Australia and New Zealand international travel Updates

New Zealand has been given the green light for quarantine-free travel from Australia as of 19 April 2021.

 

From this date, those who have been in either Australia or New Zealand for 14 days or more can travel quarantine-free to New Zealand. This includes people who have spent all 14 days in Australia, or people who have travelled from New Zealand to Australia and are returning within 14 days.

To travel quarantine-free you must meet the New Zealand Government’s health pre-conditions. All other normal entry requirements, like immigration and biosecurity, will continue to apply as usual.

Be aware that quarantine-free travel could be paused or suspended at any time, so ensure that you stay up to date.

Australian citizens and permanent residents who have been in Australia for 14 days before departure can travel to New Zealand without applying for an outwards travel exemption.

Note: This only applies when New Zealand is the destination of travel. If you are transiting through New Zealand to another destination, you must apply for an outward travel exemption

 

Temporary visa holders returning home

 

Temporary visa holders impacted by COVID-19 can make arrangements to return to their home country, if border restrictions in that country allow.

Temporary visa holders do not need an exemption to depart Australia. They can leave at any time, as long as border restrictions in their home country allow them to return.

Remember the COVID-19 situation continues to change.

 

Check each week:

• border restrictions
• availability of flights.

 

Commercial flights are available from several major airports across Australia.

You may also wish to find out if there are any private or government repatriation flights to your home country.

If you would like further assistance to return home, you can contact your embassy or consulate in Australia.

You can also register your details.

We will provide your information to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which may provide this information to your home government (either overseas or represented by the embassy, consulate or High Commission in Australia). However, if you require assistance from your Embassy or Consulate, you are strongly advised to contact them directly.

This service is only for temporary visa holders.

 

Australians and permanent residents

 

If you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident you cannot leave Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions unless you have an exemption. You can apply online but you must meet at least one of the following:

• 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 compassionate or humanitarian grounds 
• your travel is in the national interest.

 

You must provide evidence to support your claims. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided. Evidence may include:

• passport/s
• marriage certificate/s
• birth certificate/s
• death certificate/s
• proof of relationship (for example, shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account etc.)*
• proof that you are moving to another country on a long term basis such as leases, job offers and evidence your goods are being transported
• proof of your current valid visa, including in Australia and/or overseas
• letter from a doctor or hospital about any medical treatment/condition with statements on why travel is necessary
• letter from your employer, or other evidence that you are travelling for a business reason
• statement or evidence to show when you wish to return to Australia
• any other proof you may have to support your claims.

*For information about providing proof of your relationship refer to Evidence of relationship.

 

APEC business travel card

 

If you hold an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) you are not automatically exempt. You can apply for an exemption and provide evidence to support your claims. For more information on travelling using your ABTC see Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) for Australian citizens.

 

Travel restrictions and exemptions

 

Australia has strict border measures in place to protect the health of the Australian community. Very limited flights are currently available to and from Australia and you may not be able to travel at this time. Travel restrictions are subject to change. Please check back regularly. See: National Cabinet media statement.

 

Pre-departure COVID-19 test

 

A negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result is required for travelling to or transiting through Australia. Unless you are travelling on a quarantine-free flight from New Zealand, evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 72 hours or less before your scheduled departure must be provided to your airline.

Masks must be worn on all international flights, including in airports. There are some exemptions to pre-departure testing requirements. More information can be found at the Department of Health website.

 

Quarantine

Unless arriving to Australia on a quarantine-free flight from New Zealand, travellers to Australia (including Australian citizens) must quarantine for 14 days at a designated facility in their port of arrival. See Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. To find out more about quarantine requirements, contact the relevant state or territory government health department.

You cannot come to Australia unless you are in an exempt category or you have been granted an individual exemption to the current travel restrictions.

Temporary visa holders in Australia can depart Australia at any time, however, they will generally not be permitted to return to Australia. Additional information can be found at Temporary visa holders leaving Australia for a short trip overseas.

The majority of travel exemption requests to come to Australia are finalised within 7 days, but some complex requests may take longer.

If you are not in an exempt category you can request an individual exemption to Australia's travel restrictions.

 

Exempt categories

 

You are automatically exempt from the travel restrictions and can enter Australia (without obtaining an individual exemption) if you are:

• an Australian citizen
• a permanent resident of Australia
• an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident*
• a New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia and their immediate family members
• a person who has been in New Zealand for 14 days or more immediately prior to arrival by air in Australia
• a diplomat accredited to Australia, including their immediate family members (each member of the family unit must hold a valid subclass 995 visa)
• a person transiting Australia for 72 hours or less
• airline crew, maritime crew including marine pilots
• a person recruited under the Government approved Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific Labour Scheme
• a person who holds a Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188) visa.

* If you hold a temporary visa or do not yet hold a valid visa for Australia, you must provide proof of your relationship (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) to the Department before you travel to Australia. Do not travel until we advise that you can. You can find out more about how to provide this information at Immediate family of Australian citizens or permanent residents or New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia.

 

You need to carry evidence that you meet one of the above categories when travelling. Additional evidence may be requested.

 

Individual exemptions

 

The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force and decision makers may grant you an individual exemption if you are:

• a foreign national travelling at the invitation of the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response
• a foreign national whose entry into Australia would be in the national interest, supported by the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority
• providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies
• a foreign national with critical skills or working in a critical sector in Australia
• a foreign national sponsored by your employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)
• military personnel, including those who form part of the Status of Forces Agreement, Commonwealth Armed Forces, Asia Pacific Forces and Status of Armed Forces Agreement
• a person who resides on a vessel that seeks safe port at the closest appointed port for reprovisioning or safety reasons for a limited duration, supported by the relevant State or Territory government where safe haven is sought 
• a student completing year 11 and 12, with endorsement from the federal Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) and; support from the relevant Australian State or Territory government health authority and education department. Further information regarding this process can be found at the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.
• a student in your final two years of study of a medical, dental, nursing or allied health profession university degree, where you have evidence of a confirmed placement in an Australian hospital or medical practice which begins within the next two months.
• travelling for compassionate and compelling reasons.

 

You must hold a visa and an exemption to Australia’s travel restrictions before you travel. You can request an exemption online and must provide appropriate evidence to support your claims. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided. All documents need to be officially translated into English.

 

You need to apply for an exemption at least two weeks, but not more than two months, before your planned travel.

 

Your request must include:

• traveller details: name, date of birth, visa type and number, passport number
• proposed residential address and phone number in Australia
• your reasons for coming: why you should be granted an exemption
• a supporting statement: setting out how you meet one of the grounds for an exemption
• accompanying evidence.

 

If you are not granted an exemption, you should not continue with your travel plans, as you will not be permitted to board a flight to Australia. If you are granted a travel exemption, you need to take evidence of that exemption decision to the airport.

 

Compassionate and compelling reasons to travel

 

The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant you an exemption if you are seeking to travel for compassionate and compelling reasons. Compassionate and compelling reasons include, but are not limited to, needing to travel due to the death or critical illness of a close family member.

You must hold a visa and have an exemption to Australia’s travel restrictions before you travel. You can request an exemption online and must provide appropriate evidence to support your claims. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided. All documents need to be officially translated into English.

 

Where possible, you should apply for an exemption at least two weeks, but not more than two months, before your planned travel. If you are travelling due to the death or critical illness of a close family member, you can apply inside this timeframe and we will prioritise your application.

If you are not granted an exemption, you should not continue with your travel plans, as you will not be permitted to board a flight to Australia. If you are granted a travel exemption, you need to take evidence of that exemption decision to the airport.

 

Apply online for an exemption

If you are not in an exempt category you can request an individual exemption to Australia's travel restrictions using the Travel Exemption portal.

You need to apply for an exemption at least two weeks, but not more than two months, before your planned travel.

 

To complete a travel exemption request you should hold a visa, or have applied for a visa, and provide information and documents to support your request. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided. This may include the following:

• proof of identity
• evidence that you hold a valid visa
• travel itinerary
• marriage, birth, death certificate/s
• proof of relationship or residence (such as a shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account etc.)
• letter from a doctor or hospital, indicating why travel is necessary
• letter from an employer indicating why travel is necessary
• supporting letter from a business or government agency, advising why your skills are critical
• statutory declaration to support your claims.

 

Obtaining a travel exemption does not guarantee you will be able to get a flight to Australia at this time.

Please make only one request per person. Duplicate requests will delay assessment.

If you are not granted an exemption, you should not continue with travel plans, as you will not be permitted to board a flight to Australia. If you are granted a travel exemption, you will need to take evidence of that exemption decision to the airport.

 

Are you looking for visa options?

NO BORDERS: #1 TRUSTED MIGRATION LAW GROUP

Email: service@noborders-group.com

Tel:  +61 (07) 3876 4000

 

We will help you with exploring visa options and securing your application. No Borders Law Group is experienced in the Australian migration and visa application, and our migration agents and lawyers have extensive knowledge in the legal requirements, eligibility criteria, and the supporting documents required. Simply dial 07 3876 4000 or email: service@noborders-group.com and let us help you start with your way towards obtaining an Australian visa.

 

^{#Migration #Migrationlawyer #Migrationagent #Migrationlaw #businessvisa #pr #immigration #migration #australiapr #407 #australia #australiavisa #australianimmigration #australianvisa #migrationtoaustralia  #migration #visa #sponsored #Skilledvisa #regional #employersposnorship #sponsorship #SkilledRegional #trainingvisa#189 #190 #491 #temporaryvisa #occupationlist}

 

Source:

https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia

https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions