Gift Card Expiry in Australia: The 3-Year Rule and Banned Fees
Most gift cards sold since November 2019 must last at least 3 years. Earliest expiry dates, banned fees, the exceptions and what to do if a shop refuses.
By the MoneyBackKit AU team · Updated 28 October 2026 · 2 min read
Gift cards are a popular Christmas present, and a lot of them go unspent. Since 1 November 2019, most gift cards sold in Australia must last at least 3 years, and the expiry date has to be shown on the card.
Earliest expiry date
| Card bought on | Can't expire before |
|---|---|
| 20 December 2026 | 20 December 2029 |
| 14 February 2027 | 14 February 2030 |
| 1 July 2027 | 1 July 2030 |
The rules
- A minimum 3-year expiry period from the date of purchase.
- The expiry date must be clearly shown, or the issue date if the expiry is given as a period ("valid for 3 years from issue").
- No fees after you've bought it, such as activation, account-keeping, balance enquiry or inactivity fees. Booking fees that match those for other ways of paying, currency exchange fees and fees to reissue a lost or damaged card are allowed.
- The rules don't cover reloadable cards, cards given away free as promotions, second-hand cards, or cards from loyalty programs and employee reward schemes, among a few others.
If a shop won't accept your card
- Check the expiry date and the terms on the card or the seller's website.
- If it was sold after 1 November 2019 with less than a 3-year expiry, ask the business to honour it, and quote the rule.
- If it refuses, contact your state or territory fair trading agency.