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Australia provides airport facilitation services for visiting heads of state, heads of government, foreign and trade ministers and guests of government. In addition to the visiting dignitary, facilitation privileges are extended to their accompanying spouse and dependent children under the age of 18.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade values the presence in Australia of over 7,000 members of the diplomatic corps, the consular corps, the United Nations and international organisations. We take our responsibilities under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations very seriously and we are committed to providing high quality and efficient support services to you.

Missions, posts and international organisations can employ Australian citizens or permanent residents as locally engaged staff (LES). They cannot sponsor persons from their own or third countries to work in non-accredited roles in their offices in Australia. Protocol Branch must be informed when a LES employee begins or finishes employment by completing a Locally Engaged Staff Member Commencement/Departure form.

Missions, posts and accredited diplomatic, administrative, and technical and consular staff may purchase motor vehicles under privilege. A staff member who is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia is not able to obtain exemptions from duties and taxes.

Facilitation services are available for eligible foreign visitors arriving or departing on international commercial flights at the following Australian airports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Diplomatic missions, consular posts and privileged individuals may be entitled to exemptions from customs duty and refunds of a range of taxes.