Australian Immigration Daily News

As Australia continues to navigate through COVID19 crisis, travel restrictions are being reviewed on a continuous basis to ensure they are in line with the recommended measures put in by the Department of Health.

As of 1 August 2020, the following criteria applies for travel exemptions including additional exemptions for individuals such as school students:

Exempt categories

You are automatically exempt from the travel restrictions and can enter Australia (without obtaining an individual exemption) if you are:

• an Australian citizen
• a permanent resident of Australia
• an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• a New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia and their immediate family members
• a diplomat accredited to Australia (holding a subclass 995 visa)
• a traveller transiting Australia for 72 hours or less
• airline crew
• maritime crew including marine pilots.

Individual exemptions

The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant to travellers in following circumstances including if an applicant is:

• a non-citizen travelling at the invitation of the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response
• providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies
• a non-citizen with critical skills or working in a critical sector in Australia
• a non-citizen whose entry would otherwise be in the national interest, supported by the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority
• military personnel, including those who form part of the Status of Forces Agreement, Commonwealth Armed Forces, Asia Pacific Forces and Status of Armed Forces Agreement
• a student completing year 11 and 12, with support from the relevant state and territory government
• travelling for compassionate and compelling reasons.

Travellers need to apply for an exemption at least 4 weeks, but not more than 3 months, before any planned travel.