Latest News: Quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Victoria suspended for 72 hours because of surge in COVID-19 cases (Xinhua, 25.05.2021). Australian government to allow some repatriation flights from India to resume following COVID-19-related suspension (The Independent, 07.05.2021). New Zealand government pauses arrivals from Western Australia, excludes travelers from quarantine-free bubble because of COVID-19 (News24, 24.04.2021).
International Restrictions:
*Entry to Australia: Entry to Australia is currently closed to most arrivals. Travellers who have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more can travel by air to Australia and will not require an exemption. More information is available on theDepartment of Home Affairs website. To enter Australia, you must hold a valid visa. See Visas during COVID-19 below for more information. Australian citizens and returning permanent residents and their immediate family members are permitted to enter Australia without an exemption. • Travellers who meet exemption criteria or have a compassionate or compelling reason to enter Australia can apply to the Australian authorities for an exemption,
• For information on the exemption categories, application form and documentation needed, see the Department of Home Affairs website,
• The Department of Home Affairs is experiencing high levels of demand for exemptions and there is no guarantee of either the timing of a decision or the outcome. You should make your application at least four weeks but not more than three months in advance of travel and provide full supporting documentation.
A negative COVID-19 test result is required for travelling to or transiting through Australia. Unless you are travelling on a quarantine-free flight from New Zealand, evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours or less before your scheduled departure must be provided to your airline.
Border rules including eligibility criteria can change quickly. Travellers should prepare for disruptions to their plans.
Please check theAustralian Governments COVID-19 website for the latest information including changes to quarantine-free travel.
*Quarantine requirements: All international travellers entering Australia need to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at a designated facility (for example a hotel) at their port of arrival. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. This is arranged by individual State and Territory governments.
Travellers who have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more can travel by air to Australia without having to undertake mandatory quarantine. More information is available on the Australian Governments COVID-19 website.
*Testing/Screening on arrival: All travellers arriving in Australia may need to undergo enhanced health screening on arrival before going into quarantine. This can include temperature testing. You may also be asked to undergo screening or testing in quarantine.
The Australian authorities provide an ‘Information for international travellers fact sheet’ to all travellers on arrival in Australia. This provides information on current requirements. For advice and measures at individual airports, see their websites.
*Transiting Australia: TheDepartment of Home Affairs website sets out information on transiting Australia, including on transit visas. There are currently restrictions on transits due to coronavirus.
You’re able to transit through Australia if transiting for 72 hours or less and you have evidence of onward international travel. If you intend to spend longer than 72 hours in Australia waiting for your connecting flight, you’re not considered to be transiting, and will need to request an exemption from the Australian Border Force Commissioner.
Due to COVID-19 related border restrictions, you can usually only travel to Australia to transit to another country if your connecting flight leaves from the same airport.
State quarantine requirements remain in place, and airport operating hours vary. This may limit how long you can stay in the airport, and whether you need to apply for exemption from Australia’s 14-day quarantine arrangements issued by the relevant State health authority. You should check with your airline, as well as onState and Territory websites for the latest details and how to apply.
All airports should allow passengers to remain in the airport if your transit is less than 8 hours and on the same day. You must remain airside and you will not be able to pass customs (even to collect your baggage). You will need to maintain social distancing, cough etiquette and hand hygiene. At your first point of departure, you will need to have checked your baggage through to your final destination.
If you have to leave the airport you will be taken on arrival in Australia to a designated quarantine facility by Australian authorities. You will need to remain there until proceeding to the airport for your departing flight. You may need to pay for quarantine - you should check State and Territory websites for details on quarantine.
British nationals are able to transit through Australia for a maximum of 8 hours without a visa. If your transit time is longer than 8 hours you will need a valid visa. See the Department of Home Affairs website for details including how to apply.
If you plan to travel or transit on from Australia, check the latest entry restrictions for your destination and keep in touch with your airline, cruise line or tour operator before you travel.
*Leaving Australia: You should check the Department of Home Affairs website for information on leaving Australia, including whether you need an exemption.
The Australian authorities continue to advise international visitors to leave Australia where possible due to the COVID-19 situation.
Temporary visa holders do not need an exemption to leave the country, but will need an exemption if they want to re-enter – see the Department of Home Affairs ‘Coming to Australia’ web pages for more information.
Dual Australian/British nationals and permanent residents in Australia are not generally permitted to leave Australia unless they qualify for an exemption. If you meet an exemption category or have a have a compelling or compassionate reason to travel overseas, you need to apply for an exemption in advance from the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force. You should do this as early as possible - at least 48 hours before your intended departure time.
Details on categories for exemptions, the exemption application form, and the evidence you must provide to support your exemption application, can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
If you’re a dual national or permanent resident who is ordinarily resident in a country outside Australia and have spent more time in the last 12 to 24 months outside Australia than within it, you do not need an exemption to leave Australia. You should be ready to show evidence that you normally reside outside Australia if requested by authorities on departure at the airport.
If you have not spent more time outside Australia than within it for the last 12 to 24 months, but still consider yourself to be ordinarily resident in another country, you can submit a request for a travel exemption. Internal Restrictions:
*Travel in Australia: There are currently relatively few flights between States and Territories. If you need to travel, book in advance. Travel between and within some States and Territories within Australia is currently restricted. Restrictions can change at short notice and could disrupt travel plans. You should check individual States and Territory websites for the latest information, including on whether you need to apply for an exemption to cross borders or are needed to self-isolate on arrival.
*Travelling to your international airport: Regardless of border restrictions, you may travel by air from one to another Australian State or Territory to another to transit to an international flight as long as you hold a confirmed booking for that flight. Where state borders are closed, you may need to apply for an exemption to cross borders. You will be need to stay within the airport for the duration of your transit, or if transiting overnight, you may be taken to mandatory quarantine for the duration of your transit or may need to self-isolate in a hotel. In Western Australia, your transit time must be no more than 24 hours. Given the fast changing situation, you should check State and Territory websitesfor the latest information.
*Public spaces and services: Social distancing restrictions and other local measures are still in place across Australia with a number of variations. These are liable to change at short notice. You should monitor State and Territory websites for the latest information where you are and comply with these measures and other advice from local authorities. You can also check restrictions on the Australian Department of Health’s COVID-19 Restriction Checker.
Measures currently include: restrictions on numbers of people at most non-work gatherings, in shops, cafes, restaurants and other places of public gathering, and on visitors to private residences
• keeping at least 1.5 meters from others in public spaces
• restrictions on entering aged care homes
• limits on local travel and advice to avoid public transport at peak hours
• face masks on public transport and in crowded areas where it is difficult to maintain a 1.5 metres physical distance from others.