Planning on travelling to Australia? Review the comprehensive guide to help you organise and gather your documentation.
Whether travelling by air or sea, when visiting Australia, you will need to present the appropriate documents upon your entry to the country.
Are you an Australian citizen?
Australian citizens have an automatic right of entry and do not require a visa. However, you will still need to present the following documents to clear immigration and Australian border protection.
- a valid Australian passport or another acceptable travel document
- a complete and signed Incoming Passenger card
Australians who hold dual or multiple nationalities should present their Australian passport when entering or leaving Australia.
Are you a New Zealand citizen?
New Zealand citizens who are visiting Australia are granted a Special Category Visa (SCV) upon arrival. The SCV is subject to health and character requirements.
To be eligible for a Special Category Visa, New Zealand citizens must present the following documents:
- a valid New Zealand passport
- a complete and signed Incoming Passenger card
- health and character declaration
New Zealand citizens who cannot present a New Zealand passport upon arrival should apply for a visa prior to travelling to Australia.
There are two exceptions on Special Category Visa eligibility: 1) if you have tuberculosis, and 2) if you have been convicted of a crime. Therefore, the best thing to do is approach an Australian immigration office to discuss your situation.
Do you hold a passport issued by another country?
If you are not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand, you are required to present the following documents to clear immigration:
- valid passport or another acceptable travel document
- valid visa or permit to enter Australia
- complete and signed Incoming Passenger card
- health and character declaration
Anyone who arrives without these travel documents might be refused entry to Australia.
Travelling to Australia in the time of COVID-19
As of the date of writing, March 2022, the current travel advisory during the pandemic is to reconsider your travel plans when travelling to Australia. This is due to the current pandemic standings and case numbers throughout the country. While this is only an advisory, it doesn’t mean that Australia is an unsafe country to travel to. Health authorities are constantly assessing the situation throughout the country and making advisements on how travellers can best adapt to the countries changing dynamics. Each and every day, Australia becomes more resilient to virus outbreaks and the government is actively taking steps to help reinitiate international travel throughout the world.
At the current time, the following people are allowed to travel to Australia without applying for a travel exemption:
- Fully vaccinated Australian citizens
- Permanent residents
- Eligible visa holders
- Travellers who are eligible for Safe Travel Zone arrangements
It important to understand that travel restrictions are constantly evolving and changing and so, it is best to check with government websites and follow the advice of health authorities when checking your eligibility to travel to Australia.
Quarantine and vaccination
Your vaccination status can significantly impact your eligibility to travel to Australia.
If you are fully vaccinated and exempted from travel restrictions, you may be eligible for reduced quarantine requirements upon arrival in Australia. However, quarantine policy can widely vary depending on the state or territory you are visiting.
Before booking your flight and travel accommodation, check the quarantine arrangements at your destination. Make sure that you comply with all requirements, including post-arrival COVID-19 testing. If you are travelling with unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children, be sure to read about quarantine policies for their age bracket.
If you plan on visiting different states or territories, you should check domestic travel restrictions. It is your responsibility to comply with the travel requirements that apply to you.
What if you were vaccinated overseas?
If you do not have an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate, then you must obtain a health certificate from the country where you were vaccinated. Before checking in to your flight, the airline will ask to see your vaccination certificate.
If you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, you must provide proof provided by your physician.
Travel declaration prior to flight
Make sure you fill out the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) form at least 72 hours before boarding the aircraft. Anyone who fails to comply with the requirement may face a penalty of $6,660 and will be delayed when arriving in Australia.
The ATD will require the following information:
- Vaccination certificate
- Contact details with a phone number in Australia
- A legally binding declaration of your vaccination status
- Declaration regarding your travel history in the last 14 days
- A declaration that you are aware of the quarantine and testing requirements in the state or territory you are visiting
Anyone who gives false and misleading information may face criminal prosecution under section 137.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
If you are required to undergo hotel quarantine, you will have to shoulder these expenses.
Pre-departure COVID-19 test
If you are travelling to Australia, you must present a negative COVID-19 test result. You can provide evidence through either of these methods:
- Negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or other Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) taken within three (3) days of your scheduled departure
- Medical certificate confirming a negative rapid antigen test taken under medical supervision within 24 hours of your scheduled departure
If your flight is delayed, you do not need a new test.
However, if your flight is cancelled or postponed, you will need to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR or NAAT test result no more than three (3) days before the re-scheduled flight. Another option is to present a rapid antigen test result within 24 hours prior to the re-scheduled flight.
If you had tested positive but have since recovered from COVID-19, you are required to secure a medical exemption for pre-departure testing. For more information, visit the Department of Health website.
If you are visiting Australia, you are responsible for the testing and vaccination requirements of the airline and any other countries you might want to transit to.
Be mindful that these details are correct at the time of writing and with the global pandemic situations rapidly changing, these conditions may change frequently.
At the airport
You need to present the following travel documents to the airline before boarding the plane:
- proof that you are fully vaccinated or proof that you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons
- proof of a negative pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test
- asdasdasdproof of an approved Commissioner’s exemption to travel to Australia, if applicable
- proof that you hold an eligible visa
- travel history the past 14 days
- travel documentation, including passport, immigration forms, and customs declarations
- proof of approved quarantine arrangements at a hotel in Australia, if applicable
Do you need more information? Make sure to keep yourself updated as the rules of the Australian Government for inbound travellers can change quite fast.