Modern slavery, exit trafficking and forced marriage

Last Updated
Tuesday, 13/01/2026

 

This page provides information to Australian travellers about modern slavery, exit trafficking and forced marriage. 

On this page:

Need urgent help?

  • If you or someone you know is not safe, or it’s an emergency:
    • in Australia, call 000 and ask to speak to the police
    • overseas, call local emergency services. These are listed under ‘Local contacts’ in the travel advice for your location.

If it’s not an immediate emergency, see our Where to get help information.

What is modern slavery?

Modern slavery is when a person forces someone to work, marry or do other things through coercion (like manipulation, control or violence), threats or lies.

Modern slavery includes:

  • human trafficking, including exit trafficking
  • slavery

Modern slavery-like practices include:

  • forced marriage
  • forced labour
  • servitude
  • debt bondage
  • deceptive recruiting
  • the worst forms of child labour.

Modern slavery is against Australian law. Penalties of up to 25 years in prison apply. 

These laws apply to any Australian citizen or permanent resident, even if they commit the crime outside of Australia.  

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking means moving a person within or to a different country through:

  • abduction
  • coercion
  • threats of violence
  • abuse of power or position
  • deception
  • taking advantage of people's vulnerabilities.

Human trafficking usually includes slavery or exploitation.

Exit trafficking

Exit trafficking is a type of human trafficking. It’s when someone  uses coercion, threats or lies  to take you overseas.  They might stop you from returning to Australia by taking your passport and money, saying they’ve cancelled your visa. You could then be  exploited or abandoned. You’re more isolated once overseas. Getting help can be difficult.

Temporary visa holders might be more vulnerable to being exit trafficked. 

Examples of exit trafficking:

  • A husband tricks his wife into going overseas by telling her it is for a holiday. He then takes her passport and returns to Australia without her.
  • Parents take their 18-year-old son to visit family overseas. The parents leave their son with the family against his will.   
  • A family take their daughter overseas for the summer holidays. They force her to marry someone when she arrives in the other country. This is an example of exit trafficking for the purpose of forced marriage.

Forced marriage

In Australia, forced marriage is when someone is:

  • made to get married without their free and full consent or
  • is incapable of understanding what a marriage ceremony means or
  • is under the age of 16 when they are married. 

Forced marriages are different from arranged marriages. In arranged marriages, others might help set up the marriage, but both people freely and fully consent to enter the marriage. 

In Australia, both people must fully and freely consent to a marriage. It's illegal to:

  • force someone into a marriage or
  • marry someone who is being forced into a marriage.

It may be human trafficking if you are taken overseas for forced marriage. 

If you are the victim of a forced marriage, you’re not in trouble for taking part in the forced marriage.

Find out more about forced marriage, and how to get help for yourself or support someone else.

Underage marriage

To get married in Australia, you must be at least 18 years old. A person who is 16 or 17 can marry someone who is 18 or older in Australia, but only if they have:

  • got a court order based on there being exceptional and unusual circumstances and parental consent.
  • The underage person must also understand what marriage means and freely agree to marry.

You might be taken to a country where the legal age to marry is lower than in Australia. Australia won’t recognise the marriage of:

  • an Australian 16- or 17-year-old without an Australian court order or
  • any marriage of an Australian child under 16, even if it’s legal in the country where it happened. 

Taking children overseas to be forcibly married is against the law in Australia.

Find out more about rules for getting married in Australia and getting married overseas.

Forced labour and other forms of modern slavery

In modern slavery, one person uses their power over another to control or use them for their own benefit. It takes away someone’s freedom to make choices for themselves. 

Other forms of modern slavery include:

Someone experiencing modern slavery might be used, bought, sold or traded like property. You might have no choice about:

  • where and when you work
  • what you do
  • how long you work for.

You might feel you are not free to stop working or leave the place where you work.   

The work could be for a legal business. Or it may be illegal, like working in a scam call centre or the drug trade. 

Perpetrators of modern slavery often falsely advertise jobs in another country. Before taking a job overseas:

Some scammers begin their scam while you’re in Australia. Scammers often trick victims into travelling overseas by promising romance or money. 

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Where to get help   

Before you travel – get help

If you or someone you know is not safe or it is an emergency, 

  • phone Triple Zero (000) and ask to speak to the police. 

You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.

If you think you might be experiencing modern slavery or could be at risk, call the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on 131 237 from Australia.

Try to call before you leave Australia. It will be a lot harder to help once you're overseas.

If you have no choice and end up going overseas:

  • leave a copy of your passport and contact details with a trusted friend or family member.

Try to take:

  • money in Australian and local currency
  • a spare mobile phone with international roaming
  • a copy of your passport, photo ID and plane tickets
  • contact details for the Australian embassy or consulate in the country you're going to.

If you're overseas – get help

When you try to get help, think about your safety first. If you think your life is in danger, find a safe place to call local emergency services. 

Consular assistance

Call the 24/7 Australian Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305. 

If you can’t access a phone, use our online contact form.

Consular staff can work with you or a trusted person to give advice and support. 

  • If you don't have a passport - they can help you get a replacement.
  • If you have no money - they may be able to help you access a safe place to stay and assist you in returning to Australia.

Our ability to help you overseas is limited by:

  • local laws and conditions
  • international rules for consular work
  • the level of cooperation of people outside the Australian Government.

If you're a dual national in your other country of citizenship, we may not be able to help.  Read how dual nationality can affect how we can help.

Get help for someone else

If you know someone at risk of human trafficking or another form of modern slavery:

Reports can be anonymous and are confidential.

If the person has been taken overseas, try to include details like:

  • a photo
  • a passport number
  • social media profiles
  • contact details of where they might be staying
  • an email address or phone number.

Support services

If you have experienced modern slavery including forced marriage, Australia has dedicated support programs to help with your safety, security, health and wellbeing. 

Find out more about:

Read more on Smartraveller

See also external information

 

Related content

Staying within the law

Understand the local laws of the country you're visiting and the Australians laws that still apply to you when overseas

View details
Carrying or using drugs

 

View details
Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Australian laws apply to acts of female genital mutilation overseas as well as domestically.

View details