May 2020
COVID 19 restrictions generally prevent Australian citizens and permanent residents from travelling overseas.
However, there are a number of exemptions to travel amid Coronavirus outbreak:
- Your travel is as part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid.
- Your travel is essential for the conduct of critical industries and business (including export and import industries).
- You are travelling to receive urgent medical treatment that is not available in Australia.
- You are travelling on urgent and unavoidable personal business.
- Compassionate or humanitarian grounds.
- Your travel is in the national interest.
If you wish to travel during Coronavirus outbreak on the basis of one of these exemptions, you must apply for an exemption as early as possible and you must take evidence of that exemption to the airport.
You will not need to apply for an exemption to travel during COVID-19 pandemic if you are:
- Ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia.
- Airline and maritime crew and associated safety workers.
- A New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa.
- Engaged in the day-to-day conduct of outbound and inbound freight.
- Associated with essential work at offshore facilities.
- Travelling on official government business, including members of the Australian Defence Force.
Be aware that countries around the world are implementing their own border restrictions in response to COVID-19 and the international air network is reducing in capacity. This may impact your ability to enter another country.
For more information on COVID-19 pandemic, please contact Melbourne’s best immigration lawyers at Erskine Rodan & Associates for temporary visa consultation.
