International travel

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Vaccinated Australians and permanent residents

Australian citizens and permanent residents aged 12 and over who are fully vaccinated with an approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine can leave Australia without needing an outwards travel exemption and may be eligible for reduced quarantine requirements when returning to Australia. All children aged under 12 years count as fully vaccinated for travel purposes.

Australian citizens and permanent residents who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are also treated as vaccinated for the purposes of their travel.

Note: Australian citizens, permanent residents or their immediate family members entering Australia who have been in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique in the last 14 days must enter quarantine for 14 days in line with state and territory requirements, irrespective of their vaccination status.

For more information, including on travelling with children aged under 18, see our frequently asked questions on international travel.

New border security measures to protect Australians from ‘Omicron’ COVID-19 variant

Travel restrictions are now in place for people who have been in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique in the last 14 days.

Australian citizens, permanent residents or their immediate family members entering Australia who have been in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi or Mozambique in the last 14 days must enter quarantine for 14 days and be tested in line with state and territory requirements, irrespective of their vaccination status.

Any other travellers who have been in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique in the last 14 days are not permitted to enter Australia, even if they hold a travel exemption, eligible visa or are seeking to enter under a Safe Travel Zone arrangement.

To support these measures, all travellers to Australia must make a declaration regarding their last 14 days travel history, and undertake post-arrival testing in line with state and territory requirements.

Australia Travel Declaration (ATD)

Travellers to Australia should complete an Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) at least 72 hours before departure. The ATD contains declarations that are considered to be critical health information. You must be able to provide evidence that you made this declaration before boarding the aircraft.

This is an enforceable requirement. A person who fails to comply with the requirement may be liable to a civil penalty (fine) of 30 penalty units (currently $6,660 AUD). This is set out in Section 46 of the Biosecurity Act 2015. Travellers who do not make the declaration before they board their flight will be delayed when arriving in Australia.

When filling out the ATD travellers will need to:

upload their vaccination certificate
make a legally binding declaration in relation to their vaccination status
acknowledge that when they check-in for their flight, they must present evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 3 days of their flight’s scheduled departure to Australia (unless medically exempt)
make a declaration regarding their last 14 days travel history
make a declaration that they:
- will comply with the quarantine requirements of the state/territory of first arrival and any other state/territory to which they intend to travel; and
- have made quarantine arrangements prior to travel where required.

Penalties will apply for giving false and misleading information, including potential criminal prosecution for providing false or misleading information. This is set out in s 137.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

Preparing to leave Australia

Read through this checklist of steps to take as you prepare to leave Australia.

Travelling to Australia

Read through this checklist of steps to take as you prepare to travel to Australia. Find out more about travelling to Australia.

International safe travel zones

Any change in the COVID-19 situation in Australia and participating safe travel zone countries could lead to a pause in quarantine-free travel arrangements without notice. You are responsible for checking the entry requirements for each state and territory in Australia, including quarantine arrangements.

Getting proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations

Travel for unvaccinated Australians

Australian citizens and permanent residents who do not meet the eligibility requirements must continue to follow the current border processes when leaving Australia or coming to Australia.

An older woman caresses a young child who is in his parents arms. There are luggage trolleys behind them.

Immediate family members

You are considered to be an immediate family member if you are a spouse, de facto partner, a dependent child, or a parent of an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Immediate family members who hold a temporary visa or don’t yet hold a visa, need to apply for a travel exemption to travel to Australia by submitting proof of their relationship through the Travel Exemption Portal.

Find out more about the exemption for immediate family members to travel to Australia

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New arrangements for eligible visa holders

From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can come to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. Eligible visa holders include skilled and student cohorts, as well as humanitarian, working holiday maker and provisional family visa holders.

For more information, visit the Department of Home Affairs website

A young woman wearing a backpack and mask is holding her passport. In the background, there are airport signs and other travellers.

Information for non-Australians

Australia has border measures in place to protect the health of the Australian community. These travel restrictions are subject to change.

If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you' will need:

· a valid visa to enter Australia; and

· to be in an exempt category (incl safe travel zone travel); or

· if not exempt, apply for an exemption.

State and Territory information

You need to comply with requirements in the state or territory of your arrival, and any other state or territories that you plan to travel to. This includes quarantine and post-arrival testing requirements. Restrictions may change at short notice.

You may be eligible for reduced quarantine requirements when you return to Australia depending on the state or territory to which you are travelling.

Travellers returning to Australia may only enter and travel between NSW, VIC and the ACT without quarantining.* NOTE: Australian citizens, permanent residents or their immediate family members entering Australia who have been in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi or Mozambique in the last 14 days must enter quarantine for 14 days in line with state and territory requirements irrespective of their vaccination status.

If you wish to travel on to another state or territory you may not be allowed to enter, or may be subject to a quarantine period.

*Under state public health requirements, NSW and VIC have already initiated testing and 72 hours of isolation requirements for Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members entering the country.