Covid-19 & Travel Exemptions
Who Requires a Travel Exemption?
**** From 6 July 2022: People arriving into Australia:
Will not need to evidence their vaccination status
Will not need a travel exemption if unvaccinated
Will need to wear masks on flights entering Australia
Should remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have requirements that travellers must comply with
Will not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) or Maritime Travel Declaration
Additionally, people leaving Australia won’t be required to evidence their vaccination status.
*** On 21 February 2022, the Australian Government opened its borders to visa holders who are fully vaccinated, per Australia’s international border entry requirements. This means that these travellers who hold a valid visa to enter Australia will not require a travel exemption to enter.
Other valid visa holders who do not meet the vaccination requirements must meet the criteria for travel exemption, or evidence they meet the medical contraindication for not having a COVID-19 vaccination.
**On 22 November 2021, the Australian Government announced that certain eligible visa holders will be able to travel to Australia without a need for a travel exemption from 1 December 2021. On 29 November 2021, the Australian Government deferred that date to 15 December 2021 however, it is important to note that this is always subject to change and the standard travel declarations and respective state and territory quarantine requirements still remain.
Australian visa applicants and New Zealand Citizens who are not normally resident in Australia and have not been in New Zealand for 14 days, must obtain a travel exemption before they are permitted entry (New Zealand passport holders generally receive a visa on arrival while all other passport holders must continue to have a valid Australian visa).
To qualify for a travel exemption, you will need to meet at least one of the following primary reasons for entry to Australia:
Your visit is in Australia’s national interest or is to assist with the COVID-19 response, as supported by the Australian Government or a State or Territory Government
You provide specialist medical services or deliver critical medical supplies
You either:
have critical skills to supply essential goods and services including medical technology, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, engineering and mining, supply chain logistics, aged care, agriculture, primary industry, food production, and the maritime industry;
work in sectors critical to Australia’s economic recovery including fintech, large scale manufacturing, film, media and television production, and emerging technology;
provide skills in religious or theology fields
You are being sponsored by an Australian business to work in an occupation of the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)
Students completing Year 11 or 12 with an endorsement from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment as well as support from the relevant State or Territory government health authority
Students who have a placement in an Australian medical practice who are completing their final two years of medical, dental, nursing or allied heath profession university degree. The placement must commence within 2 months of seeking the travel exemption
Compassionate and compelling reasons such as the death or critical illness of a close family member
The Process
(Prior to 2022) You generally need to lodge your visa application before submitting your travel exemption. There is no guarantee the exemption will be approved even you meet the above guidelines and your visa has been granted - often, applicants have to make a number of applications before having their exemption request approved or deciding to walk away from the process.
If you are successful with both the visa application and travel exemption, you will need to carry evidence of the exemption with you as you travel to Australia.
Australia’s strict border measures does mean that limited flights are available to Australia and it may not be possible to get an immediate flight to enter. Furthermore, these travel restrictions are subject to change and it remains unclear on when they will ease; most likely once the pandemic has been dramatically reduced or is under control, worldwide.
Contact Us
Understandably, this can be an upsetting, frustrating and confusing time for all. If you need to travel to Australia to reunite with loved ones, to study, work or other compassionate reasons, contact us today to discuss how we can help.