Outwards Travel Exemption

Outwards Travel Exemption

Departing Australia

Australian citizens and permanent residents cannot travel outside Australia unless exempt.

Travellers must be in an exempt category or must obtain an individual exemption from the Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner.

Travellers who apply for an individual exemption must demonstrate a compelling reason to depart.

Exempt Categories

If you fall into any of the following categories, you are not required to apply for an individual exemption:

• usually resident in a country other than Australia
• members of the crew of an aircraft or vessel, or a worker associated with the safety
  or maintenance of an aircraft or vessel
• New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa, even if they are
  usually resident in Australia
• engaged in the day-to-day conduct of inbound and outbound freight
• travelling in association with essential work at an offshore facility in Australian waters
• travelling on official Government business (including members of the Australian Defence Force
  and any Australian government official travelling on a diplomatic or official passport)
• individuals who are travelling directly to New Zealand and who were only in Australia or
  New Zealand for 14 days immediately before the travel date.

Travel to New Zealand

Australian citizens and permanent residents can travel to New Zealand without applying for an outwards travel exemption in any of the following scenarios:

• is travelling directly to New Zealand; and
• intends to travel from New Zealand only to return to Australia; and
  has been only in either or both of Australia and New Zealand for at least 14
  days immediately before the day the flight or voyage of the outgoing aircraft or
  vessel commences.

An exemption from the outwards travel restrictions applies to a person who:

• is travelling directly to New Zealand; and
• does not intend to return to Australia; and
• has been only in either or both of Australia and New Zealand for at least 14
  days immediately before the day the flight/voyage of the aircraft or vessel.

Papua New Guinea (PNG)

Travel to PNG from Australia currently presents a serious health risk to the Australian community.

Individuals seeking an ‘exceptional circumstances’ exemption to travel from Australia to PNG will only be approved in limited circumstances. For example:

• for critical workers providing assistance to PNG’s COVID-19 response;
• persons undertaking safety critical roles; and
• FIFO workers that are critical to continued operations and project safety (subject to appropriate private quarantine arrangements).

India

Individuals seeking an ‘exceptional circumstances’ exemption to travel from Australia to India will only be approved in the following exceptional scenarios:

• critical workers providing assistance to India’s COVID-19 response
• persons undertaking travel in Australia’s national interest
• persons seeking urgent medical treatment for a critical illness can’t be treated in Australia
• persons travelling due to the death or funeral of a close family member
• persons visiting a close family member who is critically ill
• persons seeking to travel to India to escort an Australian citizen or
• permanent resident minor back to Australia.

Individual Exemptions

Australian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for an outwards travel exemption in any of the following scenarios:

• demonstrates the intention to travel overseas for at least three months for a compelling reason
• is attending the funeral of a close family member
• is travelling due to critical or serious illness of a close family member
• is travelling for necessary medical treatment not available in Australia
• needs to pick up a minor child (adoption, surrogacy, court order etc.) and return to Australia
  with that child
• intends to complete an existing work contract
• is travelling to an Australian territory that is outside the migration zone
• other compelling reason for travel where travel is for less than three months
• is travelling on business, regardless of the length of intended travel
• has had a previous request approved and the reasons for travel have not changed
• travel is in the national interest
• travel is in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid.