COVID-19: Registering with DFAT

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

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. 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. 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.

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 and don't want to return to Australia
  • you're currently overseas and aren't planning to return just yet
  • you're currently overseas and 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. Prior to registering please check that you do not have a previous registration, which may have been done on your behalf by someone in your traveling party.

It's important to include as much detailed information as you can about your circumstances when you register with us, so we can better and more rapidly assess your situation. This includes any medical or other vulnerabilities affecting you or your family members. We can only assess vulnerability based on the information you provide to us.

Personal information provided to DFAT is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988. 

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.

How to register

To register with with DFAT, go to the registration portal.

If you think you may have registered before, try logging in before creating a new record.

 

Read more:

See also:

 

 

Frequently asked questions

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 arriving home.

The airline you're flying with may have its own requirements for boarding – make sure you check these before you travel.

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.

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