News

There is an active outbreak of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China, originating from Wuhan City. We recommend you do not travel to Hubei Province. This new type of coronavirus was initially linked to a large seafood and live animal market in Wuhan City, in China’s Hubei Province. The majority of reported cases are in the Wuhan region. There have been reports of individuals with the novel coronavirus outside of China.

The Pacific cyclone season is usually between October and May. During this period, even small tropical storms can develop into major cyclones. Their direction and strength can change with little warning. Cyclones lead to landslides, mudslides and flash flooding causing extreme damage to infrastructure. This can cut off communications and access to transportation, emergency assistance, medical care, and food and water.

There’s currently an outbreak of measles in a number of Pacific countries, including Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and New Zealand. Some countries now have stricter entry requirements to prevent the spread of the disease.

From Thursday 5 December large-scale strike action is planned to take place across France. The strike could continue beyond 5 December.

Lift off! We’ve redesigned Smartraveller to better communicate our travel advice so you can be informed and prepared about overseas travel. And return home safely. Our travel advice is clearer, with the essential security and safety information communicated in a more readable and accessible format. You can now access the travel advisories from any device, at any time and download and print them to take them with you on the go.

The Consular State of Play is a snapshot of the consular services provided to Australians overseas by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade during the year.

Red Frogs volunteers are coming to Schoolies in Bali and Fiji to support young school leavers and help you stay travel smart. Red Frogs volunteers act as the eyes and ears in accommodation venues and out on the streets, providing a positive peer presence to school leavers. They are non-judgemental and a lot of fun!

The UK and the EU agreed on a revised Brexit deal on 17 October 2019. The deal requires UK and EU parliamentary approval. The UK will leave the EU on 31 January, 2020 without a deal, unless an extension to the Brexit date is agreed or the revised deal receives parliamentary approval. If you are an Australian living or working in, or travelling to, the UK or the EU nothing will change in the short-term, including visa arrangements.