Currently Australia’s borders are closed. Only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia.
You can see if you are eligible to enter Australia on the Australia Government Department of Home Affairs website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/coming-australia.
Latest news:
If you are eligible you may need to undergo enhanced health screening on arrival in Australia and then all arrivals will be quarantined for 14 days and state and territory travel restrictions may also apply.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for international travellers: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-international-travellers.
New Zealanders could be traveling to and from Australia as early as alert level 2 Jacinda Ardern revealed, as the trans-Tasman bubble concept edges closer to reality. This is great news for those wanting to move to Australia or come home to New Zealand.
Many New Zealanders are desperate for the borders to open. For families stuck either side of the Tasman, video calls are as close as connection gets.
If implemented, the arrangement would see Australia, New Zealand and possibly Fiji open their international borders exclusively to one another, following successful efforts from both nations to curb the spread of coronavirus. Read more here about Fiji joining the bubble – https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417051/australia-backs-inclusion-of-fiji-in-trans-tasman-bubble.
The idea has garnered favourable responses from Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. It is seen as an effective strategy to boost tourism and the wider economy in both countries amid the challenging economic impacts of COVID-19.
Jacinda Ardern told media in a press briefing from the Beehive on Wednesday that while “tight measures” at the border would remain across all alert levels, that doesn’t rule out international travel at level 2.
The comment is encouraging for those working in New Zealand’s $34 billion tourism industry, which has been battered by lockdown, travel restrictions and border closures during the coronavirus crisis.
Auckland Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood, who is helping lead an effort to reopen our borders as soon as it’s safe, told Newshub Nation the countries have an opportunity to set “standards for travel restarting around the world”.
Margy Osmond, Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum Tourism co-chair, says a plan for how a trans-Tasman bubble would work could be ready in the next few weeks. Osmond’s hoping for a working strategy by the start of next month. “The plan with this is, although we know that it would take governments longer than that to make a decision about opening the borders, we need to be able show them the industry is ready,” she said.
While the Trans-Tasman bubble is viewed as a ‘favour’ to New Zealand by some Australians, the fact is that it will benefit both countries tourism industries, which are struggling at the moment.
The Trans-Tasman bubble could be in place by the end of the month, with temperature checks and masks considered to re-open the border with Australia again. Airports and airlines are hoping to test new safety measures in the next few weeks.
What was once a short flight is now a marathon journey with a 14 day quarantine either side. The bubble would mean that visitors travelling between the two countries would not have to go into quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.
Airlines are planning to have a working strategy by the beginning of June – and the plan with this is, although it is known that it would take Governments longer than that to make a decision about opening the borders, is to be able show that the industry is ready.
And for many, the sooner the better – to bring countries and families together again.
New Zealanders living in Australia are able to access payments from the Australia Government. If you were employed on the 1st of March 2020, you will need to talk to your employer regarding the below, as it is them who need to apply on your behalf.
Find information on the Australian JobKeeper payment, Employees Eligible for JobSeeker, Employers Eligible for JobSeeker, the payment process, payment timing, how to apply, the Australia Government Coronavirus information and support website for businesses and information from the NZ Hearld Article in this post: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/covid-19-help-for-new-zealanders-living-in-australia/.
Hi… I’m JJ Smith.
I’m the creator and editor of Moving to Australia and have been for 10 years! I know everything there is to know about New Zealanders moving their families and life to Australia. Either from first hand experiences and research or through the questions from visitors to this website… and I’m here to help!
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Vagisha
October 14, 2020 at 9:33 amHi,
I have been planning to move to Australia, Queensland, Brisbane as my whole family lives there, and i am finishing my studies in NewZealand and planning to move to Brisbane by the end of year. I am asking related to Trans-Tasman Bubble. Do we need to quarantine at a facility or self quarantine at home for 14 days related to Queensland border. If so what is documentation need before flying out from New Zealand?
Carmen
September 8, 2020 at 1:53 amHi I would like to move to Perth, and am in contact with someone who is keen to employ me from summer (so that’s the end of the year). I will basically just sell up what I have here and move (no furniture, etc.). How do I go about moving to Australia for a new job if the covid travel restrictions are still active?
JJ Smith
October 13, 2020 at 11:24 pmHi Carmen,
Thank you for your comment and sorry for the delay in replying.
Unfortunately Western Australia has a ‘hard border’ restriction in place, which will not lift it until phase 6 of the COVID-19 WA roadmap, they are currently at phase 4: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-wa-roadmap.
A tentative date for the removal of WA’s hard border was planned to be included as part of Phase 6, however, this was put on hold due to the rapidly evolving situation in Victoria.
When an indicative date is set in the future, it will be contingent on locally acquired infection rates in the eastern states.
The WA hard border will only be removed when the WA Chief Health Officer is confident the spread of infection is controlled in the eastern states.
The best place to find out when WA’s borders will reopen is the above site.
I will also be keeping my newsletter subscribers up to date with any major changes in travel between NZ and Australia.
Sorry I could not be of more help.
Shawna
June 15, 2020 at 10:43 pmHi there
I wanted your assistance with information regarding moving from Auckland to Sydney, hopefully by end of July, with a dog (whippet staffy cross) and probably about a half container worth of belongings.
What am I able to do during this Covid time?
Many thanks
I’m very stupid when it comes to this so any help would be great
I have accomodation lined up already
Shawna
JJ Smith
June 17, 2020 at 1:08 amHi Shawna,
Thank you for your comment.
Currently Australia’s borders are closed. Only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia.
You can see if you are eligible to enter Australia on the Australia Government Department of Home Affairs website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/coming-australia.
If you are eligible you may need to undergo enhanced health screening on arrival in Australia and then all arrivals will be quarantined for 14 days and state and territory travel restrictions may also apply.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for international travellers: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-international-travellers.
Hope the above helps. Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Karen
June 3, 2020 at 9:24 amAny news on when we might see the trans tasman bubble happen?
JJ Smith
June 3, 2020 at 9:25 pmHi Karen,
Thanks for your comment.
I’ve heard September from one source and July from another. We won’t know until the Government makes the announcement.
As soon as it is confirmed I will email the newsletter database.
Thanks
John
May 22, 2020 at 5:59 pmWe sold our home in Auckland and were cashed up ready to go on 26th April 2020…then COVID stopped everything. We are ready to fly when trans Tasman bubble allows flights to Queensland.
Question… can you throw any light on the recent RBA meeting / announcement re the $50,000 offer to new immigrants to buy / build new homes, to assist the building industry get going again.
JJ Smith
May 25, 2020 at 2:22 amHi John,
Thank you for your email.
Unfortunately I have heard from a few people in the same boat as you. Let’s hope the Trans-Tasman bubble opens sooner than later.
I’ve read up on the proposed ‘New home boost’, $50k to home builders. At this stage is still under discussion – https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/plan-to-give-new-homebuyers-50000-to-kickstart-economy/news-story/d310cada98c23f314f9b44e5a7391ea3.
However, you would still be able to apply for a First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) if you brought a new home – https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/are-new-zealand-citizens-eligible-for-australias-first-home-owners-grant/.
Make sure you register with either XE or OFX to transfer your money to Australia, as they will save hundreds to thousands with rates that the banks will never match – https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/foreign-exchange-money-transfer/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move, when you can move.
Marcel
May 22, 2020 at 2:50 amHow can this happens so quickly when some states like WA and SA are still not opening their interstate borders?
JJ Smith
May 22, 2020 at 3:52 amHi Marcel,
Thanks for your comment.
We still don’t know when the Trans-Tasman bubble will happen. It’s more the that they are getting ready for it.
Thanks
Marcel
May 25, 2020 at 12:59 amHi JJ,
Thanks for your quick response. I am hoping for this T-T bubble to happen soonest and get on the plane : – )
Will keep looking out for the latest update.
Stay safe and well,
Marcel