Cigars and Australian import rules: duty, allowances and the 1.5 kg line
Cigars occupy a distinct category in Australian tobacco law. They are assessed by weight rather than per stick, a small personal quantity does not require an import permit, and travellers have a separate allowance at the border — but everything else about lawful buying still applies.
| Check | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Category | Treatment |
| Import permit | Not required for cigars, or for chewing tobacco and oral snuff under 1.5 kg |
| Duty basis | Assessed by weight, with its own excise rate |
| Traveller allowance | 25 cigarettes or 25 g of tobacco products duty-free, plus one opened pack |
| Postal imports | Tobacco products cannot be imported through international mail |
Why cigars are treated separately
The permit framework targets bulk and commercial imports of cigarettes, loose tobacco and shisha. Cigars and small quantities of chewing or snuff products are handled through duty assessment instead, which is why they sit outside the permit list.
What travellers should expect
Declare everything. If you exceed the allowance, duty applies to all of your tobacco, not just the excess — and undeclared tobacco can lead to seizure, prosecution or visa consequences. Our importing guide runs the full detail.
Before you order — four checks that never change
- Price against the excise floor. Duty is $1.55274 a stick from 1 September 2026 — about $31 in a 20-pack and $310 in a carton. Cigars skip the permit list but not the duty — declare everything at the border.
- The pack in the photo. Legal Australian stock is drab brown (Pantone 448C) with graphic warnings covering at least 75% of the front and 90% of the back — no logos, no brand artwork.
- Age and delivery. Distance sellers must verify you are 18 or over, and somebody who can sign and show ID has to be at the address. Lockers and unstaffed addresses can be refused.
- State rules. South Australia prohibits mail and online tobacco orders outright; everywhere else requires an age-verification system.
Related reading
This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. All tobacco products are harmful and state rules change — check your state or territory regulator before ordering. For help quitting call Quitline on 13 7848.