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COVID-19 and travel

Do not go overseas. A travel ban is in place. View details
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  1. Home
  2. COVID-19
  3. COVID-19: Leaving Australia

COVID-19: Leaving Australia

This page has information for Australians and permanent residents in Australia who want to go overseas.

There’s a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption. The Department of Home Affairs looks after this ban. Visit its Leaving Australia page for further information, including details on exemptions to the ban.

Before considering travel, be aware:

  • Flights may be difficult to find – both for leaving and returning to Australia. Many countries have closed their borders to foreign citizens and travel regulations and restrictions are changing often and at short notice. Be prepared for possible delays and disruptions to your travel.
  • Many travel insurance policies won’t cover claims relating to COVID-19. Read insurance policies carefully to know what will and won’t be covered.
  • Even if you get an exemption, you’ll have to comply with entry restrictions when you come back to Australia, including 14 days of mandatory quarantine. You may also have to pay for the cost of quarantine.
  • We continue to offer consular support around the world, but it may be limited in some places. In some countries, our embassy buildings are closed to the public or offering limited consultations by appointment only. This is due to tight restrictions on local services and movement, including of our embassy staff.

To stay up-to-date on any changes, read our travel advice for your planned destination/s and subscribe to receive news and travel advice updates.

If you have questions about visas or other entry requirements for your destination, contact the embassy or consulate for that country.

Read more:

  • General checklist of what to do before you travel
  • Travel advice explained - includes information on the difference between our travel advice and the travel bans
  • COVID-19: Trying to get home
  • COVID-19: Staying overseas

See also:

  • COVID-19 and the border (Department of Home Affairs)
  • Foreign embassies and consulates in Australia (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
  • COVID-19 Restriction Checker and links to state and territory governments (Australian Government)

Related content

COVID-19: Registering with DFAT

This page provides information on the DFAT COVID-19 registration portal. Read on to learn more about:

View details
COVID-19: Re-entry and quarantine measures

Australia has strict border measures in place to protect the health of the Australian community.

View details
COVID-19: Facilitated commercial flights

DFAT's highest priority at this time is helping vulnerable Australians overseas return to Australia.

View details

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