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COVID-19 and travel

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  1. Home
  2. COVID-19
  3. COVID-19: Frequently asked questions

COVID-19: Frequently asked questions

We’ve gathered some information to answer your commonly asked questions.

If your question is about overseas financial assistance, see our Financial assistance FAQs. 

If your question is about registering with DFAT, see our Registration FAQs.

I need urgent consular assistance now – who do I contact?

If you’re in a life-threatening situation, contact the local emergency authorities. Find the local emergency numbers under ‘Local contacts’ in the travel advisory for your destination.

If you’re overseas and need urgent consular assistance, contact your nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate, or call our 24-hour consular emergency call centre in Canberra on +61 2 6261 3305.

See I need urgent help for more information. See also our Consular Services Charter on what we can and can’t help with. Be aware that some Australian embassies, high commissions or consulates overseas are still operating at a limited capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions in country.

How do I book a flight back to Australia?

We recommend you continue to contact airlines and/or travel agents to try to find flights home.

For questions about visas and other entry and exit requirements, contact the relevant foreign embassy or consulate. Read and subscribe to Smartraveller travel advice for the latest updates on the country you’re in and any country you seek to transit through. Also check the website of your nearest Australian embassy or high commission and follow them closely on social media.

Make sure you’ve considered all your available options, and be prepared to put in place alternative arrangements in case your flights are cancelled at short notice, or while en route.

If you’ve been unable to return to Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions and are experiencing financial distress, you may be eligible for interest-free loans to cover living costs while you wait for a flight to return to Australia and/or to help cover the costs of the flight. Find out more on the COVID-19: Overseas financial assistance page.

Is the Australian government organising flights for Australians stuck overseas?

The Government is continuing to help Australians who have been trying to return home by arranging flights with commercial airlines.

If you're trying to return to Australia, you can register your details with DFAT via our registration portal. Registering your details with DFAT doesn't guarantee we can facilitate your return to Australia. However, it does allow us to better understand who’s trying to return home and help us with our planning.

The number of seats on flights into Australia is restricted by the quarantine capacity made available by states and territories. The Government is prioritising helping vulnerable Australians who have been trying to get home for a long time.

There are still commercial flights from many destinations. We understand you may have to wait longer than you planned to access these flights, and that they may be expensive. Continue to check with your airline or travel provider to discuss your flight options.

If you’ve been unable to return to Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions and are experiencing financial distress, you may be eligible for interest-free loans to help cover the costs of the flight and/or to cover living costs while you wait for a flight to return to Australia. Find out more on the COVID-19: Overseas financial assistance page.

How do I register with DFAT? What does this do?

If you're trying to return to Australia, you can register your details with DFAT via our registration portal.

Registration doesn’t guarantee we can facilitate your return to Australia. However it does help us better understand who is seeking to return home and how we can be most effective in helping.

If you’re in Australia and plan to travel in the future, subscribe for travel advice and news updates instead.

For more information about registration, read our registration FAQs.

How long will passenger caps be in place?

There are temporary caps on how many Australians are permitted to enter Australia. As airlines need to comply with these caps, your ticket may be cancelled or rescheduled. Check with your airline or travel agent. 

If you’re trying to return to Australia, make preparations if you’re unable to secure a flight home while these temporary caps are in place.

If you have further questions about the flight caps, please contact your Australian state or territory government.

What do I do if there are no flights to my Australian city?

If you’re looking for flights to Australia, be prepared there may not be flights to your desired Australian destination.

Contact your airline or travel provider to discuss your flight options. You may need to accept a flight to a different Australian city than you would prefer. You can then make onward domestic transit arrangements to your home once you have completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

Get the latest information on domestic travel restrictions for each state and territory.

What can I do to get financial assistance?

We understand that returning to Australia has become more expensive. If you require emergency financial assistance to fund your return to Australia, in the first instance, contact family, friends, your travel insurer or financial institution.

There are other options for financial assistance during this time, including:

  • Income support for individuals
  • Payments to support households

Information on these can be found on the Department of Treasury website.

Services Australia has established a hotline for people impacted by travel restrictions who may be able to access Centrelink payments. The phone number for people located overseas is +613 6222 3455. See the Services Australia website for more information, including country-specific hotlines.

If you need urgent financial assistance, after you’ve explored all other options, call our 24-hour emergency call centre in Australia on +61 2 6261 3305.

If you need urgent financial assistance, after you’ve explored all other options, you may be eligible for interest-free loans to cover living costs while you wait for a flight to return to Australia and/or to help cover the costs of the flight. Find out more on the COVID-19: Overseas financial assistance page.

What can DFAT do to support me?

Since the beginning of the crisis, we’ve provided updates on flights as information has become available and helped many thousands of Australians return home.

If you wish to return to Australia, first contact your airline or travel provider to discuss your flight options.

If you’re having difficulty finding flights, you can register with us at covid19.dfat.gov.au. Registering your details with DFAT doesn't guarantee we can facilitate your return to Australia. However, it does allow us to better understand who’s trying to return home and help us with our planning.

Read and subscribe to our travel advisories and news, and follow your nearest Australian embassy, consulate or high commission on social media for updates.

If you need urgent consular assistance, call our 24-hour emergency call centre in Australia on +61 2 6261 3305.

If you’ve been unable to return to Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions and are experiencing financial distress, you may be eligible for interest-free loans to cover living costs while you wait for a flight to return to Australia and/or to help cover the costs of the flight. Find out more on the COVID-19: Overseas financial assistance page.

What will happen when I arrive in Australia? Do I need to quarantine?

Australia has strict border measures in place to protect the health of the Australian community. When you arrive in Australia, you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival, unless you have an exemption. You may have to contribute to the cost of quarantine. You’ll probably have to be tested for COVID-19 at least once during your quarantine period.

The quarantine requirements are managed and enforced by state and territory governments.

For information about travelling from New Zealand, visit the New Zealand safe travel zone (Home Affairs) page.

For more information on what to expect on arrival, see our page on returning home.

How much do I have to pay for hotel quarantine?

Prices for hotel quarantine are set by the state government where you will do quarantine. Contact your state or territory government for details.

How long will quarantine arrangements be in place?

All international travellers arriving into Australia are required to complete the 14-day quarantine in the port they arrive in, unless they have an exemption. At this stage, quarantine arrangements will be in place for the foreseeable future. For information on quarantine arrangements in your state or territory, contact your state or territory government.

For information about travelling from New Zealand, visit the New Zealand safe travel zone (Home Affairs) page.

I’ve got a flight booked to Australia. Do I need to let the Government know I’m coming?

No. You don’t need to let us know you’re coming back to Australia. However, check entry requirements for the state or territory you’ll be returning to. For more information on what to expect when you arrive see our page on returning home.

The airline you’re flying with may have its own requirements for boarding – make sure you check these before you travel.

When will I be allowed to leave Australia?

Australian citizens and permanent residents cannot travel overseas except in very limited circumstances until further notice. This may include dual citizens.

Do not make travel plans unless you have been granted an exemption for travel from the Department of Home Affairs. Prepare for the ban to remain for some time.

You can find more information on the Department of Home Affairs’ Leaving Australia page. You may be eligible for an exemption to the travel ban for compassionate reasons by completing the COVID-19 request to travel form.

I can’t get a refund from my airline or travel provider

Contact your insurance provider to discuss claims and cancellations. See our page on COVID-19 travel advice level changes for information on previous advice level updates. You may find the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website helpful.

Does Smartraveller give advice on travelling inside Australia?

Our role is to help Australians travel safely overseas. We aren’t the right people to ask about domestic travel. For information about domestic travel restrictions, go to the Australian Government COVID-19 website for updates.

I’m not an Australian citizen, but when will I be able to travel to Australia?

There’s currently a travel ban in place so only Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family can enter Australia. This travel ban remains in place until further notice.

However on 2 October, the Australian Government announced a Safe Travel Zone with New Zealand. Passengers from New Zealand will be able to travel to Australia, quarantine-free, from Friday 16 October, if they haven't been in an area designated as a COVID-19 hotspot in New Zealand in the 14 days before. Check COVID-19 and the border (Home Affairs) for the latest information on entry and exit restrictions. 

I have a question about my Australian visa

Unfortunately Smartraveller doesn’t give advice on visas. You can find the information you’re looking for on the Department of Home Affairs website.

How do I subscribe for Smartraveller updates?

You can subscribe from any travel advisory page, the homepage or by going directly to the subscription portal now. You can find more guidance on how to subscribe or manage your existing subscription on our subscription page.

How do I unsubscribe from Smartraveller updates?

To unsubscribe:

  • Go to the subscription portal, enter your name and email address, and click Subscribe to receive the verification email (this won’t resubscribe you, the system will identify that you’re already signed up)
  • When you receive the verification email, click the verify link.  You’ll be taken to ‘Manage preferences’.
  • Scroll down until you reach the Unsubscribe section, and check the box to remove your subscriptions preferences and details. Press ‘Save and update’.

Alternatively, you can use the unsubscribe link in the footer of any notification email you receive if you have received the email no more than 30 days before today.

More guidance on how to unsubscribe or manage your existing subscription can be found on our subscription page.

Main navigation

  • COVID-19
    • Leaving Australia
    • Trying to get home
    • Staying overseas
    • COVID-19 vaccinations
    • General FAQs

Contact us

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For non-urgent enquiries, visit the contact page

About us

Smartraveller is provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

For more information go to about us.

Resources

View resources for travel industry and media.

Feedback

To provide feedback on our website or subscription service, email us at smartraveller@dfat.gov.au

To provide feedback on consular services that you have recently received, email consular.feedback@dfat.gov.au

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Main navigation

  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Schengen
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Children
      • Dual nationals
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Hajj
      • Ramadan
    • Health
      • Disability
      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
      • Medication
      • Mental health
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Assault
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
    • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
    • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
    • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
    • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
    • PacificBrowse all destinations in the Pacific.
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
      • COVID-19 portal
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
      • Passports in Australia
      • Passports overseas
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • (Tiếng Việt) Vietnamese
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
      • Malaysian community
    • Resources
      • Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Before you go checklist
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19
      • Leaving Australia
      • Trying to get home
      • Staying overseas
      • COVID-19 vaccinations
      • General FAQs