COVID-19: Re-entry and quarantine measures

Last Updated
Thursday, 14/04/2022
A COVID-19 test result QR code on a mobile phone screen held in a hand

Australia has border measures in place to protect the health of the Australian community.

Read this page to learn about:

This page is for Australian citizens and permanent residents returning to Australia. If you're a foreign citizen visiting Australia, read about coming to Australia on the Department of Home Affairs website. 

For general information for Australians about arriving in Australia, see our page on Australia's biosecurity and border controls.

Who can travel to Australia?

You can travel to Australia if you’re

  • an Australian citizen
  • an Australian permanent resident or
  • a New Zealand citizen who's normally resident in Australia
  • a fully vaccinated visa holder

Australian permanent residents and citizens can travel to Australia regardless of vaccination status.

All other travellers must apply for an exemption to enter the country.

The Department of Home Affairs looks after entry to Australia.

More information:

Proof of vaccination

You must declare your vaccination status in the Digital Passenger Declaration and Maritime Travel Declaration when travelling to Australia. If you’re vaccinated, you must provide your proof of vaccination to airline / cruise liner staff at check-in. You may also be requested to present it to border officials on arrival in Australia.

  • If you got vaccinated in Australia, you can use your International COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
  • If you got vaccinated overseas and haven’t registered your vaccinations in the Australian Vaccination Register (AIR), you can use a foreign vaccination certificate. The certificate must meet certain requirements to be accepted. To use your foreign certificate at the Australian border, you must complete the Digital Passenger Declaration with your vaccination status before you check in at the airport. Or if you’re travelling to Australia by cruise vessel, complete the Maritime Travel Declaration.
  • If you can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons, you’ll need to provide proof that you can’t be vaccinated. Your proof must meet certain criteria.

Children under 12 years and 3months, as demonstrated by their passport, travelling to Australia do not need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Be aware that airlines and transit points may have different vaccination requirements. Always check with them before you book your flights.

You may face more difficulty finding transport options if you don’t meet vaccination requirements.

More information:

Quarantine after arrival

State and territory governments manage quarantine for overseas arrivals. You need to comply with the quarantine requirements of the state or territory you’re arriving in, and any other state or territories you plan to travel on to. Contact the relevant state or territory authority for more information about quarantine arrangements.

It’s your responsibility to ensure you meet entry and quarantine requirements.

Modified quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers

Modified quarantine measures may apply if you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19, depending on the state or territory you arrive in.

If you’re planning to travel on domestically to another state or territory after arrival, check their entry and quarantine requirements. You may not be able to enter or may be required to quarantine, regardless of your vaccination status.

You need to provide evidence of your vaccination status for modified quarantine measures to apply to you.

If you don’t qualify as fully vaccinated

If you can’t be fully vaccinated, you may be eligible for modified quarantine arrangements.

  • If you can’t be fully vaccinated for medical reasons, you’ll need to provide proof that you can’t be vaccinated. Your proof must meet certain criteria.
  • Children under 18 years old who don’t qualify as fully vaccinated may be eligible for modified quarantine and testing requirements, depending on your state of arrival.

If you don’t qualify as fully vaccinated and aren’t eligible for modified arrangements, you may need to complete a mandatory quarantine period. Check the requirements for the state or territory you’re arriving in.

State and territory COVID-19 information

Each state and territory manage their own borders, international passenger arrival caps and quarantine programs. Before you return to Australia, read about the COVID-19 restrictions in place for the state or territory you'll be arriving in.

Masking requirements

You must wear a mask for the duration of your flight when travelling to Australia. A cloth or surgical mask is acceptable.

If you don’t agree to wear a mask, you will not be allowed to check in or board the aircraft.

More information:

Pre-departure COVID-19 testing

From 18 April 2022, you no longer need to get tested for COVID-19 when travelling to Australia. You must board your international flight on or after 18 April for the new measures to apply to you.

If you’re boarding your flight before 11:59 pm AEST on 17 April, you’ll need to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test at check-in. This applies even if your flight is due to land after this time.

Local authorities, transport providers and transit locations may have their own testing rules in place for departures. We recommend you check these before arriving at the airport. If you're transiting during your trip, check the local requirements at each transit destination. Confirm any specific rules for onward travel with your airline or cruise line.

Digital Passenger Declaration

If you're arriving in Australia by air, you should complete the Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD).

You can start a DPD seven days before your flight, but you must submit it before your departure for Australia.

The DPD requests details that are considered critical health information. You must provide evidence that the critical health information was completed before boarding the aircraft. This is an enforceable requirement. If you fail to comply with the requirement, you may be liable to a civil penalty (fine) of 30 penalty units (currently $6,660 AUD). This is set out in section 46 of the Biosecurity Act 2015.

If you don't make the declaration before you board your flight, you may be delayed when arriving in Australia.

For support completing the DPD, read these frequently asked questions. If they don't answer your question, contact the Department of Home Affairs.

More information

Maritime Travel Declaration

If you're arriving in Australia by sea, you should complete the Maritime Travel Declaration (MTD).

You can submit a MTD ten days before your voyage to Australia, but you should ensure you have submitted it at least three days before boarding your vessel. This is to ensure your health information and declaration is up-to-date when you board the vessel.

The MTD requests details that are considered critical health information. You must provide evidence that the critical health information was completed before boarding the vessel. This is an enforceable requirement. If you fail to comply with the requirement, you may be liable to a civil penalty (fine) of 30 penalty units (currently $6,660 AUD). This is set out in section 46 of the Biosecurity Act 2015. If you don't make the declaration before you board your vessel, you may be delayed when arriving in Australia.

For support completing the MTD, read these frequently asked questions. If they don't answer your question, contact the Department of Home Affairs.

More information:

 

Read more

See also

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