Australia and New Zealand have controlled the number of cases of COVID-19 in recent months, and now the most frequent question we’re being asked is if we can travel or visit family and friends this holiday season. Unfortunately, international borders remain closed for the festive season but both Australia and New Zealand are allowing people to travel freely between states for Christmas.
Travel exemptions remain in place
While a number of people still need to apply for travel exemptions to enter and leave Australia or New Zealand, both Australian and New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and their partners or dependent children, are able to come into their country of residence without first requesting a travel exemption.
Anyone else coming to Australia and New Zealand must have a critical purpose or a , compassionate or compelling reason, such as being a health worker, for humanitarian reasons or for the death or critical illness of a close family member, and must request and be approved for a travel exemption. However, travel restrictions are being reviewed continuously and in recent weeks Absolute Immigration have had more travel exemption approvals due to the submission of well-prepared applications, a If your
Another good news is that although international borders remain closed, both Governments are looking into how best to reopen them steadily and safely, and for all the concerned children, Santa has been given special permission to travel.
Safe travel zones
Australia has categorized New Zealand as a green zone and a low-risk country, which means that passengers arriving from New Zealand will not need to complete a 14-day mandatory quarantine.
The Australian Government is also considering other countries that have had very low COVID-19 infection rates, particularly in Asia such as Korea, Japan, Singapore, and other Pacific nations, to establish a risk-free travel zone and permit people to travel between without needing travel exemptions or having to quarantine. However, a decision on this front has not been made so far.
Quarantine for incoming travellers
All international passengers arriving in to Australia or New Zealand continue to have to undergo government-enforced mandatory quarantine for 14 days from arrival.
COVID-19 Australia Travel Declaration card
The travel declaration is currently for:
- travellers from New Zealand, including those who are transiting through Australia
- travellers on Australian Government facilitated flights
Travellers to Australia are asked to complete the Australia Travel Declaration at least 72 hours before they board their flight to Australia to confirm that they have not come in to contact with any known cases of COVID 19. The Australia Travel Declaration is free to complete and can be done online here.
Transit passengers
International transit passengers arriving into Australia can leave on another international flight that leaves from the city you arrived in. You must:
- stay at the airport if you must wait for your next flight for up to 8 hours
- go to mandatory quarantine at a state designated facility if the wait for your next flight is from 8 to 72 hours
Transit passengers cannot travel within Australia, even to meet a departing international flight in another city.
