ABF business operations over planned shutdown period

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has issued the following information on ABF business operations over the holiday period:

Section 12 of Customs Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2025 has been amended to make all business day functions unavailable during the Christmas closedown period. This period will be from 25 December 2025 to 1 January 2026 (inclusive). These amendments will not alter the current arrangements for 24/7 functions, which continue to be available.

• Shutdown Period: 25 December 2025 to 1 January 2026 inclusive. During this period there may be some ABF functions that will not be undertaken.
• Resumption of Services: Normal business day operations will recommence on 2 January 2026.

The information in the table below provides the details of what services will not be available – that is any other function done at a Customs place for the purposes of the Customs Act that is provided during business hours – this essentially means any ABF office that provides services during business hours only.  Any business that has staff on a shift work roster is excluded from this,  for example, the clearance of ships and aircrafts and their passenger and crew at appointed airports and seaports.  



We encourage all stakeholders to plan for the shutdown period accordingly.