After a long year, Australia has hit a major COVID milestone with interstate travel now possible. Here’s everything you need to know including the latest rules and forms to fill.
Australia has hit a major milestone with state border restrictions being almost completely eliminated by this weekend, marking the first time the country has been open for months.
25 February 2021
Quarantine free travel from New Zealand to Australia has resumed
All of New Zealand is now at alert level 1. Face coverings are mandatory for all public transport and domestic flights in New Zealand. The Safe Travel Zone allowing quarantine free flights from New Zealand to Australia resumed on 21 February 2021. If you’re travelling on a green zone flight and have been in Auckland in the last 14 days, you’ll need a negative COVID-19 test in the 72 hours prior to departure. These conditions will apply until 1 March 2021.
More info: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/pacific/new-zealand.
But there are rules, forms, catches and exemptions to be aware of, along with warnings and promises that any outbreak will immediately see new closures and rules put back in place.
South Australians face the toughest restrictions with Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, the ACT and the Northern Territory closing their borders, but hope is finally here.
Before you travel within Australia or from New Zealand
It is important you find out about the restrictions and conditions for the place you are travelling to. You should do this before booking or leaving your home.
The Australian aviation industry has developed Domestic Passenger Journey Protocols. These protocols provide clear and consistent guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in domestic airports and on aircraft.
Mandatory quarantine applies to travellers entering Australia from overseas, except if arriving from a green zone country (New Zealand). Read more about international travel restrictions and quarantine exemptions for travellers arriving in Australia.
State of Australian borders
Western Australia
Travellers from NSW, VIC, NT, QLD, ACT, and TAS can enter without quarantine having completed a G2G PASS declaration (find more info below). The border was closed to SA until December 11 (yesterday), when it moved to “low risk” status. Travellers will then be able to enter with some controls, including quarantine (https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/covid-communications/covid-19-coronavirus-controlled-interstate-border).
Travellers from ACT, NT, QLD, TAS, NSW and VIC will not be required to quarantine while those from SA will need to self-quarantine for 14 days in a “suitable premise”.
“When the risk from SA is considered ‘very low’ by the chief health officer or when they have not had community cases of COVID-19 in the past 28 days, easing of the restrictions on these states will be considered,” the WA government has stated.
G2G NOW
If you are entering WA and required to self-quarantine, you can download the G2G NOW app which enables WA Police to conduct quarantine compliance checks using facial recognition and mobile location data. Police can send remote check-in requests through the app.
Police will conduct in-person visits for people who do not download and use the G2G NOW app.
Find out more about G2G NOW.
Northern Territory
The border is open to all Australian states and territories as there are no COVID hotspot declarations in place. All travellers must complete a border entry form.
You will have to quarantine if you have been in a declared COVID-19 hotspot in the 14 days before you arrive in the Territory.
NT Border Entry Application
You must fill in this application if you are travelling to the NT from another location within Australia or overseas. Anyone seeking to enter the NT must declare:
- if they have been in a COVID-19 hotspot
- where they have been in the last 28 days
- their personal contact details
Complete this application no more than 7 days prior to arriving in the Northern Territory. You should be aware of the Chief Health Officer directions regarding entry to the Northern Territory.
This application will take around 5 mins to complete: https://forms.nt.gov.au/Produce/Form/COVID19/Northern%20Territory%20Border%20Entry%20Application/.
South Australia
SA is open to travellers from all other states and territories, having completed a Cross Border Travel Registration. Some states have imposed restrictions on travellers from SA.
Cross Border Travel Registration
https://forms.police.sa.gov.au/Runtime/Runtime/Form/CrossBorderTravel
Queensland
Queensland borders are open to all of Australia and the New Zealand safe travel zone.
You do not need a border pass to enter Queensland.
Arriving from overseas?
If you are arriving from overseas, please visit the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs website.
New South Wales
The border is open to all Australian states and territories and New Zealand, but anyone who has been in SA in the previous 14 days must complete an entry declaration form. Some specific locations in SA are deemed “areas of concern” for particular time frames, and travel will be restricted for non-NSW residents.
Complete a NSW entry declaration form
https://apply.service.nsw.gov.au/nsw-entry-declaration
You can do this:
- within the 24 hour period before entering NSW, or
- when you enter NSW.
You’ll need to complete an entry declaration form each time you enter NSW, but not more than one per calendar day. Keep a copy of your declaration with you at all times while you’re travelling as you’ll need to produce it if requested by an enforcement officer. You also need to carry any supporting evidence associated with your travel, at all times.
