Australian travel restrictions: all you need to know about South Australia and beyond
Can a Queenslander go to Tassie? When are Victorians able to visit Queensland? Here’s the essential info you need for summer.
With summer holidays beckoning, and states and territories changing border restrictions at the drop of a hat, Australians need to know where they can go and what they need to do before they depart.
Here’s a guide to travel restrictions across the country.
NSW Residents
Intrastate: NSW residents are free to travel across their state while maintaining social distancing. Up to 30 people are allowed in a holiday home or residence and it’s recommended travellers wear masks in public.
Travelling to —
Victoria: The border with Victoria reopened at midnight on November 22. Permits are no longer required and there’s no need to quarantine on arrival back in NSW.
South Australia: The border remains open but the state government is still discouraging travel to SA. NSW residents who have been in a designated SA “area of concern” have to self isolate on their return to NSW and be tested for COVID-19. Anyone who has been in SA in the past 14 days needs to complete a NSW entry declaration form from the Service NSW website.
Queensland: From December 1, NSW residents, including those living in the 32 local government areas of Greater Sydney, will be able to travel to QLD. Until then, anyone who has been in a hotspot in the past 14 days cannot enter the Sunshine State without going into supervised quarantine. Residents of the rest of NSW are able to cross the border but all travellers must complete a Border Declaration Pass. Travelling through a designated COVID hotspot to enter QLD is permitted as long as you stop only for essentials such as food and fuel, and don’t stay overnight.
Tasmania: NSW is considered a low-risk area and residents are able to fly direct to Tasmania without having to enter quarantine. However, if they travel by road through Victoria, either to fly to the island state or sail south on the Spirit of Tasmania, there are protocols to follow. They must transit through Victoria to the airport or ferry port stopping only for fuel and essentials. If they need to stay overnight before continuing the journey, they can stay only at approved hotels: Ibis Budget Melbourne Airport, Mantra Melbourne Hotel and Quest Melbourne Airport. All travellers need to complete their Tas e-Travel registration at least three days before departure.
Western Australia: NSW is categorised as “low-risk” by the WA government. Although this allows travellers from NSW to visit, they must self-isolate for 14 days after arrival, undergoing a COVID-19 test on the 11th day. All travellers must have a G2G (Good to Go) pass before arrival, and are encouraged to use the G2G Now app to assist police and health authorities with monitoring.
Northern Territory: Travel to the territory has resumed, with a steady increase in the number of direct flights to Uluru. All visitors, by air or road, must fill in the Border Entry Form up to 72 hours before arrival and bring a printout of the document to the airport.
ACT: There are no restrictions on NSW residents travelling to the Capital Territory.
Victorian Residents
Intrastate: All of Victoria is on “last-step” restrictions. Travel between Melbourne and the regions is permitted without any limits on distances covered; coronavirus.vic.gov.au.
Travelling to —
NSW: The border with NSW opened on November 22. Victorians can cross the border
South Australia: Only essential workers, residents of the 70km border buffer zone and people permanently relocating to SA are permitted to cross the border from Victoria. The SA government’s COVID website provides details on those entitled to an exemption. A hard border will be in place from midnight, November 19, for 48 hours, after which a permit system will be in place.
Queensland: From December 1, Victorians will be permitted to travel to QLD.
Tasmania: From November 27, Victoria will be considered a low risk area. Travellers from the state will no longer need to quarantine or self-isolate but they must register with the Tas e-Travel program at least three days before departure.
Western Australia: Victoria is considered a low-risk state. This means travellers from Victoria must self-isolate for 14 days after arrival, undergoing a COVID-19 test on the 11th day. All travellers must have a G2G (Good to Go) pass before arrival, and are encouraged to use the G2G Now app to assist police and health authorities with monitoring.
Northern Territory: The NT government still considers more than 30 local government areas in Victoria hotspots, most of metropolitan Melbourne. Any Victorians from those areas who travel to the NT will be required to enter 14 days’ supervised quarantine, at their expense. Visitors to the NT require a Border Entry Form, which can be obtained up to 72 hours before arrival.
ACT: There are no border restrictions between Victoria and the ACT.
South Australian Residents
Intrastate: SA residents are permitted to travel within the state, however authorities are advising against non-essential travel. The APY lands remain off limits.
Travelling to —
NSW: South Australians are allowed to travel to NSW but, if they’ve been in an “area of concern”, they must self-isolate for 14 days after arrival. All SA visitors need to complete a border declaration form available on the Service NSW website.
Queensland: Some areas of Adelaide are still considered hotspots. Anyone who has been in those areas is not allowed to enter QLD unless they are a QLD resident, in which case they must self-isolate. All travellers must complete a Border Declaration Pass.
Victoria: Anyone travelling from SA to Victoria needs a border permit, available from the Victorian government’s coronavirus website.
Tasmania: South Australia remains a “medium-risk” area and travellers from the state must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. They will need to register with the G2G program at least three days before arrival.
Western Australia: South Australia is considered a low-risk state. This means travellers from SA must self-isolate for 14 days after arrival, undergoing a COVID-19 test on the 11th day. All travellers must have a G2G (Good to Go) pass before arrival, and are encouraged to use the G2G Now app to assist police and health authorities with monitoring.
Northern Territory: SA residents are allowed to travel to the territory but must complete a Border Entry Form, which can be obtained up to 72 hours before arrival.
ACT: SA residents must complete an online border declaration before travelling to the Capital Territory. Anyone who has been in an “declared place” identified by SA health authorities or had contact with a COVID-19 case must quarantine for 14 days.
Queensland Residents
Intrastate: Queenslanders can travel anywhere within their state without restrictions. Gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed in homes and public places.
Travelling to —
NSW: From December 1, the QLD-NSW border will be open. Until that time, Queenslanders can travel anywhere in regional NSW. However, if they enter any of the 32 local government areas of Greater Sydney deemed COVID hotspots in the 14 days before returning home, they must go into supervised quarantine at their expense. Entry into Queensland requires a Border Declaration Pass, even for returning residents of the state.
South Australia: The QLD government has declared numerous local government areas in Adelaide hotspots for the virus. Returning QLD residents who were in one of those areas are subject to mandatory hotel quarantine at their expense. Non-residents who have been in one of the SA hotspots are not permitted to enter the state; qld.gov.au/health.
Victoria: The border with Victoria will remains closed until December 1, after which travel between the states will be allowed.
Tasmania: The southern state has designated Queensland a low risk to community health. Queenslanders visiting Tasmania do not have to self-isolate or enter quarantine but they do need to register travel plans with the Tas e-Travel program at least three days before departure. If they travel through a medium or high-risk zone, to an airport or ferry port, to get to Tasmania, they are allowed to stop only for fuel.
Western Australia: Queensland is considered a “very low risk” state, which means residents can travel to WA without going into quarantine. All travellers must have a G2G (Good to Go) pass before arrival, and are encouraged to use the G2G Now app to assist police and health authorities with monitoring. Re-entry into Queensland requires a Border Declaration Pass.
Northern Territory: Queenslanders are free to travel to the territory without restrictions, however they must fill in the Border Entry Form up to 72 hours before arrival and bring a printout of the document to the airport. Re-entry into Queensland requires a border pass.
ACT: The capital territory is open to visitors from Queensland provided they haven’t been in a COVID hotspot in the preceding 14 days. They will need a Border Declaration Pass when returning to the Sunshine State.
Tasmanian Residents
Intrastate: Tasmanians are able to travel freely within their state without restrictions. Up to 40 people can visit a holiday house or residence. Restrictions are set to ease further on December 1.
Travelling to —
NSW: Travellers from the Apple Isle are welcome in NSW, and don’t need a border permit. Because the border with Victoria is open, there are no restrictions on Tasmanians travelling through Victoria to reach NSW. See below.
Victoria: From Friday, November 27, Victoria is due to be re-categorised as a low-risk area (down from medium risk) by Tasmanian authorities. This means Tasmanians will be able to travel to the state without having to self-isolate on their return home.
South Australia: Tasmanians can travel to SA, however they are required to self-isolate on their return if they’ve been to a medium-risk area. They must register for a G2G pass.
Queensland: Tasmanians are free to holiday in Queensland but must apply for a Border Declaration Pass before arriving. Until December 1, if travelling north by road, they should avoid the Greater Sydney region unless transiting through and stopping only for essentials. They are not permitted to stay a night in one of Sydney’s local government areas. Likewise, travellers who fly via Melbourne or Sydney, must not leave the airport while waiting in transit.
Western Australia: WA authorities consider Tasmania a “very low risk” state, so Tassie residents can visit without having to self-isolate or quarantine. All travellers must have a G2G (Good to Go) pass before arrival, and are encouraged to use the G2G Now app to assist police and health authorities with monitoring.
Northern Territory: Tasmanians can travel to the territory without restrictions, however they must fill in the Border Entry Form up to 72 hours before arrival and bring a printout of the document to the airport. If their flight takes them via Adelaide but they don’t leave the airport, there’s no need to enter quarantine.
ACT: Tasmanians are allowed to visit the ACT.
WA Residents
Intrastate: Western Australians are allows to travel freely throughout their state except to some remote Aboriginal communities. Gatherings cannot exceed the one person per 2m square rule.
Travelling to —
NSW: While WA residents can travel to NSW, under current guidelines they face 14 days of self-isolation and a COVID test when they return home.
South Australia: Western Australia considers South Australia a “medium risk”, so any returning WA residents would have to self-quarantine and undergo a COVID test on their arrival. All travellers need a G2G (Good to Go) pass.
Queensland: WA residents are able to take a holiday in Queensland as long as they have not been in a COVID hotspot in the preceding fortnight and have successfully applied for WA’s G2G (Good to Go) pass and QLD’s Border Declaration Pass before arriving. There is no requirement to self-isolate on their return to WA.
Victoria: WA residents can travel to Victoria, but current guidelines require them to undertake 14 days’ self-isolation and have a COVID test when they return home.
Tasmania: West Australians can travel to Tasmania as long as they have not been in a COVID hotspot in the preceding fortnight. Travellers must register their plans with the Tas e-Travel program at least three days before departure. There is no requirement to self-isolate on their return to WA.
Northern Territory: WA residents are welcome to travel in the NT, which is considered a “very low risk” for coronavirus by state authorities. They do not need to self-isolate on their return to WA. They will need to have filled in the NT’s Border Entry Form up to 72 hours before arrival and bring a printout of the document to the airport, plus have one of WA’s G2G (Good to Go) passes.
ACT: The Capital Territory is also in the “very low risk” category, meaning WA residents can visit without having to self isolate on their return home. All travellers need to apply for a G2G (Good to Go) pass before setting off.
Northern Territory Residents
Intrastate: Territorians are able to travel throughout the region. There are no limits to the number of people who can gather indoors or out but social distancing is required.
Travelling to —
NSW: NT residents are able to travel freely to NSW however they need a Border Entry Form to re-enter the NT.
South Australia: The border between SA and the NT is open. The NT has not declared any parts SA COVID hotspots. Travellers need a Border Entry Form to re-enter the NT.
Victoria: Although Territorians can officially travel to Victoria, they will be required to enter 14 days’ supervised quarantine, at their expense, on their return if they have been to a COVID hotspot. More than 30 local government areas in Victoria remain hotspots according to the NT government.
Queensland: Travel between QLD and NT is open. Both jurisdictions require travellers to have border passes, in QLD’s case, a Border Declaration Pass, in the latter, a Border Entry Form.
Tasmania: The NT is deemed a low-risk area, so Territorians don’t need to quarantine on arrival in the Apple Isle. Travel plans must be registered on the Tas e-Travel program at least three days before departure and travellers need an NT Border Entry Form to return home.
Western Australia: There are no restrictions on NT residents visiting WA. They will need a G2G (Good to Go) pass to enter the state and a Border Entry Form to return home.
ACT: The Capital Territory is also considered low-risk. Territorians are welcome to visit and don’t have to isolate on their return home.
ACT Residents
Intrastate: There are no restrictions on ACT residents travelling throughout the Capital Territory.
Travelling to —
NSW: ACT residents are able to travel freely to NSW but are advised to be aware of the evolving COVID situation and practise social distancing.
South Australia: ACT residents are discouraged from taking non-essential trips to SA. If they have been in the state in the preceding 14 days they have to submit an online border declaration before returning home.
Victoria: ACT residents are allowed to travel freely to Victoria, whether by road, rail or air.
Queensland: ACT residents can travel to Queensland unless they have been in a COVID hotspot (as decreed by the QLD government) in the preceding fortnight. All travellers must complete a Border Declaration Pass to enter Queensland.
Tasmania: ACT residents are able to visit Tassie provided they register travel plans with the Tas e-Travel program.
Western Australia: WA considers the ACT “very low risk”, which means residents can head west without having to quarantine on arrival. However, all travellers need a G2G (Good to Go) pass to enter WA.
Northern Territory: Residents of the Capital Territory are welcome to visit the NT provided they have not visited a COVID hotspot in the preceding 14 days and have filled out a Border Entry Form.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout