Current Travel Restrictions:
Can I depart Australia?
Australian citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated for international travel purposes can travel to and from Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. Please refer to information on Travel for vaccinated Australians.
Children under 12 and those who cannot be vaccinated for acceptable medical reasons will also be able to travel overseas without an exemption.
What if I am not vaccinated?
Unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents wishing to travel overseas (apart from children under 12 and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons) are required to apply for an exemption to leave Australia. You can apply online for an exemption but you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
What if I cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons?
If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident departing Australia you need to show evidence that you have a medical contraindication reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) for all COVID-19 vaccines available in Australia. As proof you should provide your Australian COVID-19 digital certificate. You can otherwise provide your immunisation history statement.
If a temporary medical contraindication has been recorded on the AIR, the COVID-19 digital certificate will display a ‘valid to’ date. After this time, you will need to either:
I have recovered from COVD-19, does that give me an automatic exemption?
We have had a number of enquiries from clients who are not vaccinated, who have recovered from COVID-19, and were given a 'clearance' form from their doctor for a period of time.
Unfortunately, at the moment, the Australian Department of Health advises that previous infection with COVID-19 is not considered a medical contraindication for COVID-19 vaccination.
Therefore this is also not considered an automatic exemption and they would need to apply for an exemption to travel.
You can find information on medical conditions that mean vaccination is contraindicated on the Department of Health website. It also includes information on conditions not considered to be a contraindication for COVID-19 vaccination and not accepted for the purpose of a medical exemption to vaccination for travel to Australia. See Evidence of Medical Contraindication to COVID-19 vaccine.
How about domestic travel?
States and territories can apply their own restrictions, including closing their state borders and additional quarantine requirements.
For the most up-to-date information about entry conditions, forms and requirements is on the government website of the state and territory you are travelling to.
You need to ensure you meet the current COVID-19 travel regulations and advisories for your departure point, destination, and any transit points prior to booking. This includes border declarations, testing and quarantine requirements.
If you need a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test, click below to book at your nearest location.
If travelling interstate, check the border declaration, quarantine and self-isolation government requirements for each individual state below.
Do I need to quarantine upon my return?
If you are fully vaccinated with an Australian Government approved or recognised vaccine, or under the age of 12, you do not need to quarantine upon arrival in NSW.
You must go straight to your home or accommodation, Take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test, self-isolate until you get a negative result, and not visit a high-risk place for at least 7 days after arrival.
People arriving in NSW from overseas who are not fully vaccinated must hotel quarantine for 7 days. A cap on arrivals who are not fully vaccinated will apply.
Do I need to show a negative COVID-19 test result at check in?
For most destinations this is a YES! You generally need to test within 48 or 24 hours prior to scheduled flight departure, and display evidence of a negative test result at the time of check-in. Please ensure you check the requirements of both Airline you are travelling with and Destination, and adhere to the most restrictive.
COVID-19 PCR testing is required. A general COVID-19 test may not be accepted by some destinations so please ensure you are up to date. The PCR tests provide more accurate results than rapid tests, and that’s because they use a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the viral genetic material of COVID-19. This genetic material can be detected while a person is actively infected and also after the acute illness.
You need to make an appointment to pre book your PCR Test, and due to the surge of travel and demand for tests, you may be waiting. For requirements head to health advice of your destination or click here.
Australian citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated for international travel purposes can travel to and from Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. Please refer to information on Travel for vaccinated Australians.
Children under 12 and those who cannot be vaccinated for acceptable medical reasons will also be able to travel overseas without an exemption.
What if I am not vaccinated?
Unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents wishing to travel overseas (apart from children under 12 and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons) are required to apply for an exemption to leave Australia. You can apply online for an exemption but you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- your travel is as part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid
- your travel is for your business/employer
- you are travelling to receive urgent medical treatment that is not available in Australia
- you are travelling outside Australia for a compelling reason for three months or longer
- you are travelling on compelling or compassionate grounds
- your travel is in the national interest
- you are ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia. You must provide evidence to support your claims. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided.
Click here for more information - (see further below pertaining to COVID-19 recovery and exemptions)
What if I cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons?
If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident departing Australia you need to show evidence that you have a medical contraindication reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) for all COVID-19 vaccines available in Australia. As proof you should provide your Australian COVID-19 digital certificate. You can otherwise provide your immunisation history statement.
If a temporary medical contraindication has been recorded on the AIR, the COVID-19 digital certificate will display a ‘valid to’ date. After this time, you will need to either:
- check with your doctor to see if you can now get a COVID-19 vaccine; or
- ask your doctor to update your status on the AIR if your medical contraindication is still valid.
I have recovered from COVD-19, does that give me an automatic exemption?
We have had a number of enquiries from clients who are not vaccinated, who have recovered from COVID-19, and were given a 'clearance' form from their doctor for a period of time.
Unfortunately, at the moment, the Australian Department of Health advises that previous infection with COVID-19 is not considered a medical contraindication for COVID-19 vaccination.
Therefore this is also not considered an automatic exemption and they would need to apply for an exemption to travel.
You can find information on medical conditions that mean vaccination is contraindicated on the Department of Health website. It also includes information on conditions not considered to be a contraindication for COVID-19 vaccination and not accepted for the purpose of a medical exemption to vaccination for travel to Australia. See Evidence of Medical Contraindication to COVID-19 vaccine.
How about domestic travel?
States and territories can apply their own restrictions, including closing their state borders and additional quarantine requirements.
For the most up-to-date information about entry conditions, forms and requirements is on the government website of the state and territory you are travelling to.
You need to ensure you meet the current COVID-19 travel regulations and advisories for your departure point, destination, and any transit points prior to booking. This includes border declarations, testing and quarantine requirements.
If you need a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test, click below to book at your nearest location.
If travelling interstate, check the border declaration, quarantine and self-isolation government requirements for each individual state below.
- Australian Capital Territory Government travel advice
- Queensland Government travel advice
- New South Wales Government travel advice
- Northern Territory Government travel advice
- South Australia Government travel advice
- Tasmania Government travel advice
- Victoria Government travel advice
- Western Australia Government travel advice.
Do I need to quarantine upon my return?
If you are fully vaccinated with an Australian Government approved or recognised vaccine, or under the age of 12, you do not need to quarantine upon arrival in NSW.
You must go straight to your home or accommodation, Take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test, self-isolate until you get a negative result, and not visit a high-risk place for at least 7 days after arrival.
People arriving in NSW from overseas who are not fully vaccinated must hotel quarantine for 7 days. A cap on arrivals who are not fully vaccinated will apply.
Do I need to show a negative COVID-19 test result at check in?
For most destinations this is a YES! You generally need to test within 48 or 24 hours prior to scheduled flight departure, and display evidence of a negative test result at the time of check-in. Please ensure you check the requirements of both Airline you are travelling with and Destination, and adhere to the most restrictive.
COVID-19 PCR testing is required. A general COVID-19 test may not be accepted by some destinations so please ensure you are up to date. The PCR tests provide more accurate results than rapid tests, and that’s because they use a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the viral genetic material of COVID-19. This genetic material can be detected while a person is actively infected and also after the acute illness.
You need to make an appointment to pre book your PCR Test, and due to the surge of travel and demand for tests, you may be waiting. For requirements head to health advice of your destination or click here.
What else do I need to do before I depart Australia?
- You need to ensure you meet the current COVID-19 travel regulations and advisories for your departure point, destination, and any transit points prior to booking. This includes border declarations, testing and quarantine requirements.
- Download your Travel Vaccination Certificate from your myGov account
- Check if you need to produce a negative PCR Test within the time frame required pre-departure.
- Check the latest information on the Department of Home Affairs site - Leaving Australia
What do I need to do to return to Australia?
- Undertake a pre-departure COVID-19 test at your destination, within 3 days of your flight departure.
- Complete a Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD). This has replaced the Australian Travel Declaration and must be completed within 72 hours of departure to Australia. This must be completed online and you may be denied boarding if this has not been completed.
- Check the latest information on the Department of Home Affairs site - Returning to Australia
For more information:
This continues to be monitored and updated. For the latest advice please visit:
DFAT Smart Traveller site
The Centre for Disease Control (CDC)
Department of Health
World Health Organisation