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With Australia’s international borders set to progressively reopen from 1 November in line with the New South Wales COVID-19 roadmap, the Federal Government has lifted its global ‘do not travel’ advice for those who are fully vaccinated.
As such, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) smartraveller.gov.au platform is updating travel advice levels for 177 destinations based on the latest assessment of risk - both COVID-19 and other threats to safety and security.
Prior to today, Australian travellers have been given Level 4 advice - ‘Do not travel’ - but that will be downgraded for a number of locations for those looking to go overseas, as long as they’ve received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The four travel advice levels are:
- Level 1: Exercise normal safety precautions
- Level 2: Exercise a high degree of caution
- Level 3: Reconsider your need to travel
- Level 4: Do not travel
According to smartraveller.gov.au, no destination will be set lower than Level 2 due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 globally, and some destinations will remain at Level 4 if there are “extreme security and safety risks”.
“When you’re planning to travel overseas, it’s your responsibility to be informed about all the destinations you're visiting and to take all precautions for your safety,” says smartraveller.gov.au.
“COVID-19 remains an ongoing global health risk. Border settings and quarantine requirements are complex and can change at short notice.”
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said the Federal Government was committed to easing restrictions for fully vaccinated Australians, in line with soaring vaccination rates and the National Plan to transition Australia’s COVID-19 response.
“Our first priority is Australian citizens and permanent residents and today we are delivering on that by removing restrictions on fully-vaccinated Australians travelling out of Australia. The easing of these restrictions is possible thanks to our impressive national vaccination rates, and I thank all those who have done the right thing and rolled up their sleeve,” Minister Andrews said.
“I look forward to further easing restrictions over coming weeks and months as more and more Australians become fully vaccinated. Before the end of the year, we anticipate welcoming fully vaccinated skilled workers and international students.
“Our system of border exemptions has kept Australia free from widespread COVID transmission for more than 18 months, but as Australia’s vaccination rate continues to climb, and the end of the year approaches, the Morrison Government stands ready to once more welcome a significant number of fully vaccinated people across Australia’s international border.”
Those that are not fully vaccinated will continue to require a travel exemption to go overseas and will be subject to current passenger caps and state-determined quarantine arrangements when returning to Australia.
Updated at 9.45am AEDT on 28 October 2021.
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