COVID-19: Registration FAQs

4 December 2020: We’re continuing to work to help Australians overseas return to Australia, including through arranging more facilitated commercial flights and providing emergency financial assistance to those in need.

We’ve been calling registered Australians to ensure we understand your circumstances. If you’re registered with us and didn’t receive a call, or missed the call, we’ll be emailing you over the coming week. Please ensure your registration details are up-to-date.

We’ve gathered some information to answer your commonly asked questions about registering your information with DFAT.

How do I register with DFAT?

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

What is the DFAT registration portal?

The DFAT registration portal is a database where Australian citizens and permanent residents who are currently overseas and wish to return home can register their details with DFAT.

Registering your details with DFAT does not guarantee we can facilitate your return to Australia. However it does help us better understand who's seeking to return home and how we can be most effective in helping.

Does registering mean the Government will be able to get me (and my family) home?

Registering your details with DFAT does not guarantee we can facilitate your return to Australia. The Government is doing everything it can to help Australians overseas to return. However the number of seats on flights into Australia is limited 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.

Registering allows us to better understand who’s trying to return home and helps us with our planning.

In the meantime, we recommend you continue to contact airlines and/or travel agents to try to find flights home.

Who should register with DFAT?

Register your details in the registration portal if:

  • you’re currently overseas and have been trying to return home but haven't been able to

Do not register if:

  • you’re currently overseas but don’t want to return to Australia
  • you're currently overseas but aren't planning to return just yet
  • you’re currently overseas but you don’t need help in returning, or
  • you’re in Australia and plan to travel in the future. Subscribe for travel advice and news updates instead.

You should complete a registration for each family member that is overseas. To allow us to assess your situation, please ensure you include as much information as possible about your current situation, including any medical or other vulnerabilities affecting you or your family members. 

You don't need to register to receive consular assistance.

If you need urgent consular assistance, contact the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate or call the 24/7 consular emergency number in Canberra on +61 2 6261 3305.

I’ve registered my details. What now?

DFAT will use the information you provide in your registration to assess your situation. We’ll contact you if we need more information or have information regarding potential flights that may become available.

If you need urgent consular assistance, contact the nearest Australian embassy or high commission or call the 24/7 consular emergency number on +61 2 6261 3305.

I’m planning to travel from Australia in the future. Do I need to register my details now?

No. The registration portal is not used to register future travel plans.

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

I’m planning on returning to Australia but I don’t need assistance. Do I need to register with DFAT?

No. You don’t need to let us know you’re coming back to Australia. Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents don’t need to apply for an exemption to enter 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.

Can I change my registration status? Will DFAT change my status?

We encourage all Australians registered overseas to ensure your registration details are up-to-date. There are currently four different options:

  • I am seeking to return to Australia in 2020
  • I am seeking to return to Australia in the first quarter of 2021
  • I am not seeking to return to Australia at this time but would like to remain registered
  • I no longer require assistance at this time

We'll only change your status based on information you’ve provided to us. We won’t remove you from our registration database without your consent.

Is this different to the registration system Smartraveller used to have?

Yes. The old registration system was for registering future travel plans. We no longer have this system. The purpose of this current registration portal is to help us better understand who is seeking to return home and how we can be most effective in helping.

If you’re currently overseas but don’t want to return to Australia, or if you’re in Australia and plan to travel in the future, subscribe for travel advice and news updates instead.

You don't need to register to receive consular assistance.