Border opening explained: What you need to know before travelling to Queensland

From 1am Monday, December 13, Queensland’s border will reopen to fully vaccinated people. Here’s what you need to know.

Queensland’s border will reopen to fully vaccinated people from Covid hotspots at 1am, Monday December 13.

With Queensland expected to hit 80 per cent fully vaccinated this week, the reopening date was brought forward from December 17.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said travellers would now have to get a test on day five after arriving in Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Sarah Marshall

She also said people would no longer have to wait two weeks to be considered fully vaccinated.

Here is everything you need to know about Queensland’s border reopening.

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR PEOPLE COMING FROM A HOTSPOT?

Travellers coming into Queensland from a declared hotspot can enter from Monday, December 13, as long as they are fully vaccinated, have had a negative Covid test in the last 72 hours and have a border pass.

All arrivals must get another Covid-19 test on day five after arriving in Queensland.

Queensland’s border will reopen at 1am Monday, December 13. Picture: Dan Peled

WHAT RULES HAVE CHANGED?

Travellers will be considered fully vaccinated one week after their second dose, not two weeks as previously was the case.

All travellers from hotspots, despite their vaccination status, must get a test on day five after their arrival.

WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO AREN’T VACCINATED?

People arriving in Queensland from hotspots who are not fully vaccinated must arrive by air and hotel quarantine for 14 days.

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS?

From Monday, international arrivals must be fully vaccinated and return a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of departure.

Travellers must get a test upon arrival and go into home or hotel quarantine for 14 days.

People will be permitted to enter Queensland by road or air. Picture: Richard Walker

HOW CAN I ARRIVE IN QUEENSLAND?

Vaccinated arrivals can enter Queensland by road or air.

HOW WILL POLICE ENFORCE THE NEW RULES?

Police will be intercepting vehicles at the border and arrivals at airports.

At times checks will be random, though there will be periods when every vehicle will be stopped and checked.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said technology would be used to scan the number plate of each vehicle that crossed the border.

WHAT ARE THE RULE CHANGES FOR PEOPLE IN HOME QUARANTINE?

Anyone who is in home quarantine as of 1am next Monday will be able to immediately leave as long as they have had a negative Covid test result.

WHAT ARE THE DECLARED HOT SPOTS?

Hotspots include Victoria, the ACT, 128 local government areas in New South Wales excluding the border zone, Katherine and Robinson Rover in the Northern Territory and Greater Adelaide, South Australia.

What you need to know about Queensland's border reopening

- Queensland will reopen its borders to Covid hotspots including NSW, Victoria, ACT and Adelaide at 1am on Monday December 13 with people able to enter via road or air

- People crossing the border must be fully-vaccinated and will need a negative PCR test in the 72hrs prior to arrival. They must have had their second vaccine dose at least a week prior

- No quarantine will be required for fully-vaccinated arrivals 

- They will also be required to return another negative test on Day 5 in the state. If the person comes back positive, they will have to isolate

- Police are warning there will significant delays at main border entry points and urged motorists to travel outside peak times - officers will conduct random to 100 per cent compliance checks with every car scanned by vehicle technology

- Those disregarding the directive will face heavy fines of $4,135

- Queenslanders will be able to freely travel into the NSW border zone and can return without a PCR test, providing they are fully vaccinated, have a border pass and have not travelled further than the designated border zone. Border passes are valid for 14 days.

- Moree is the only place in the border zone currently declared a hotspot and therefore has heavier restrictions

- Unvacccinated residents will be restricted to travel for the limited essential reasons that exist now

-  International arrivals must be fully vaccinated and return a negative covid test within 72 hours of departure, they will be required to get a test on arrival and must go into home or hotel quarantine for 14 days

- The vaccine mandate which allows only fully-vaccinated people to visit cafes, pubs and clubs will still begin on December 17

 

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR BORDER ZONE RESIDENTS?

Fully vaccinated border zone residents will be able to move freely through the border zone from Monday.

These residents will not need to return a negative Covid-19 test each time they cross the border.

Border zone residents who are not vaccinated will only be allowed to cross the border for limited reasons, including essential work and medical appointments.

WHAT IS THE BORDER ZONE?

The border zone includes the NSW locations of Ballina Shire, Bourke Shire, Brewarrina Shire, Byron Shire, City of Broken Hill, Clarence Valley Council, Glen Innes Severn Shire, Gwydir Shire, Inverell Shire, Kyogle Council, Lismore City, Richmond Valley Council, Tenterfield Shire, Tweed Shire, Walgett Shire and Unincorporated Far West.

Moree is not included in the border zone.

ARE THE RULES FOR WHO CAN ENTER VENUES CHANGING ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 13?

No, the mandate on who can enter venues based on their vaccination status is unchanged and will take effect on December 17.

Originally published as Border opening explained: What you need to know before travelling to Queensland