Traveling to and from Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport
On this page, you will find the information you need to easily make your way through Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport to your destination.
Guide to Australia's Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport
Arrival and departure terminal maps and other information for navigating Australia's Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport.
Arrival Terminal
Immigration
- Eligible nationals (including Japanese nationals) who have e-passports are able to use SmartGate, which is an automated passport control. However, passengers under the age of 16 need to proceed to passport control.
- For more information, please visit the Australian Border Force website.
- For details around visas, please visit the Special Guidance section of this page.
Customs
Customers with goods to declare should submit a Customs Declaration forms.
Departure Terminal
Airport Map Information
Please check here for Airport Lounge
Check-In
- Please present your passport and boarding pass.
- Please note that check-in counter will be different depending on your flight.
(NH890 : Island E , NH880 : Island F) - Since the boarding gate check-in counters might be subject to change, please check at the airport to the day of departure.
- Please check here for ANA International Airport Check-In Counter Opening Times.
Priority Lane for Immigration and Security
Eligible customers
- Business Class customers
Please present your boarding pass at the priority lane entrance.
Transit
Transit to International Flights
Passengers who transit from ANA to International flights of other airlines
If you have your boarding pass of your connecting flight, please proceed to the boarding gate after pass through the security check in the transit area.
If you do not have your boarding pass of your connecting flight, please complete check-in at the connecting counter or proceed to the boarding gate.
- * For passengers with connecting flight that is not on the same day. Please pick up your checked baggage and pass through customs . Then, proceed to the relevant check-in counter and for check in baggage on the next day.
Transit to Domestic flights
Passengers who transit from ANA to Virgin Australia Domestic flights
You are required to collect your bags and clear Customs and Quarantine at Sydney.
Please proceed to check-in at the Virgin Australia Domestic Transfer Desk within Terminal 1. Passengers are required to make their own way to the Domestic Terminal via T-Bus or public transportation and proceed to check-in.
Out of opening hour of Virgin Australia transit counter, please go to domestic terminal (Terminal 2) by taking a T-BUS and complete check-in for departure at the Virgin Australia check-in counter.
Passengers who transit from ANA to Qantas Domestic flights
You are required to collect your bags and clear Customs and Quarantine.
Qantas Domestic Seamless Transfer Desk is available for the transit passengers.
Please proceed to the Qantas Transfer building, located adjacent to the arrival floor.
After completing check-in procedures, including rechecking your baggage, please go through security and proceed to Terminal 3 by Qantas transfer bus.
Passengers who transit from ANA to other airlines Domestic flight
You are required to collect your bags and clear Customs and Quarantine.
Please move to the Domestic Terminal by T-Bus or public transportation and proceed to check-in.
Transit from International Flights
Passengers who transit from International flights to ANA
Please proceed to the boarding gate after passing through the security checkpoint within the transit area. If you do not have your boarding pass for your ANA flight, please complete check-in at the boarding gate.
Transit from Australia Domestic Flights
Passengers who transit from Virgin Australia Domestic flights to ANA
Upon arriving in Sydney, make their way to the International Terminal via T-Bus or public transportation.
Please proceed to the ANA check-in counter on the departure level to complete check-in.
Passengers who transit from Qantas Domestic flights to ANA
You can use the Qantas transfer bus when your bags are checked through to your final destination.
Please take the bus from Gate 15 in terminal 3.
After arriving the international terminal, please proceed to the ANA check-in counter on the departure level to complete check-in.
If you have baggage checked in at the domestic departure airport, we will check the tag number at the ANA counter.
Passengers who transit from Domestic flights on other airlines to ANA
You are required to collect your luggage at the Sydney domestic terminal.
Please move to the International Terminal by T-Bus or public transportation and proceed to check in at the ANA check-in counter on the departure level.
Sydney Airport (SYD) to Sydney City
Airport Shuttle Bus
Numerous companies including Redy2GO, Sydneny Airporter (AirBus Sydney), KST Airport Bus, etc. offer airport shuttle bus services stopping at hotels in central Sydney. Tickets for Redy2GO can be purchased at the arrival lounge after arriving at the airport. Other buses require reservations made in advance. The shuttle service may not be running as there are currently fewer flights due to COVID-19.
- Platform: There are airport shuttle bus stops in front of each arrival lobby in the international terminal (T1) and domestic terminals (T2, T3). (The location of the stop varies with the operating company.) The buses generally leave about every half hour, but may run only when there are enough riders in the early morning or late at night.
- Time required: About 20 to 80 min. (varies greatly depending on the hotel as it goes around to all the hotels).
- Fare: To hotels in the center of Sydney, A$16 to 22 for adults, A$11 to 12 for children. Discount for round-trip.
- Operating hours: Some companies only run from about 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., while others run from early morning to late at night.
Train
You can use the Airport Link Sydney train that runs through the city.
As a rule You must buy an Opal Card that is a chargeable smart card for all streets using Sydney city center public transportation at the ticket machine in the Sydney Airport or each train station.
If you have a contactless AMEX, VISA, or Mastercard, you can pay with that instead of your Opal Card. If you have absolutely no plan to use public transportation while in Sydney, you can get Opal single tickets for one-time use, although they are comparatively expensive.
Airport Link is this train goes through the "Airport International" international terminal station and "Airport Domestic" domestic terminal station, and enters a loop line that moves around the center of Sydney in a horseshoe shape (counterclockwise).
It goes to the city center via Sydney Central station, Museum station, St James station, Circular Quay station, Wynyard station, and Town Hall station and then loops back to Sydney Central station. If you have a lot of luggage and need a taxi to pick you up, it is best to go to Sydney Central station, Circular Quay station, or Wynyard station.
- Time required: From the international terminal station it is 12 min. to Sydney Central station, 21 min. to Circular Quay station, and 23 min. to Wynyard station.
- Fare: From the international terminal station to Sydney Central station: A$17.39 to A$19.35 (Opal single ticket A$20.47) for adults, A$14.44 to A$15.42 (Opal single ticket A$15.98) for children. / From the domestic terminal station to Sydney Central station: A$17.39 to A$18.48 (Opal single ticket A$19.37) for adults, A$14.44 to A$14.98 for children (Opal single ticket A$15.38 ).
- Operating hours: Weekdays: International terminal station: first train at 4:22, last train at 0:57 (3 to 8 services per hour) / Weekends: International terminal station: first train at 4:42, last train at 0:27 (3 to 8 services per hour).
Taxi
- Platform: There are taxi stops outside each arrival lobby in the international terminal (T1) and domestic terminals (T2).
- Time required: About 20 to 30 min.
- Fare: About A$60 to 80 to reach the center of Sydney.
- Operating hours: 24 hours
Uber
- Platform: Using Uber is now possible at Sydney Airport. Use the app to call an Uber after arrival, and board outside the arrivals hall of either the international terminal (T1) or the domestic terminal (T2).
- Time required: About 20 to 30 min.
- Fare: About A$45 to 75 to reach the center of Sydney
Instructions for Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport
Australian Visas
All visitors to Australia require a visa or authority to enter the country. However, some visitors who will only be in Australia for short-term tourism or business purposes may apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via the ETA System (ETAS). For more visa-related details, please go here.
ETA Applications
ETA applications can be submitted online via the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection's website.