EXPLAINED: Every state’s border rules for travelling this Christmas

Planning a trip this Christmas? It’s not simple - with every state having different Covid rules and requirements in place. Here’s what you need to know.

We’ve collated all the most up-to-date rules for travelling between the different Australian states this Christmas period.

QUEENSLAND (currently 73.4% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Fully vaccinated international travellers must undergo a PCR test within the previous 72 hours and quarantine for up to 14 days at home or in a hotel from December 17, or when 80 per cent of the state is vaccinated

Interstate: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers can enter by air or road without quarantine, provided they have a negative PCR test within the previous 72 hours if they have been in a hotspot

Testing: Fully vaccinated international and interstate travellers can come into Queensland without quarantining or obtaining a PCR test when the state hits 90 per cent vaccinated.

Traffic at the Queensland - New South Wales border checkpoint. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

WA (currently 72.9% 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 PCR test within 72 hours before departure. Once the state reopens quarantine is dropped, but testing remains.

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

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (currently 77.4% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Fully vaccinated international travellers must undergo a PCR test and quarantine for 7 days at home or in hotel from November 23, and again test negative to Covid on day 6. Once out of quarantine, international travellers must get tested again on day 13 and check their symptoms daily using the SA Health app. They cannot go to high-risk settings.

Interstate: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers will only have to quarantine for 7 days and get tested if they arrive from an LGA with community transmission and a double-jab rate of less than 80 per cent.

Testing: PCR tests are free in SA

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

TASMANIA (currently 84.8% 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.

Interstate: Fully vaccinated travellers from low-risk interstate areas, which at the moment includes Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, will not have to quarantine or provide a negative COVID-19 test.

Testing: Returning Tasmanians do not need a PCR test if they leave the state for less than seven days.

NORTHERN TERRITORY (currently 73.4% 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.

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

VICTORIA (currently 89.2% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Fully vaccinated international travellers do not need to quarantine, but must test negative to Covid less than 72 hours before departures avoid high-risk settings for 14 days and do further PCR tests 24 hours after arriving and between days 5 and 7.

Interstate: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers must apply for a permit, which will not be granted if they have symptoms, have been to an exposure site or are a close contact of a case.

Testing: If travelling from a place determined to be a “red zone” you must undertake a PCR test on arrival and isolate until a negative result if you are vaccinated, and if unvaccinated you must undergo 14 days’ quarantine.

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

NSW (currently 91.9% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Fully vaccinated international travellers do not need to quarantine, but need to undergo a PCR test at their own cost within 24 hours of arriving in NSW and on day 7 after arriving. They are banned from high-risk settings until the negative test on day 7.

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”.

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 97.6% double vaccinated)

Overseas: Fully vaccinated international travellers do not need to quarantine, but need to undergo a PCR test within 24 hours of arriving in NSW and on day 6 after arriving. They cannot attend high-risk settings until after a negative test on day 6.

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

Home quarantine: Fully vaccinated interstate travellers who have not been to a hotspot do not need to quarantine or complete an exemption form.

Originally published as EXPLAINED: Every state’s border rules for travelling this Christmas