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Following update has been taken from the Department of Homes Affairs website.
Latest updates
From 21:00 AEDT 20 March 2020, only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia.
From 23:59 AEDT on 28 March 2020, all travellers arriving in Australia will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of arrival.
Travel restrictions are subject to change. Some exemptions are in place. Please check back regularly.
Travelling from overseas
- From 23:59 AEDT on 28 March 2020 all people entering Australia will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of arrival
- Travellers will be transported directly to designated facilities after appropriate immigration, customs and enhanced health checks.
- Designated facilities will be determined by the relevant state or territory government and will ordinarily be in the city of entry where the traveller has cleared immigration, but facilities in other areas may be used if required.
For further information see New arrangements for arrivals from overseas.
Restrictions in place until: Further notice
Exemptions to travel restrictions
You can travel to Australia if you are an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident or are a New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia. If you are an immediate family member holding a temporary visa you will need to provide us with evidence of your relationship. Travellers who have a compassionate or compelling reason to travel to Australia can use this form to apply for an exemption.
You can travel to Australia if you are:
Australian citizens
Australian citizens will be permitted to enter Australia, even without a valid Australian passport. If you don’t have a valid passport, please advise airline staff that you are an Australian citizen and do not require a visa to enter Australia (even if you are a dual national). The airline will contact the Australian Border Force to verify your citizenship. It is important you get to the airport early in case of any delays. Departure from the country you are in is subject to the rules and decisions of authorities in that country.
Permanent residents of Australia
You will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in your port of arrival. Provisional (temporary) visa holders cannot come to Australia.
A New Zealand citizen — usually resident in Australia
New Zealand citizens who normally reside in Australia (subclass 444) can come to Australia. You must carry proof of residency (driver’s licence or documents in relation to your residency). Present it at check-in. You will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in your port of arrival.
Important: New Zealand citizens and permanent residents not living in Australia can only transit through Australia to return to New Zealand. Refer to transiting section below.
You may need to provide information to the Department before travelling to Australia if you are:
Immediate family members of Australian citizens and permanent residents
For this category an immediate family member only means:
- spouses
- dependent children
- legal guardians.
A guardian in relation to a child, is a person who has responsibility for the long-term welfare of the child; and has, in relation to the child, all the powers, rights and duties that are vested by law or custom in the guardian of a child, other than:
- the right to have the daily care and control of the child; and
- the right and responsibility to make decisions concerning the daily care and control of the child.
Without visa – You can’t come to Australia until you have a visa. Apply for a visa and include proof (such as your marriage certificate, your birth certificate or birth certificate for your children). If we let you travel, you will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in your port of arrival.
With a temporary visa (except for Partner and Child visa holders) – Use the enquiry form below to provide further information to the Department. You should attach proof (such as your marriage certificate, evidence of your de-facto relationship such as shared finances or property, your birth certificate or birth certificate for your children). Do not travel until we advise that you can. If we let you travel, you will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in your port of arrival.
Partner (subclasses 100, 309, 801, 820) and Child (subclasses 101, 102, 445) visa holders can come to Australia. You do not need to request an exemption. You will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in your port of arrival. Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa holders can’t come to Australia at the moment.
You can apply for an exemption if you are:
Transiting
Any exemptions to the mandatory requirement to enter quarantine for the 14 day period after arriving in Australia are a matter for the relevant State or Territory Health departments.
Additional exemptions as determined by the Commissioner
The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) may consider an additional exemption in relation to the travel restrictions currently in place for:
- Foreign nationals travelling at the invitation of the Australian Commonwealth Government for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response or whose entry would be in the national interest
- Critical medical services, including air ambulance and delivery of supplies, that regularly arrive into Australia from international ports
- Persons with critical skills (for example, medical specialists, engineers, marine pilots and crews) by exception
- Diplomats accredited to Australia and currently resident in Australia, and their immediate family
- Case-by-case exceptions may also be granted for humanitarian or compassionate reasons.
Exemptions must be granted prior to these travellers undertaking travel to Australia. The request for an exemption through Commissioner’s Discretion must be accompanied by:
- Passenger details: name, DOB, visa type and number, passport number, Australian residential address, Australian telephone number)
- Case information: why this case should be considered for Commissioner discretion/exemption
- Supporting statement: the request should be accompanied by a statement and evidence of how the individual meets one of the grounds for an exemption or excise of the Commissioner’s discretion listed above.
It is important that all travellers provide evidence to us that they meet one of the exemptions above before travelling. For example if are an immediate family member holding a temporary visa you will need to provide us with evidence of your relationship.