Skip to main content

COVID-19 and travel

Do not go overseas. A travel ban is in place. Exemptions apply. View details
Home - smartraveller.gov.au, be informed, be prepared - logo
Smartraveller
Facebook
Twitter

Where are you going?

Browse destinations

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
    • 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
      • The impact of COVID-19 on international travel
      • Leaving Australia
      • Trying to get home
      • Staying overseas
      • COVID-19 vaccinations
      • Mental health and wellbeing
      • General FAQs
    • Travel zones
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. COVID-19
  3. COVID-19: Trying to get home
  4. COVID-19: Facilitated commercial flights

COVID-19: Facilitated commercial flights

DFAT's highest priority at this time is helping vulnerable Australians overseas return to Australia. As part of this ongoing work, DFAT has arranged a number of additional facilitated flights with commercial airlines.

The number of government-arranged commercial flights depends on the number of people states and territories can quarantine in a given week. The government is engaging closely with state and territory authorities to increase quarantine capacity in major airports. It's also looking at options to open up more airports to receive more Australians back from overseas.

Read this page to learn about:

  • How to access the flights
  • The costs involved
  • Unaccompanied minors and additional commercial flights
  • Quarantine on arrival
  • Frequently Asked Questions

How to access the facilitated commercial flights

Those who've registered with DFAT and been identified as most vulnerable are given priority access to these flights. If we can offer you a flight, we'll contact you via the email you registered with us and advise you of next steps to secure your seat/s on the flight.

Vulnerability is assessed using information you provide about your financial, medical and other circumstances when you register with DFAT. Specialist consular staff assess vulnerability on a case-by-case basis. It's important to include as much detailed information as you can about your circumstances when you contact us, so we can better and more rapidly assess your situation. We can only assess vulnerability based on the information you provide to us. Read our page on registration for more information

We strongly encourage you to continue seeking commercial flight options through an airline or travel agent, even if you have registered with DFAT. Places on DFAT facilitated commercial flights are limited and those that have been identified as the most vulnerable are given priority. The location and schedule of facilitated commercial flights may be announced at short notice and seats sell out quickly. Please note there will not be facilitated flight options available to all locations around the world, and departure locations depend on a range of factors, including the numbers of Australians currently in a source country.

Costs

The airfares for the additional flights will be set at commercial rates, with loans through DFAT available to those who need financial assistance.

You're responsible for covering the costs of quarantine. For any queries about this, you may contact the Department of Health.   

Unaccompanied minors

Unaccompanied minors (under 14) can't return via the additional commercial flights at this time. However, if a a minor is  accompanied by an adult family member or guardian, they may be considered for future flights. The accompanying adult  must have permission to enter Australia.

If you or another parent / caregiver want to leave Australia to accompany a minor back to Australia, you'll need an exemption from the current outward travel ban. If you apply for a travel exemption, you must read and acknowledge advice about travel risks, including delays returning to Australia. You need to make sure you have the means to support yourself overseas for a significant period of time in the likely event of flight cancellations and/or other disruptions to your travel plans.

If you want to pursue standard commercial options for returning an unaccompanied minor to Australia, you'll need to discuss this with your preferred carrier directly, as well as state or territory authorities regarding quarantine arrangements. Each airline flying into Australia has different policies for allowing unaccompanied minors to travel on their flights.

Quarantine on arrival

When you arrive in Australia you'll be quarantined in a hotel or other accommodation facility for 14 days. You'll be transported to designated facilities after immigration, customs and biosecurity and enhanced health checks. You don't need to book a place in quarantine in advance.

You'll need to quarantine at your port of arrival into Australia. You can't travel domestically until you've completed the mandatory quarantine period. 

Quarantine requirements are managed by the relevant State or Territory authority. For more information about quarantine, see the Department of Health website.

 

Read more

  • Find out how to register with DFAT
  • Read about overseas financial assistance
  • See our advice on Australian re-entry and quarantine measures

See also

  • COVID-19 and travel (Department of Home Affairs)
  • Quarantine for incoming travellers (Department of Health)

 

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
Travel zones

Travel zones are routes of travel that have eased COVID-19 border restrictions, either in Australia, in the destination, or both.

View details
The impact of COVID-19 on international travel

COVID-19 has changed international travel. It’s more unpredictable, and far more complex. We've broken down what you should consider before planning to travel.

View details

Main navigation

  • COVID-19
    • The impact of COVID-19 on international travel
    • 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
    • Mental health and wellbeing
    • General FAQs
  • Travel zones

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

Information in other languages

Find information in other languages.

Connect with us

Facebook

Twitter

RSS

News

Read our latest news.

Footer

Australian Government logo. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • Privacy policy
  • Copyright
  • Cookies and analytics
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Legal
  • Sitemap

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
    • 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
      • The impact of COVID-19 on international travel
      • 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
      • Mental health and wellbeing
      • General FAQs
    • Travel zones