Where you can and can’t travel this Christmas

Fully vaccinated people can now travel to Queensland without quarantining. We take a look at the rules for Qld and the rest of the nation.

Fully vaccinated people will now be able to travel to Queensland without quarantining under certain conditions, after rules changed at 1am on Monday, December 13.

Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said travellers no longer had to wait two weeks to be considered fully vaccinated, with one week deemed enough.

“We will live with Covid – but on our terms,” she said.

It comes as SA eases rules for those arriving from moderate risk states, allowing them to avoid isolation while waiting for a negative test result - meaning they can go to the cricket and start holidaying without a result.

But other new rules now mean anyone deemed a close contact of a person in SA with the Omicron variant will have to quarantine for 14 days - instead of the usual 7.

Check at the travel rules as they stand right now.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (currently 84.3% 16 years or older double vaccinated)

Overseas: Fully vaccinated international travellers must undergo a PCR test and quarantine for 14 days at home or in hotel from November 23, and again test negative to Covid on day 6 and 13. They cannot go to high-risk settings. Anyone from the nine African countries where the Omicron variant has been found will undergo 14 days quarantine.

Interstate: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers will only have to quarantine for 7 days. Interstate travellers must also provide a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours before arriving in SA. Travellers from NSW, Vic and the ACT are now also required to produce a negative tests pre-arrival, and on arrival. Interstate arrivals from “moderate risk” areas will still have to be Covid-tested on arrival but will no longer have to isolate until a result, in a win for cricket fans arriving on day one of the Adelaide Oval Test on Thursday.

Any close contacts of a person with Omircon will now have to isolate for 14 days instead of 7 in SA. Casual contacts of Omicron cases must be tested immediately and isolate until a negative result, then have day six and day 13 tests.

Testing: PCR tests are free in SA

QUEENSLAND (currently 81% double vaccinated)

Overseas: If you are on an international flight, you must arrive at Brisbane International Airport and be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an immediate family member travelling with one. You must also be fully vaccinated, have a negative result within 72 hours before departure and undertake two weeks of home quarantine within two hours drive of the airport. Anyone else living there must also complete quarantine and have at least one dose of a vaccine.

What if you are arriving from overseas via another state or territory? You must be fully vaccinated and undertake the Queensland period of quarantine under the direction of another jurisdiction at home or in a government-nominated facility.

If you arrive into Australia via a hotspot, you must complete two weeks of hotel quarantine in Queensland. However, if you only transit through an airport in a hotspot, you are considered to have arrived directly into Queensland.

Interstate:

If you have been in a hotspot in the past two weeks, you may travel to Queensland if you are fully vaccinated, have a negative Covid-19 PCR test within 72 hours prior to arrival and get tested on day five. Travellers can arrive by road or air, and do not need to quarantine.

Queensland residents or anyone relocating to the state who does not meet the criteria must arrive by air and complete two weeks of hotel quarantine.

Not coming from a hotspot? There are no restrictions for these travellers, including no quarantine requirement from 1am on December 13.

Testing: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers can come into Queensland without quarantining or obtaining a PCR test as long as you haven’t come from a hotspot.

WA (currently 79.6% double vaccinated)

Vaccination: WA has not set a reopening date yet, but it will likely be decided next month when 80 per cent of the state is expected to be vaccinated

Overseas: Fully vaccinated international travellers currently must do 14 days of home quarantine and have proof of a negative. Anyone from the nine African countries where the Omicron variant has been found will undergo 14 days quarantine.

Interstate: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers are currently permitted, but only avoid quarantine if in a “very low risk” jurisdiction – only Queensland, and Tasmania right now. Borders to South Australia are now closed.

Travel to some states in Australia has become a lot easier for international travellers.

TASMANIA (currently 90% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Fully vaccinated international travellers won’t need to quarantine from December 15 if they return a negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours before arriving. Anyone who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia who has been in African countries where the Omicron variant has been detected within the past 14 days would not be able to enter Tasmania.

Interstate: Fully vaccinated travellers from low-risk interstate areas, which at the moment include only Western Australia, will not have to quarantine or provide a negative COVID-19 test. People who visited an SA, QLD, ACT or NT Covid hotspot will need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. Travel is restricted from NSW and Victoria.

NORTHERN TERRITORY (currently 81% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Fully vaccinated international travellers won’t need to quarantine from December 20 if they test negative after a rapid antigen test on arrival. Until December 20, 7-day home quarantine is required for arrivals from hot spots and select international destinations. Anyone from the nine African countries where the Omicron variant has been found will undergo 14 days quarantine.

Interstate: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers can enter the NT without quarantining from anywhere expect NSW and Victoria. Anyone entering from a hotspot will have to quarantine for 7 days, and SA arrivals must immediately get tested on arrival and quarantine until they receive a negative result.

Testing: All travellers must be fully vaccinated and a negative PCR test is also required for anyone arriving prior to December 20

VICTORIA (currently 91.7% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Regardless of vaccination status, arrivals into Victoria will now be required to self-isolate for at least 72 hours. Anyone from the nine African countries where the Omicron variant has been found will undergo 14 days quarantine. Testing requirements are in place for all overseas arrivals.

Interstate: Regardless of vaccination status, domestic visitors no longer need a permit to enter the state. Anyone who develops symptoms of Covid-19 should get tested immediately.

Passengers arriving from Sydney into Brisbane airport being processed by border police last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

NSW (currently 93.1% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Regardless of vaccination status, arrivals into NSW will now be required to self-isolate for at least 72 hours and get PCR tested. Anyone from the nine African countries where the Omicron variant has been found will undergo 14 days quarantine.

Interstate: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers do not need to quarantine or fill in a declaration form if they have not been to an “affected area”. The only current affected area is in the ACT and Victoria. There are separate rules for people living in NSW-Victoria border communities.

Home quarantine: If an interstate traveller has been to an area of concern or place of high concern within the previous 14 days, a period of quarantine may apply.

ACT (currently 98% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Anyone from the nine African countries where the Omicron variant has been found will undergo 14 days quarantine. New rules also saw anyone who entered the ACT from an overseas country must quarantine until November 30. Travellers must get tested within 24 hours of arriving in the ACT and again on day 5.

Interstate: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers who have been in a hotspot the previous 14 days do not need to quarantine, but must complete an exemption form and get tested immediately if symptoms develop. Unvaccinated travellers must isolate for 14 days and only leave the elected isolation location for essentials reasons.