We know many of you might be seeking to make travel insurance claims due to COVID-19 related disruptions. You’ve asked us for information about when we raised our travel advice levels for different destinations and globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below is a list of the changes we made to raise the advice level for a destination overall or part of the destination to Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel' or Level 4 'Do not travel'. We have included moves up to Level 2 ' Exercise a high degree of caution' when we raised other parts of the destination to Level 3 at the same time.
See Travel advice explained for further information on advice levels.
If this doesn’t answer your question, please contact us.
Global level changes
| 13 March 2020 |
All Level 1 'Exercise normal safety precautions' and Level 2 - 'Exercise a high degree of caution' destinations were moved to Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel'. Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel' and Level 4 'Do not travel' destinations and intra-destination regions remain the same |
| 18 March 2020 | A global Level 4 'Do not travel' advisory was introduced for all destinations. |
| 28 October 2021 |
The global Level 4 'Do not travel' advisory was removed. Destinations returned to individual levels based on a current assessment of risk. No destination was lowered below Level 2 'Exercise a high degree of caution' |
Outbound travel ban
| 25 March 2020 |
Australian citizens and permanent residents are banned from leaving the country. Exemptions apply. The travel ban and exemptions are managed by the Department of Home Affairs. |
| 1 November 2021 |
Fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents are automatically exempt from the outward travel ban. Unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents must still seek an exemption to travel. |
| 18 April 2022 | The emergency pandemic measures under the Biosecurity Act lapsed, ending the outbound travel ban. All Australian citizens and permanent residents can travel into and out of Australia without seeking an exemption to travel. |
China
| 23 January 2020 | Wuhan to Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel' |
| 24 January 2020 | Hubei to Level 4 'Do not travel' |
| 28 January 2020 |
China overall to Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel' Hubei remained at Level 4 'Do not travel' |
| 1 February 2020 | China overall to Level 4 'Do not travel' |
South Korea
| 23 February 2020 |
South Korea overall to Level 2 ' Exercise a high degree of caution' Daegu and Cheongdo to Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel' |
| 5 March 2020 |
South Korea overall to Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel' Daegu to Level 4 'Do not travel' |
Italy
| 1 March 2020 |
Italy overall to Level 2 'Exercise a high degree of caution' 10 small towns in Lombardy (Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano) and one in Veneto (Vo’ Euganeo) to Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel' |
| 10 March 2020 |
Italy overall to Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel' Region of Lombardy, and to the provinces of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio nell' Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Vercelli, Padova, Treviso, and Venezia to Level 4 'Do not travel' |
Iran
| 29 February 2020 | Iran overall to Level 4 'Do not travel' |
Cruises
| 9 March 2020 | We advise Australians to reconsider cruising at this time. |