Latest updates on Travel Restrictions to Australia for Business Innovation and Investment 188 visa holders

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 with us regularly.

All travellers arriving in Australia, including Australian citizens, must quarantine for 14 days at a designated facility, such as a hotel in their port of arrival.​ You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. 

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.

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

Update on requesting an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions

We are making it easier to submit and track your travel exemption request with a new purpose-built service delivery platform. The new travel restriction exemption portal provides a range of benefits, including:

• user-friendly functionality
• immediate acknowledgement of your request
• supporting documents can be easily attached and updated
• group and family requests can be linked
• you can track the progress of your request
• immediate notification when a decision has been made.

If you submitted your application before the new portal became available on Friday 17 July 2020, your request will have been finalised your request. If you submitted before 17 July 2020, and you have not heard from DIBP, you can contact us for service.

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 diplomat accredited to Australia (holding a subclass 995 visa)
• a traveller transiting Australia for 72 hours or less
• airline crew
• maritime crew including marine pilots
• recruited under the Government approved Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific Labour Scheme
• holder of 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 need to carry evidence that you meet one of the above categories when travelling. Additional evidence may be requested.