Applications for Australian diplomatic or other clearances for government owned or chartered aircraft or ships (including warships and auxiliary military vessels) not engaged in commercial activities are made directly to the relevant Australian authority, as set out below.

Aircraft

Diplomatic Clearance applications (AF179) for State aircraft entering Australian sovereign territory can be obtain through the Diplomatic Clearance – Air Office:

Australian Air Component
Department of Defence

Tel: (02) 6128 4819

Email: dipa.hqac@defence.gov.au

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is responsible for managing biosecurity risks to Australia regulated through the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Act). Every international aircraft is legally required to provide pre-arrival reporting (s193 of the Act) as prescribed by regulations.

All aircraft (foreign state and Australian aircraft) using the DIPA clearance are considered non- scheduled flights. They must arrive at a designated first point of entry (FPOE) and are met by Biosecurity Officers on arrival.

No doors are to be opened or goods or people are allowed to embark or disembark the aircraft without Biosecurity approval. Biosecurity officers ensure compliance with biosecurity import and arrival conditions, and release an aircraft from biosecurity control, once these key funcftons are met:

• Disinfection (World Health Organisation requirement) has been undertaken.
• Confirmaton that the aircraft has been stripped of any biosecurity risk material.
• That crew and passengers' clear biosecurity as per normal border clearance procedures.

First points of entry are split into two types: those that are permanently serviced, and not permanently serviced. At a not permanently serviced airport, aircraft operators must contact arrivals if planning to land or unload goods at these airports, to ensure that biosecurity services can be appropriately provided and managed.

If the permitted aircraft/goods are not approved at a particular entry point then an AG40 form must be submitted at least 10 working days prior to the arrival of the aircraft in Australian territory for assessment and decision.

Further information for airline and aircraft operators arriving in Australian territory can be found at Guidelines for airline and aircraft operators arriving in Australian territory on DAFF website

Where aircraft invoke sovereign immunity, biosecurity officers will continue to carry out biosecurity functions under the Biosecurity Act 2015 without boarding the aircraft. The aircraft will only be permitted to arrive at a permanently serviced first point of entry for any subsequent airports within Australia and will be met by biosecurity officers at each location.

Ships

Applications for diplomatic clearances for warships and auxiliary military vessels are made to:

Maritime Operations
HQJOC
Department of Defence
PO Box 7928
Canberra BC ACT 2610
Attention: Diplomatic Clearance Officer

Tel: (02) 6128 5216 (business hours); 02 6128 4339 (after hours)

Email: mar.ops@defence.gov.au