We’ve gathered some information to answer your commonly asked questions about COVID-19 and travel.
If you have a question, please read these along with our step-by-step guide to travel during COVID-19 and the travel advice for your destination before you contact us.
Consular assistance
Leaving Australia
- Is it safe to travel to…?
- Can I leave Australia if I’m not vaccinated?
- Where can I travel quarantine-free?
- Can I get travel insurance that covers COVID-19?
- Do I need to get a PCR test to leave Australia?
- I’m a dual citizen. Can I leave Australia on my foreign passport?
COVID-19 vaccinations and travel
- What does fully vaccinated mean?
- How do I prove my vaccination status if I was vaccinated overseas?
- How do I get my Australian international vaccination certificate?
- I’m travelling overseas with my children. Do they need to be vaccinated?
Coming to Australia
- Will I have to quarantine when I arrive in Australia?
- Do I need to get a PCR test before I travel to Australia?
- Are there still caps on international arrivals?
- Can I travel to Australia if I’m not vaccinated?
- I’m a dual citizen. Can I come into Australia on my foreign passport?
- Can I travel on to a different state after I arrive?
- Can my family come to Australia?
- My airline won’t let me board because of my vaccination status. What do I do?
- What happens if I test positive in my pre-flight COVID-19 PCR test?
- I’m having trouble completing my Australia Travel Declaration.
Consular assistance
I need urgent 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 emergency 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. Do not contact the emergency centre with general enquires - contact us online instead.
See I need urgent help for more information.
Can you help with…?
Our Consular Services Charter breaks down what assistance we may be able to provide, and what we can’t help with.
Read more about
- The Consular Services Charter, including in other languages
- Who Smartraveller is, and what we do
- Our services
Leaving Australia
Is it safe to travel to…?
We provide comprehensive travel advice for 177 destinations. Find your destination by searching or browse the destinations list.
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Can I leave Australia if I’m not vaccinated?
If you don’t qualify as fully vaccinated, you must apply for an exemption to leave Australia unless you are
- unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons
- under 12 years of age
Exemptions are managed by the Department of Home Affairs.
Read more about
- Leaving Australia
- COVID-19 vaccinations and travel
- COVID-19 and the border (Department of Home Affairs)
Where can I travel quarantine-free?
Where possible, we include entry measures such as quarantine and testing in the travel advice for all destinations. Find your destination by searching or browse the destinations list.
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Can I get travel insurance that covers COVID-19?
We’ve partnered with CHOICE to create a COVID-19 relevant travel insurance buying guide. The guide answers common questions about what cover is available, and what you need to think about when buying travel insurance.
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Do I need to get a PCR test to leave Australia?
The Australian government doesn’t need you to get a COVID-19 PCR test to leave Australia. But your airline or destination might.
Check the requirements of your destination, airline and any transit locations before you leave. Make sure you do so early enough to allow for the time the test takes.
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I’m a dual citizen. Can I leave Australia on my foreign passport?
If you hold other nationalities besides Australian, you should enter and leave Australia on your Australian passport, as it contains your proof of Australian nationality.
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COVID-19 Vaccination and travel
What does fully vaccinated mean?
You can find the Australian definition of fully vaccinated on our page about COVID-19 vaccinations.
Other destinations may have a different definition of fully vaccinated. It’s your responsibility to find out if you meet the requirements for all your destinations before you travel.
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How do I prove my vaccination status if I was vaccinated overseas?
When travelling to Australia, you can use your foreign vaccination certificate to prove your vaccination status. The certificate must meet certain criteria.
While in Australia, state and territory governments determine what proof of vaccination is required. Contact the relevant state or territory authority to find information on vaccination requirements.
Read more about
- Foreign vaccination certificates (Australia Passport Office)
- State and territory COVID-19 information (Australian Government)
- Registering a vaccination received overseas
How do I get my Australian international vaccination certificate?
Read our advice on how to get your Australian International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate, or visit the Australian Passport Office.
I’m travelling overseas with my children. Do they need to be vaccinated?
For information on what vaccination requirements currently apply to children for overseas travel, read our page on COVID-19 vaccinations.
Read more about
Coming to Australia
Will I have to quarantine when I arrive in Australia?
Quarantine is managed by the states and territories. Contact the relevant state or territory authority to find information on entry rules and requirements.
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Do I need to get a PCR test before I travel to Australia?
Yes. You must present a negative COVID-19 test when you board your first international flight to Australia. Vaccination against COVID-19 doesn’t change this requirement.
Read more about
- Australian re-entry and quarantine measures
- PCR testing requirements (Department of Health)
Are there still caps on international arrivals?
Incoming passenger arrival caps still apply in all states and territories to passengers who don’t qualify as fully vaccinated.
If you’re fully vaccinated, you may be able to enter above the caps depending on the state or territory you arrive in.
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Can I travel to Australia if I’m not vaccinated?
Yes. If you don’t qualify as fully vaccinated, you’ll need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in a designated facility unless you are
- unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons
- under 12 years of age
Incoming passenger arrival caps still apply to passengers who don’t qualify as fully vaccinated.
You may face more difficulty finding flights if you are unvaccinated.
Read more about
- Australian re-entry and quarantine measures
- COVID-19 vaccination and travel
- State and territory COVID-19 information
I’m a dual citizen. Can I come into Australia on my foreign passport?
If you hold other nationalities besides Australian, you should enter and leave Australia on your Australian passport, as it contains your proof of Australian nationality.
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Can I travel on to a different state after I arrive?
Quarantine and interstate border measures are managed by the states and territories. Contact the relevant state or territory authority to find information on entry rules and requirements.
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Can my family come to Australia?
You can travel to Australia if you’re
- an Australian citizen
- an Australian permanent resident or
- in an exempt category
The Department of Home Affairs look after entry to Australia.
Read more about
- COVID-19 and the border (Department of Home Affairs)
My airline won’t let me board because of my vaccination status. What do I do?
Airlines are imposing their own vaccination policies. It’s your responsibility to check vaccination requirements with your travel agent or airline before booking your flights or arriving at the airport. This includes for any flights you will be transiting on to.
If your airline won’t let you board because you don’t meet their vaccination requirements, you’ll need to seek a flight that will accept you.
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What happens if I test positive in my pre-flight COVID-19 PCR test?
If you or someone in your immediate travelling party test positive for COVID-19, you won’t be able to board your flight.
If you test positive in your pre-flight test, don’t go to the airport. Isolate immediately and contact the local health authority for advice on what to do.
If you need urgent medical care, you can find the contact details for local emergency services in the ‘Local emergency contacts’ section of the travel advice for your location.
Read more about
- PCR testing requirements (Department of Health)
- Medical assistance overseas
I’m having trouble completing my Australia Travel Declaration.
For questions or assistance with the Australia Travel Declaration, contact the Department of Home Affairs.
Read more about
- The Australia Travel Declaration (Department of Home Affairs)
If your question still isn’t answered, contact us online.