Import and export permits

Import of radioactive substances for non-medical use

Under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, a permit from ARPANSA is required for the import of radioactive substances. Read the Non-medical import permits page for more details.

Permit approval and issue

An approved Import Permit will be emailed to the Australian Border Force Office in the state of the port of entry. A copy will be sent to the nominated email address or faxed to the Applicant and/or Customs Agent.

Note:

• The onus is on the Applicant to ensure that Import Permits are processed by ARPANSA before the goods arrive at Customs.
• Import of radioactive substances are not included under the Post-Importation Permission scheme (s 120 of the Customs Regulation 2015), therefore ARPANSA does not have the legal authority to grant an import permit once goods have arrived at Customs.
• An ARPANSA approved Import Permit must be presented to Australian Border Force for the release of the goods.
• Any goods that arrive at Customs without an approved Import Permit may be seized by Australian Border Force.
• An Import Permit is required for each single shipment of radioactive substances and is valid for a period of six months for non-medical imports and twelve months for medical imports.

For further information contact the Non-Medical Import Permits Officer on ImportPermits@arpansa.gov.au

Import of medical radioisotopes

A radioisotope is considered to be for medical use when it is intended to be:

1. administered to humans or used for any therapeutic procedure or purpose in any planned exposure of humans to ionising radiation
2. used in any in vitro medical diagnosis or test
3. used in research which is either directly or indirectly related towards medical diagnosis or therapy in humans.

Note: Sealed and unsealed radioactive sources that are used to calibrate instruments in medical practices and pathology laboratories are also included as medical radioisotopes for permit purposes.

See Medical permits page for more information.

To apply for a medical import permit, complete the appropriate application form:

• Medical single shipment application form:
   
• Medical 12 month permit application form:
   

For further information contact the Medical Import Permits Officer on (03) 9433 2232.

Export of high activity radioactive sources

Under Regulation 9AD of the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958, a permit from ARPANSA is required for the export of high activity radioactive sources and for high activity aggregations of sources in a single shipment. See the Export Permits page for more details.

Fees and cost recovery arrangements

In July 2015, the Australian Government introduced the Australian Government Charging Framework, to improve consistency of charging activities and help determine when it is appropriate to charge for a government activity. The Charging Framework supports government entities to design, implement and review government charging. 

The Charging Framework applies to all non-corporate Commonwealth entities and selected corporate Commonwealth entities, where the Finance Minister has made a ‘government policy order’ that applies the Charging Framework to them. Non-corporate and corporate entities are defined under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

In accordance with the charging framework, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) developed a Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) to demonstrate the cost recovery model for activities relating to import and export permits. Cost recovery broadly encompasses fees and charges related to the provision of government goods and services (including regulation) to the private and other non-government sectors of the economy.

2024-25:

Fees

Fees apply for all import and export permit applications.
Fee schedule:

* Exempt from GST

Note:

1. There is no additional fee for the urgent processing of export permit applications, as the time required to correspond with another nation’s regulatory body cannot always be guaranteed.
2. 12 month export permits are not available for the export of high activity radioactive sources.

Find out more about the export permit fees at Export permits.

See Payment Methods for information about how to pay fees.