The Covid-19 pandemic has had significant impacts across the globe. If you are a regular jetsetter, you will be well aware of the current travel restrictions in place. With many countries starting to open up their borders to tourists, you may be wondering if you can leave the country right now and if so, where you can travel to. So, where can you currently travel to from Australia? Take a look below to find out.
Overseas travel from Australia is banned
According to Smartraveller, there is a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You are currently not allowed to leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs. As international travel is banned, people who are planning to leave the country need to be aware that flights may be difficult to find due to border closures and travel restrictions, many travel insurance policies won’t cover claims related to Covid-19 and even if you are granted an exemption, entry restrictions such as mandatory quarantine on arrival back in Australia still apply.
Travel exemptions
If you are planning on applying for an exemption to leave the country, you have to meet specific requirements to be approved. According to the Department of Home Affairs, to be granted an exemption, Australian citizens and permanent residents must:
- Be travelling as part of the response to the Covid-19 outbreak
- Be conducting essential travel for critical industries and business
- Be travelling to receive urgent medical treatment which is unavailable in Australia
- Be travelling for urgent and unavoidable personal business
- Be travelling on compassionate or humanitarian grounds
- Be travelling in the national interest
If you meet at least one of these requirements, you are able to apply for an exemption to travel internationally.
Returning home
Australians who have been overseas and want to return back home will face significant delays as travel restrictions are currently in place. As the international flights have decreased, passenger numbers are restricted to ease the pressure on quarantine facilities and even key transit hubs have closed, you may find it difficult to find a flight back into Australia if you are in a hurry. Returning residents are warned that the process to return home may be lengthy and disruptive due to the current restrictions in place.
Stay local
As international travel is inaccessible and not recommended from Australia, many people are turning to local travel instead to still get their holiday fix. Whether you live in a state or territory that’s borders are currently open or you are living in an area which is still locked down, you can still experience a luxurious stay-cation. Many Australians are currently swapping out their usual flights for exciting road trips, which they may not have experienced if they were still able to travel internationally. So, what are you waiting for? Escape the city for the beautiful hinterland, hit the beach and soak up the sun or explore your local city to get your travel fix during the Covid-19 restrictions.
20 comments