Travel to Australia: COVID-19 restrictions and entry requirements
Australia’s borders have been closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Strict measures were put in place to prevent the spread of the virus and protect public health.
Passengers who are exempt from the entry ban must complete the Australia Travel Declaration and may need to quarantine on arrival.
This page explains Australia’s current entry requirements and information about when Australia could lift its travel ban.
Is Australia open for travel?
Australia is not open for travel yet, the borders are currently closed due to coronavirus.
Foreigners can only enter Australia if they are exempt or have been granted an individual exemption.
Tourism and other non-essential travel is temporarily suspended:
Apply Australia Travel DeclarationWhen will Australia open borders for international travel?
Australia will open its international border from November 2021. People will be eligible to travel when their state’s COVID-19 vaccine rate reaches 80%.
Australia will take a gradual approach to reopening the borders. Fully vaccinated Australians will be able to enter and quarantine at home for 7 days.
Although the border will not be open to foreigners straight away, Australia is working towards welcoming back tourists.
Individual states in Australia will decide whether to accept overseas flights.
Who can travel to Australia now?
The following people can travel to Australia now:
- Australian citizens
- Permanent residents
- Immediate family members
- People who have been in New Zealand for at least the last 14 days
There are some other automatic travel exemptions for Australia, including airline crew, diplomats, and certain visa holders.
People can also apply for an individual exemption if they need to go to Australia for essential purposes. Examples include foreigners providing specialist medical services or working in another critical sector.
Can you travel from New Zealand to Australia now?
People who have only been in Australia or New Zealand for at least 14 days before departure can enter. This exemption does not apply to the Realm Countries or Cook Islands.
Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand is suspended until at least October 6, 2021.
Are transit passengers allowed in Australia?
Air passengers can transit Australia for 72 hours or less.
Transit passengers must quarantine at a hotel while waiting for the onwards flight. Quarantine requirements for transit passengers depend on the arrival state or territory.
Most passengers in transit need to have a COVID-19 PCR test no more than 72 hours before flying to Australia.
Australia’s COVID-19 entry requirements
People who are exempt from the travel ban need to meet COVID-19 entry requirements.
Quarantine, pre-departure testing, and a health declaration form are in use and will continue to apply when Australia opens borders to international travel.
COVID-19 measures may be updated at short notice. All passengers must check the entry requirements for the Australian state they are travelling to.
Australia Travel Declaration for COVID-19
Countries around the world are using travel health certificates to facilitate safe travel during COVID-19.
Passengers must complete the Australia Travel Declaration at least 72 hours before departure.
These groups of travellers need to complete the form:
- Australian citizens and permanent residents
- People who are exempt from the travel ban (automatic or individual exemption)
- Transit passengers
It is expected that international visitors will also need to complete the travel declaration for Australia when the entry ban is lifted.
Information to complete the Australian travel declaration
Travellers need to provide the following information on their COVID-19 declaration for Australia:
- Passport details
- Vaccination details
- Flight details
- Destination details
- Contact details
The travel health declaration is used to help the Australian Government establish quarantine requirements.
It also allows health authorities to get in contact with passengers if someone they travelled with later tests positive for COVID-19.
Results of the COVID-19 travel declaration for Australia
The confirmation email shows one of the following responses:
- Green (with a tick)—no quarantine on arrival
- Blue (with an hourglass)—quarantine on arrival required
- Red (with a cross)—the airline will decide whether to allow travel. Passengers must quarantine on arrival
Quarantine on Arrival in Australia
Currently, travellers arriving in Australia by air or sea must spend 14 days in government-approved quarantine.
There are exceptions in place for people arriving form green zones or in exempt categories.
Incoming passengers must quarantine in the city they arrive in, even if they plan to travel elsewhere in Australia.
When international borders reopen, vaccinated individuals may be able to quarantine at home for 7 days instead of at a hotel.
Do you need to quarantine when travelling to Australia from New Zealand?
Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand has been temporarily suspended.
A quarantine-free zone had been established between Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand is the only green-zone country, all other nations are considered ‘red’ meaning high-risk.
Passengers from New Zealand need to complete the Australia Travel Declaration, which will determine their quarantine requirements.
COVID-19 test to travel to Australia
All passengers need to have a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test before travelling to or transiting through Australia.
The test must be taken no more than 72 hours before the flight to Australia is scheduled to depart. Passengers must show evidence of the negative test result to board a flight to Australia.
Do you need a COVID-19 vaccine to travel to Australia?
An individual’s COVID-19 vaccine status does not determine whether they can enter Australia. It is only possible to enter from overseas if an Australian travel exemption applies.
Similarly, vaccinated people are not exempt from entry requirements. Fully vaccinated passengers must follow the same rules regarding pre-departure testing and quarantine.
Vaccination information should be provided when completing the Australia Travel Declaration.
Rules could change before the end of 2021. Australia expects to reopen international borders to people with an Australian vaccine passport or other proof of full vaccination in the coming months.