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  1. Home
  2. COVID-19
  3. COVID-19: Trying to get home

COVID-19: Trying to get home

This section has advice for Australians overseas who are trying to return home to Australia.

Returning to Australia from overseas is still challenging. There are caps on the numbers of passengers coming into Australian airports from overseas. We are working hard to get as many Australians home as possible. If you're overseas and wish to come home, be prepared for delays and disruptions to your travel.

  • Registering with DFAT
  • Facilitated commercial flights
  • Overseas financial assistance
  • Re-entry and quarantine measures

Who do I contact?

  • For information on available flights to Australia, contact individual airlines or your travel agent. Commercial flights continue to be available in most destinations and are the best option for returning Australia.
  • For questions about visas and other entry and exit requirements for the destination you're in, contact the relevant local immigration authorities. If you're unsure who to contact, look in the Travel advice for your location.
  • For up-to-date advice on local conditions, check the website of your nearest Australian embassy or high commission and follow them closely on social media.
  • Subscribe to the travel advisories for the destinations you're in as well as any you may be transiting through to receive important travel advice updates.
  • If you're receiving an Australian Government payment while overseas, you may be eligible to request an extension so that you continue to receive your payment until you're able to return to Australia. Contact Services Australia to discuss your situation.

Need help?

We know this is a very stressful time for those trying to come home. We encourage you to be patient, follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19.

If you need urgent assistance or advice about local conditions, contact the nearest embassy or high commission.

If your situation becomes life-threatening or you have very serious concerns for your welfare, call the Consular Emergency Centre in Australia on +61 2 6261 3305.

For non-urgent general enquiries, email smartraveller@dfat.gov.au.

 

Read more:

  • Find our information about how to stay safe while you're away
  • Read the Consular Services Charter to learn how DFAT can and can't help
  • See our information on medical assistance overseas
  • Read about taking care of your mental health overseas
  • See how to stay safe if you're travelling by boat

See also

  • COVID-19 and the border (Department of Home Affairs)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers (Department of Health)
  • Foreign embassies and consulates in Australia

Related content

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: Registering with DFAT

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

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
      • Facilitated commercial flights
      • Registering with DFAT
      • Overseas financial assistance
        • Overseas financial assistance FAQs
      • Re-entry and quarantine measures
    • 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
      • Cultural events
      • Religious events
      • Sporting events
    • 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
        • Facilitated commercial flights
        • Registering with DFAT
        • Overseas financial assistance
          • Overseas financial assistance FAQs
        • Re-entry and quarantine measures
      • Staying overseas
      • COVID-19 vaccinations
      • General FAQs