When you first arrive in Australia, follow the signs as you leave the plane to Immigration. An Immigration Officer will ask to see your Incoming Passenger Card, along with your passport and student visa evidence.

Once you have passed through immigration, you will move to baggage claim to collect your luggage. It is wise to check if anything is missing or damaged and if so, immediately advise the baggage counter. They will help you find your belongings or lodge a claim for damage.

You may see a quarantine detector dog at any stage before leaving the airport. If you see a detector dog working close to you, place your bags on the floor for inspection. These dogs are not dangerous to humans and are trained to detect odours. A quarantine officer may ask you about the contents of your bag and check you are not carrying items that present a quarantine risk to Australia

Once you have your luggage, you will go through Customs. Be careful about what you bring into Australia. Some items you bring from overseas might carry pests and diseases that Australia doesn’t have. You must declare all food, meat, fruit, plants, seeds, wooden souvenirs, animal or plant materials.

You will be able to leave the restricted area and enter the Arrivals Hall once you have cleared customs. If you have arranged to be collected from the airport by your institution, this is where you will find them. In the arrivals hall you will find a number of retail and food outlets along with public telephones, information booth and money exchange facilities. If you arrive on a weekend, it is a good idea to exchange some money here as many banks are not open on the weekends in Brisbane.