While you're overseas - Hints for Australian Travellers
Look after your passport
Stay in touch
Coming and going
Your exit date
Living and working overseas
Obey the law
Don't carry illegal drugs
Child sex crime
Bribery
Wildlife trade
Your access to consular services
Observe local customs
Don't be a victim
Look after your health
Death overseas
Marriage overseas
Departure tax
Look after your passport
Your passport is essential. You need it to enter and leave Australia and other countries, check into accommodation and use travellers cheques.

Write your personal details in the back of your passport. You can do this in pencil so it's easy to change. Apart from this, never alter or tamper with your passport. That's illegal. Never sell, give away or use your passport as security for a debt.

Carry your passport separately from other 10 and credit cards to protect against losing all your identification at once. Safeguard your passport from theft or loss. Replacing it will cost money and may take time. The replacement may have limited validity.

If your passport is lost or stolen, contact the local police. Take a copy of the police report to the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate.

General information on passports can be found at the passports website or by calling the Australian Passport Information Service (APIS) on 131232 (from anywhere in Australia).

HINTS

Take extra passport photos in case you need to apply for a new passport while overseas.
Do not give your home contact details to strangers.
Do not let strangers have your itinerary details, and be wary about giving your room number out.

Stay in touch...
... with home
Leaving a copy of your travel itinerary with friends or family and keeping in regular contact with home is important. The DFAT consular service receives thousands of calls from worried families or friends who have not heard from travellers.

Keep in touch by telephoning or emailing regularly and be sure to advise your family of any changes to your original itinerary.
Be aware that not all places have internet or international phone facilities and be realistic when advising your family how often they can expect to hear from you.

...with Australian overseas posts
Register your presence overseas before you depart or at the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive. By registering you will make it easier for us to contact you in the event of an emergency-whether it be a natural disaster, civil disturbance or family issue.

The information you provide when you register is protected by Australia's strict privacy laws.
Call home

When a crisis of any sort takes place overseas, we receive many calls from anxious relatives who haven't been able to contact a traveller. Help us reassure them - ring home if something like a major transport accident, natural disaster or terrorist attack happens somewhere in your region. It can sometimes be to your direct advantage to call home.

Coming and going
A visa is no guarantee of entry. If a barrier official suspects you won't obey the visa conditions or rules for visa-free entry, you may be refused entry. London and Los Angeles are the most common points for Australians to be turned back.

Vague, incomplete or inconsistent answers, discovery of a resume in your bag or even a suspicious manner can create a perception that you intend to work illegally or overstay. Some countries do not give reasons for denying entry.

The Australian Government probably won't be able to help if you are turned back.
Your exit date
When a country lets you in, it usually gives you an entry permit that tells you a date when you must exit. If you want to stay longer, you need to apply for an extension. Visa-free schemes may not permit extension. If you overstay, you could be fined or jailed.

Living and working overseas
At anyone time there are approximately 800 000 Australians living overseas. For most Australians this is a positive experience. The consular brochure Living and working overseas offers more advice.

For Australians who travel frequently in the Asia-Pacific region for trade and investment, the APEC Business Travel Card provides streamlined entry to several regional countries.

Obey the law
When you land in another country, its laws apply to you. Ignorance is no defence. You remain subject to relevant Australian laws as well.

Don't carry illegal drugs
In some countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, drug offences carry the death penalty or life imprisonment. Don't assume 'soft' drugs carry milder penalties. Penalties even for marijuana or alcohol use can be severe.

Nearly 200 Australians are in jail overseas. Drugs are the main reason.

HINT

Don't carry anything in or out of another country for another person. Don't leave your bags unattended or in the care of a stranger.

Remember: consular assistance cannot override local laws, even where local laws appear harsh or unjust by Australian standards

Child sex crime
It is a criminal offence to have sexual relations with children, whether in Australia or in another country. Australian law prohibits sex with children under 16 overseas. Australia has introduced laws that provide for jail terms of up to 17 years for Australian citizens and residents who engage in sexual activity with children in foreign countries. The laws also prohibit the incitement, encouragement of, or gaining benefit from such activities, for example by organising sex tours.

To report a possible violation of Australia's child sex laws, please telephone the Australian Federal Police hotline on 1800813784, or write to: Transnational Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Team, Australian Federal Police, GPO Box 401 , Canberra ACT 2601, Australia.

HINT

In some places accepting even a polite invitation to go out can give the wrong signal and lead to sexual assault.

Both men and women need to recognise that drinking alone and accepting friendly invitations can lead to dangerous situations.

Bribery
It is a criminal offence under Australian law for an Australian resident, citizen or company to bribe a foreign public official, whether in Australia or in another country. An Australian in another country who bribes or attempts to bribe an official of that country can be prosecuted in an Australian court.

Australian law provides for up to ten years in prison and fines for persons and companies found guilty of bribing foreign public officials.

Wildlife trade
Australian and international laws regulate trade in endangered and threatened wildlife and native Australian wildlife. Take care when buying wildlife products and souvenirs. It may be illegal to take them out of or bring them into the country. For further information contact the Department of the Environment and Heritage on +61 262741900.

Your access to consular services
If you are arrested in another country, you have the right to contact the Australian Government within a reasonable period of time. You can ask the police to contact us-they may not, unless you ask. Consular staff will do what they can to help, but they can't get you out of jail, represent you in court or obtain special treatment for you.

Observe local customs
Find out as much as you can about local customs (from guide books or the internet) before you arrive in a country and observe them. At some religious or cultural events or sites, special rules of conduct apply. In many countries, special protocols apply when visiting a private home.

In some Islamic countries women's arms, legs and hair must be covered. Violating these standards can lead to unpleasantness or even arrest. In South-East Asia, Buddhist temples and palaces have dress rules about covering limbs.

Both men and women need to know when to take off their shoes in some countries.

HINT

You may be approached to take something out of the country or to buy drugs to take out yourself. Don't take the risk. Don't leave valuables unattended in cars for even a few minutes. Always keep your credit card in sight during transactions. In some places accepting even a polite invitation to go out can give the wrong signal and lead to sexual assault. Both men and women need to recognise that drinking alone and accepting friendly invitations can lead to dangerous situations.

Don't be a victim
You need to know if localities are unsafe or if civil unrest is likely. Get the latest travel advice on the countries you plan to visit. Don't wander into dangerous situations or do provocative things like taking photos of military installations. In certain countries you can be arrested for taking photos without a permit.

Many travellers are assaulted and robbed after accepting drinks or food that have been spiked with drugs. Invitations to private gambling sessions can lead to rip-offs or worse. Scammers offer travellers deals that are indeed too good to be true. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

Hitchhiking can be very risky, especially for women.

Don't present yourself as a rich target. Keep your valuables concealed, preferably with a money belt under clothing. Bag and jewellery snatching is common in some countries. A bum bag is no safer than a shoulder bag and both are easy targets for thieves.

Stay in rooms where you can secure both doors and windows against intruders. Be wary about giving strangers your home contact details or your room number. Don't leave your valuables in the room-use safety deposit boxes if these are available.

HINT

Touching, pointing, staring, sitting and standing in ways that are regarded as disrespectful or threatening by the local culture can cause offence

Look after your health
You may do things overseas you wouldn't dream of doing at home. Always think about your health and safety. Some diseases that are unknown here are common overseas.

Practise safe sex. Never assume that your partner is not HIV-positive or carrying another sexually transmitted infection such as gonorrhoea. Use a condom at all times.

Hepatitis A is passed on through contaminated food or water, or through oral contact indirectly with infected faeces. This is why it is important to always wash your hands after going to the toilet and immediately before handling food.

Contaminated food and water also spread typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery. In places where these diseases are common, drink only bottled water (with an unbroken seal on the cap) or boil water for ten minutes, and avoid ice. Stay away from unpasteurised milk and dairy products, reheated or precooked foods, cold meat, seafood and salads. Peel your own fruit.

Malaria is a problem in parts of the Pacific, Asia, eastern Mediterranean, Africa, Central and South America. Mosquitoes spread malaria and some other diseases. Take precautions.

Rabies is common in many countries and even apparently normal animals may carry the virus. If you are bitten or scratched by any animal-especially a dog, cat, monkey, bat or fox-you should immediately wash the wound with soap and water, then seek competent medical advice and treatment.

Blood borne viruses such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and hepatitis B can spread through contact with infected blood through skin puncture, including tattooing and body-piercing and medical procedures (through unsterile surgery, injections, dental procedures and blood transfusions). HIV! AIDS and Hepatitis B are also spread through sexual contact.

Be sure needles and syringes are sterile-you may ask to see an unbroken, sterile pack-or carry your own supply if it is acceptable to the country you are visiting. Try to ensure that an injectable drug or vaccine is taken from an unopened single-use vial.

If you are managing a condition with prescribed medication, remember to take your medicine with you.

To check if your medication is legal in the countries you are visiting, get in touch with their embassy or consulate before you leave Australia.
Be aware that medicine sold over the counter in Australia may be illegal in other countries.
If you are carrying PBS medicines, keep them in their original packaging and include a letter from your doctor detailing the generic name of the medication and specifying that it is for personal use.
Many travellers take a holiday to relax. Recognise that travel can be stressful too.

If you do require medical assistance while overseas, the local Australian post will be able to supply you with a list of English speaking doctors.

Further information on heaLthy travel is in our brochure Travelling well.

HINT

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Australians who are concerned about the risks of SARS should seek medical advice, including on the main symptoms, and consult information provided by the World Health Organization and the Department of Health and Ageing

Death overseas
Each year over 700 Australians die overseas. For the families of those Australians who are not covered by appropriate travel insurance, this can mean costs of between A$1 a 000 and A$20 000 to bring the remains of their loved ones back home. Our brochure Death overseas provides more information.

Marriage overseas
Every year people fall in love and get married overseas. If you are planning on getting married overseas, you need to be aware that laws regarding marriage vary from country to country and legal complications can arise.

If you plan to marry overseas, check out the legal implications for yourself, your intended spouse and any children either of you may have now or at a later date, For exact details of what requirements will need to be met, persons wishing to marry overseas should contact either a legal practitioner or the embassy or consulate of the country in which they would like to marry.

A note of caution: In a few tragic cases, Australians who married overseas have been scammed or even killed for their assets.

HINTS

If you acquire another citizenship on or after 4 April 2002, you do not lose your Australian citizenship.

You can't automatically give someone Australian citizenship by marrying them.

If you have a child overseas, remember to register the child for Australian citizenship by descent. The child must be registered before turning 25 years of age.

Departure tax
Many countries have a departure tax, When you go to the airport to leave a country, make sure you have enough local or convertible cash to pay the tax. If you can't pay the local authorities you may not make your plane!