vaping devices, but if you have any concerns then it is sensible to check your airline’s website for up to date rules.

Rules for smoking at the airport and public spaces in Australia

Rules differ between airports, but for the majority of Australian airports smoking or vaping in the airport, or outside on airport property is forbidden, unless you are in specifically designated smoking areas. In most states and territories it is illegal to use e-cigarettes in places where smoking is illegal. This means it is illegal in all public enclosed spaces, and specific outdoor public spaces, including concerts and sporting events. Check the relevant state or territory rules to see the specific outdoor public space vaping rules.

Rules when traveling around Australia with a vape device

No matter whether you are travelling into Australia, or once you are already there, the e-cigarette law still applies. “It is illegal to buy, possess or use liquid nicotine for vaping without a prescription from a registered Australian medical practitioner.” This means that even having possession of e-cigarettes without a prescription is an offence, making the law very clear cut for travellers in Australia.

In terms of where you can vape, as a general rule in Australia, wherever you can smoke you can vape. As stated above, this means that vaping is illegal in all enclosed public spaces, and many outdoor public spaces. The rules on vaping in outdoor spaces change depending on the state or territory you are in.

Breaking the law – What you need to know

The laws around vaping are taken extremely seriously in Australia, and breaking them can lead to very significant fines or even jail time. As we have discussed above, the penalty for importing liquid nicotine without a prescription is up to $222,000 under the Customs Act 1901, and individual states and territories’ laws carry further charges.

In Summary:

In Australia, bringing or possessing liquid nicotine for vaping without a prescription from an Australian medical practitioner is illegal, with severe penalties of up to $222,000 under the Customs Act 1901. Travellers are permitted to enter Australia with non-nicotine vaping devices, provided they are in carry-on luggage due to battery risks, or with nicotine liquid only if they have a valid prescription, either from an Australian medical professional or via a traveller’s exemption with a foreign prescription. The laws stipulate that vaping is prohibited in all public enclosed spaces and many outdoor public areas, with differences across states and territories, aligning with smoking restrictions. These stringent regulations reflect the seriousness of e-cigarette laws in Australia, aiming to mitigate health risks associated with vaping.