This page has advice for Australians staying overseas long term.
Read on to learn about
What to consider when staying overseas long term
If you’re an Australian deciding whether to stay overseas long term, there are things you need to consider.
- The accessibility and quality of healthcare. Do you have the support systems and healthcare you’d need if you or your family got sick?
- Restrictions on movement. Many destinations have strict public health measures in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In addition to border measures, there may be specific quarantine or self-isolation requirements, local or country-wide lockdowns, curfews or domestic travel bans.
- Visas. Do you have the right visa, and are you able to stay on if it expires? Check with local authorities what visa conditions are in place.
- Fewer flights. It may be hard to find a flight back to Australia if you need to return urgently. There are fewer international flights available due to travel restrictions, disruptions to key transit hubs and limits on passenger arrivals into Australia. Travel regulations and restrictions are changing often and at short notice.
- Help and support. We continue to offer consular support around the world, but it may be limited in some places. In some destinations, 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.
It’s your responsibility to be aware of the local rules and regulations. Restrictions can change at short notice, and breaches can result in serious penalties such as large fines or jail time.
You need to decide what's right for you. Our travel advice can help you make an informed choice.
Travel to a third destination
If you're currently overseas seeing borders opening up and restrictions easing, you may be wondering if it's safe to travel to other destinations around you.
Travel between countries, and even within some countries, can still be unpredictable and risky. There could be new waves of infection that could shut down borders and bring about more restrictions. This could mean not being able to return to your country of residence or having to quarantine. Think about what this might mean for your health, and your family, work or study responsibilities.
We strongly encourage you to read our travel advice for your destination so you can weigh up risks and make informed decisions about your travel. We continue to keep our travel advice updated for Australians overseas.
Ultimately, the decision to travel is yours. And it's your responsibility to take care of your safety and wellbeing. Be informed of the risks to help you decide if you should travel, and be prepared before you go.
General tips
- Be informed:
- Read our travel advisories in detail. Read not just about COVID-19 but all our advice on safety, health, local laws, travel and local contacts. Be aware that some destinations were already at ‘Do not travel’ (level 4 of 4) or ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ (level 3 of 4) advice levels due to security or other risks.
- Subscribe to receive our news and updates.
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
- Check the website of the Australian embassy or high commission in your destination and follow them closely on social media for any updates.
- Be prepared before any travel:
- Read insurance policies carefully to know what will and won’t be covered. Many policies won’t cover claims relating to COVID-19. Take into account any possible booking cancellations if the situation were to change again and you’re not able to, or decide not to, travel.
- Understand the rules and requirements for where you’re going.
- Read our general checklist of what to do before you go.
- Stay safe:
- Follow the advice of local authorities, particularly regarding any self-isolation or social distancing guidance or rules. If you don’t comply with their direction, you may face penalties.
- Take care to minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19.
- Stay in touch with family and friends regularly. Provide them with contact details if you haven’t already, and provide those around you with contact details for your family or friends back home.
Need help?
For non-urgent inquiries, contact us online.
If your situation becomes life-threatening, or you have very serious concerns for your welfare, contact the nearest embassy or high commission or call the Consular Emergency Centre in Australia on +61 2 6261 3305.
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