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I am an Australian citizen or permanent resident

All travellers arriving in Australia must undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of arrival.

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.

Australian citizen

Australian citizens can enter Australia and, in exceptional circumstances, will be permitted to enter 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 resident

A permanent resident is someone who holds a permanent visa in Australia, including a Resident Return visa. Permanent residents must also undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine in designated facilities (for example, a hotel) in their port of arrival once they enter Australia.

New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia

New Zealand citizens who normally reside in Australia (with a subclass 444 visa or other permanent or provisional visa) can come to Australia. You must carry proof of residency (driver's licence or documents that show your residency). Present it at check-in. You must 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 Australia.

I am immediate family of an Australian citizen or permanent resident

You are only considered to be an immediate family member if you are:

  • a spouse
  • a de facto partner
  • a dependent child/ren
  • a legal guardian.

All travellers arriving in Australia must undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of arrival.

You may need to provide information to the Department before travelling to Australia.

Guardians

A guardian, in relation to a child, is a person who has responsibility for the long-term welfare of the child and has all the powers, rights and duties that are vested by law or custom in the guardian of the 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.

If you don’t have a 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 you have 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.

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.

Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa holders can’t come to Australia at the moment.

Apply online for an exemption or provide further information

Apply online

Travellers who have a compassionate or compelling reason to travel to Australia can also use this form to apply for an exemption.

All others

Travellers who have a compassionate or compelling reason to travel to Australia will need to have an exemption from the Australian Border Force Commissioner.

All travellers arriving in Australia must 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.

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
  • people 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 for humanitarian or compassionate reasons.

Exemptions must be granted prior to travelling 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 that they meet one of the exemptions above before travelling.

Depending on your reason for requesting exemption, evidence must be provided and could include:

  • proof of ID
  • marriage certificates
  • birth certificates
  • death certificates
  • proof of relationship (for example, shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account etc.)
  • visa status
  • letter from a doctor or hospital indicating why the travel is necessary
  • letter from an employer indicating why the travel is necessary or the work undertaken is critical
  • letter from a related business or company
  • any other proof you may have to support your claims.

All evidence supporting a travel exemption claim needs to be officially translated into English.

Apply online for an exemption or provide further information

Apply online

Travellers who have a compassionate or compelling reason to travel to Australia can also use this form to apply for an exemption.

I want to apply for a visa

You should reconsider your need to apply for an Australian visa at this time and check this page regularly for updates on travel restrictions and visa processing.  

Visa processing arrangements

The Department is prioritising processing visa applications for those travellers in the exempt categories to support urgent travel.

We encourage applicants to apply online wherever possible, as these applications will be processed faster than those lodged on paper.

You will not be able to apply for an ETA online while the travel restrictions are in place.

Disruption of services

Some services relating to the visa application process may be impacted by COVID-19 and a range of services we rely on are increasingly unavailable.

This includes overseas panel doctors (see below), English language testing facilities, biometric collection and paper application lodgement centres.

While these services are unavailable, many applicants cannot meet visa requirements. Applicants will be given additional time to complete checks and provide the requested information.

Visa medical appointments

Clients should be aware of disruptions to visa medical services, due to COVID-19.

My Health Declarations is temporarily suspended. The Health Requirement including the health examinations for your intended visa will be determined once your visa application has been lodged.

Our visa processing officers are aware of the disruptions. We will take the extended timeframes into account when considering your visa application.

You do not need to contact us if your visa medical appointment has been rescheduled.

If you have not yet lodged a visa application or have not been requested to undertake an immigration medical examination, there is no need to contact a visa medical services clinic in Australia or an overseas panel clinic at this time.

Student visas

You do not need a visa if you are overseas and studying online with an Australian education provider.

Education providers can issue a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and enrol students to study online.