travel restrictions south australia

Borders to open – South Australia's COVID-Ready Plan

A plan to reopen our state and ease restrictions has been released – with 23 November set for when South Australia will open borders to fully-vaccinated people from all Australian states and territories.

It is the date SA is expected to reach the national vaccination target of 80 per cent and comes earlier than initially expected. As one of the first ‘COVID-free’ states to open to fully-vaccinated travellers in NSW and Victoria – our state’s key domestic markets – this is an opportunity for our industry.

At 23 November, SA’s COVID-Ready Plan also outlines that quarantine for vaccinated international arrivals will drop from 14 days to 7 days.

Restrictions will also ease, including the relaxation of caps on home gatherings and private activity.

When vaccination rates hit 90 per cent (of people aged 12 years and over), SA's borders will open to fully vaccinated international travellers, without the need for quarantine. While no date has been pegged for this, it is expected that this will be reached by the end of the year.

At that time, restrictions on most activities will be lifted – with high-risk activities such as nightclubs and standing alcohol consumption – available for the fully-vaccinated only.

The SATC has been increasing our marketing activity into the Eastern states as our state has worked to ramp up vaccination levels, and we will be doubling down on our efforts to get visitors booking trips over the coming weeks.

With Christmas, the peak summer tourism period and our festival season not too far around the corner – the reopening to domestic tourism is a real opportunity for our state and one that we will take full advantage of.

I know this news will be welcomed by many operators keen to see the return of interstate travel – we’ve been working hard to keep South Australia top of mind for those people looking for a holiday, so it is terrific we have a pathway forward as we head into the valuable summer holiday period.

For details of the COVID-Ready Plan, see covid-19.sa.gov.au/response .

I will continue to keep you updated.

Rodney Harrex Chief Executive

View the Industry Update – 26 October 2021 .

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Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

COVID-19 and travel

Find out about travel requirements and steps you can take to stay safe.

Domestic travel within Australia

Domestic travel requirements are determined by state and territory governments. Check the websites of local health departments for information about travel to:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia .

Travelling overseas

The Australian Government does not currently have any COVID-19 requirements in place for travellers entering and departing Australia.

COVID-19 however continues to pose a health risk in Australia and overseas. We strongly encourage wearing masks and being vaccinated while travelling internationally. You should practice good cough and hand hygiene, and physically distance from others where possible.

Some countries, airlines and vessel operators may have COVID-19 travel requirements in place. Check the requirements of any:

• countries you are travelling to, or transiting through
• airlines or vessel operators.
• Smartraveller website
• Australian Government – international travel information .

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is important if you become sick with COVID-19 overseas. Make sure your insurance includes:

• transit destinations
• inclusions for COVID-19
• other add-ons like cruise specific insurance.

Some destinations also require travellers to hold travel insurance as a condition of entry.

Cruise travel

Check with your cruise provider or travel agent for up-to-date travel requirements for your ship and destination/s. You can also contact the relevant state or territory government to find out if any requirements apply for your destination.

Outbreaks onboard a cruise

Cruise ships carry a higher risk for spreading disease compared to other types of travel. COVID-19, influenza, and other infectious diseases spread easily between people living and socialising in close quarters.

If an outbreak of COVID-19 occurs on your cruise, you may need to:

• quarantine on the ship
• disembark and follow the local rules in the state or territory or country you are in.

Before you travel, check the  Smartraveller advice on cruises . Contact your travel agent or cruise operator for specific information on their COVID-19 safety protocols.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Help us improve health.gov.au

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New Queensland fruit fly outbreaks declared – Salisbury North and Barmera B. Check your address on the outbreak map .

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• Travelling to South Australia

Travelling with fruit and vegetables to South Australia from interstate

Understand how to plan your travel into South Australia including what fruit and vegetables are restricted from your state.

Check your food and plants

Some fruit, vegetables, plants and plant products cannot be brought into South Australia.

I'm travelling from:

New south wales.

Can I bring these items into South Australia from New South Wales?

Call the Fruit Fly Hotline on  1300 666 010 . Select option 2 for movement of all plant material into SA.

Fruits, vegetables and nuts

Plant items, northern territory.

Can I bring these items into South Australia from Northern Territory?

Can I bring these items into South Australia from Queensland?

Can I bring these items into South Australia from Tasmania?

You must follow the rules for any state you have travelled through before entering South Australia. For example, if you travelled from Tasmania via Victoria, the rules apply for both Victoria and Tasmania when entering South Australia, meaning restricted fruit cannot enter SA.

Can I bring these items into South Australia from Victoria?

Western Australia

Can I bring these items into South Australia from Western Australia?

Dispose of fruit and vegetables at quarantine locations

You must eat or  dispose of your fruit and vegetables at risk from fruit fly before you get to the Riverland.

Check the  disposal bin and quarantine station map to find locations on your travel route.

Restrictions for all Australian states and territories

• Restriction details for all Australian states and territories
• Restrictions when travelling into Australia from overseas

Check if you're travelling in fruit fly outbreak areas

Fruit fly outbreaks and restrictions are in place across South Australia. Check the outbreak map to see if you’re travelling in these areas and understand the restrictions.

Call the Fruit Fly Hotline

Report suspected fruit fly or get answers to your fruit fly questions. The hotline is open 24 hours.

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• Coronavirus Travel South Australia

Covid-19 SA Travel Guide

Current restrictions in south australia.

South Australia is now officially open to all visitors, both from interstate and overseas. Below we have summarised what you can expect upon arrival to South Australia, but for any information on restrictions, testing and vaccination requirements we ask that you refer to the SA Health COVID-19 page . This is the official and trusted South Australian government source of all COVID-19 travel information. 

What do I need to know about travelling to South Australia from overseas?

International visitors are welcome to travel to South Australia. While travel may not look the same after the pandemic, the South Australian government has endeavoured to make it as safe as possible for both locals and visitors alike. 

All visa holders from Europe, including visitors to South Australia from Germany and the UK, can travel to Australia. All information about coming to Australia, including what you need to do before you travel, current restrictions and exemptions and applying for visas can be found at the home affairs government portal - Coming To Australia . 

*Please note this information was last updated September, 2022. 

All information about coming to Australia, including what you need to do before you travel, current restrictions and exemptions and applying for visas can be found at the home affairs government portal - Coming To Australia . Further information about travelling to New Zealand, or returning to New Zealand from South Australia can be found at the official New Zealand COVID-19 government website . Visiting South Australia from New Zealand? check out our New Zealand page. 

All visa holders from South East Asia, including visitors from Singapore, can travel to Australia. All information about coming to Australia, including what you need to do before you travel, current restrictions and exemptions and applying for visas can be found at the home affairs government portal - Coming To Australia . 

All visa holders from the United States of America can travel to Australia. All information about coming to Australia, including what you need to do before you travel, current restrictions and exemptions and applying for visas can be found at the home affairs government portal - Coming To Australia . Visiting us from the US? Check out our US guide to the artisan South Australia . 

Life in South Australia may look a little different from when you last visited us, or if you haven't visited us, a little different to your home country. South Australia is a very safe place to travel to, with over 90% of people aged 12 years and over double vaccinated against COVID-19. Case numbers remain relatively low compared to other major cities in Australia and overseas, and as such we have been able to maintain a great quality of life.

South Australia remained essentially COVID-19 free, or what we call "COVID zero" until late 2021. Once the majority of our population was vaccinated, we opened our borders to the rest of Australia - allowing COVID-19 into the community. Naturally case numbers began to rise in early 2022 and we adjusted our way of life accordingly, but in reality it was meeting the "new normal" that many people globally have come to expect.

• We wash our hands regularly and expect you to use the hand sanitizer provided at the front of all shops, restaurants, bars and hotels
• We encourage social distancing

For information on hand hygiene, click here . For all other information on COVID-19, please refer to the official South Australian health body, SA Health . 

Please visit the SA Health COVID-19 restrictions page and the Australian Department of Home Affairs travel restrictions and exemptions page for up to date information.

COVID-19 safe travel ideas in South Australia

There are plenty of ways to beat the crowds and travel safely in south australia. south australia is one of the few places left in the world that you can have pristine beaches all to yourself, spaced out camp sites and truly retreat into nature. we have many certified guides and tour operators who are taking extra precautions against the spread of covid-19. we encourage you to always remain covid-19 safe while travelling by socially distancing and practicing good hygiene..

South Australia's road trips

Road trip to or around south australia and explore our great state with one of our six iconic routes - or mix and match our curated guides to build your own journey. start your adelaide to darwin road trip via the explorers way, drive from perth to adelaide along the seafood frontier, or road trip from adelaide through south australia's famed wine regions. there's a path for everyone..

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December 1 Omicron coronavirus variant news

By Adam Renton, Brad Lendon , Sheena McKenzie, Ed Upright, Meg Wagner , Melissa Macaya and Melissa Mahtani , CNN

South Australia mandates quarantine for all international arrivals

From CNN's Lizzy Yee

All international arrivals to South Australia must undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine, effective immediately and regardless of vaccination status, according to the state government.

The state government's website says travelers will be tested upon arrival and subject to daily checks from a hotel health care team, with additional testing on the fifth day and 13th day of quarantine.

A spokesperson for the premier of South Australia said the new restrictions had been implemented because of concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant. So far, five Omicron cases have been confirmed in South Australia’s neighboring state of New South Wales.

The new restrictions are in addition to the national government’s mandatory quarantine for eight southern African countries, including South Africa and Botswana.

Japan reports second Omicron variant case

From CNN's Junko Ogura in Tokyo 

Japan has identified its second case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said in a news briefing Wednesday. 

The infection was detected in a man in his 20s who arrived at Tokyo's Narita Airport from Peru on Saturday. The traveler is quarantined at a medical facility.  

Peru has not yet officially reported any cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant. 

It comes one day after Japan's first case was reported in a man in his 30s who traveled from Namibia to Tokyo on Sunday.

From Thursday, Japan will ban foreign nationals with Japanese residency from re-entering the country if they are traveling from 10 southern African nations, including South Africa.

Zimbabwe imposes mandatory quarantine for all travelers

From CNN's Wayne Chang

Zimbabwe on Tuesday imposed mandatory quarantine for travelers and new restrictions on movement amid rising Covid-19 cases and to preempt the spread of the Omicron variant, state-run news agency New Ziana reported. 

In a televised address, Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa said effective immediately, all Zimbabwean nationals, residents and visitors must be tested upon arrival for Covid-19. They must also undergo quarantine at state-designated facilities at their own cost.

The discovery of the Omicron variant presents an “added risk, which compounds the burden we already face,” Mnangagwa said. “In view of this new, ominous development, (the) government has decided on new, enhanced measures to strengthen our national response, and to protect our nation from impact of a likely fourth wave, which the new variant, Omicron, will most certainly aggravate.” 

Lockdown measures: Under new restrictions announced Tuesday, all businesses must close at 7 p.m. local time, followed by a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Meanwhile, bars are only allowed to admit fully vaccinated patrons.  

The latest measures will be reviewed after two weeks, Mnangagwa said.

Zimbabwe is one of several African nations facing travel restrictions from countries around the world following the emergence of the Omicron variant.

As of Tuesday, Zimbabwe had reported a total of 134,625 Covid-19 cases, according to a tweet by the country’s Ministry of Health and Child Care.  

No Omicron cases have yet been detected in in Zimbabwe.

Nigeria reports 3 Omicron cases with history of travel to South Africa

From CNN's AnneClaire Stapleton

Nigeria has detected three Omicron variant cases in travelers who arrived in the West African country from South Africa in the past week, according to local health authorities.

In a statement Wednesday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said these are the first known Omicron cases in Nigeria.

Nigeria now requires all inbound travelers to present a negative Covid-19 test result taken within 48 hours before departure, according to the NCDC.

"In addition, all outbound passengers regardless of the requirements of destination countries are expected to present evidence of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test done not later than 48 hours before departure,” the statement added.

India's Maharashtra state reintroduces mandatory quarantine as new travel rules come into effect

From CNN's Manveena Suri in New Delhi

The Indian state of Maharashtra has reimposed mandatory quarantine for all international passengers arriving from "at risk" countries in response to the Omicron coronavirus variant.

According to a government statement Tuesday, travelers arriving from countries determined to be “at risk” by India’s Health Ministry must quarantine for seven days at their own cost at designated hotels.

As of November 30, "at risk" countries and territories include South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel.

These passengers will also be required to take RT-PCR tests on the second, fourth and seventh day after their arrival.

In recent days, four passengers from South Africa and two from Nigeria have tested positive for Covid-19 after landing in Maharashtra. Their samples, as with all tests that now come back positive, have been sent for genome sequencing with contact tracing underway.

Maharashtra’s revised guidelines are effective immediately and coincide with new national travel rules coming into place.

India's new rules: From Wednesday, all international passengers arriving in India must submit a self-declaration form to an online government portal that includes a 14-day travel history and a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to their departure.

Travelers from countries deemed "at risk" will also now face further testing and surveillance, including a PCR test on arrival and must wait for the results before leaving or catching a connecting flight, according to guidelines issued by the Health Ministry on Sunday.

They will then have to quarantine at home for seven days and take another test on the eighth day.

Omicron is a "somewhat different animal," and there's a lot more scientists need to learn, NIH director says

From CNN Health’s Jen Christensen

It is still “very early days” with much more to learn about the Omicron variant of coronavirus, National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins said Tuesday.

Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said Tuesday there is “already room for optimism” that people who are vaccinated will be protected from the Omicron variant. Collins urged caution, though, and warned there is still a lot more that scientists need to know about how much protection the vaccines offer and how much severe disease this variant will cause.

“I would not want anybody to look at that announcement from Israel and say, ‘well, now we know the answer,” Collins said. “We are going to take several more days, look at lots more cases, try to really size up how much protection is coming from the vaccine and how much could come from the boosters.”

Collins said there is a lot to learn about Omicron from South Africa. 

“We just learned about this Omicron variant one week ago and already South Africa has been on the Zoom calls with me at least three times in the last three days, telling us everything they know about what is going on. But they’re still collecting the data,” Collins said. 

Collins said he guesses, based on what scientists have seen from the protection the vaccines provided against the Delta variant, that immunization should help, especially if someone has been given a booster. Other studies have shown vaccines elicit strong immunity — with enough extra immunity to protect against variants.

“Your immune system is very clever. It not only boosts the level of antibodies, but it boosts the breadth of coverage that they have of spike proteins that your system hasn’t even seen before but is now ready for,” Collins said. “It is that phenomenon that I think is going to help us here.”  

Collins said it is one reason so many public health officials are pushing people to get boosted now.

CDC is working to revise testing requirements for travelers to the US

From CNN's Kaitlan Collins

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to revise testing requirements for inbound international travelers because of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, the agency confirmed in a statement Tuesday.

"A revised order would shorten the timeline for required testing for all international air travelers to one day before departure to the United States," a spokesman said in a statement. "This strengthens already robust protocols in place for international travel, including requirements for foreign travelers to be fully vaccinated." 

The CDC currently requires fully vaccinated travelers to be tested three days before their flight's departure from a foreign country.

The CDC continues to recommend, but not require, that travelers get tested three to five days upon return and those who are unvaccinated should quarantine. The CDC did not offer a timeline for when any updated protocols could go into place.  

Officials across multiple government agencies huddled Tuesday night to discuss the potential changes, CNN reported earlier.

South Korea reports record number of daily Covid-19 cases

From CNN’s Gawon Bae in Seoul, South Korea

South Korea recorded 5,123 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, a record single-day figure, according to a news release from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

KDCA said 5,075 of the new infections were locally transmitted, with 4,110 detected in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

The country also reported 34 additional fatalities, bringing the total death toll to 3,658, according to KDCA. Some 723 patients are in critical condition, KDCA added.

South Korea has now reported a total of 452,350 cases.

As of Wednesday, 82.9% of the population had received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 79.9% had been fully vaccinated, KDCA said.

Suspected Omicron cases: South Korea is investigating at least two suspected cases of the Omicron variant, with results due on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Health Ministry and KDCA will form a task force along with related ministries to respond to the Omicron variant.

Israeli health minister says there are "indications" Covid vaccine protects against Omicron

From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali

There are “indications” that people who received a coronavirus vaccine booster are “protected” against the Omicron variant, Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said Tuesday.

“In the coming days we will have more accurate information about the efficacy of the vaccine against Omicron, but there is already room for optimism, and there are initial indications that those who are vaccinated with a vaccine still valid or with a booster will also be protected from this variant,” Horowitz said at a news conference.

Boosters   have been available in Israel to anyone over age 16 since late August, five months after their second dose of the vaccine. A person is not considered fully vaccinated in the country until they have received a third dose, once they are eligible for it.

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New Queensland fruit fly outbreaks declared – Salisbury North and Barmera B. Check your address on the outbreak map .

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Travel restrictions for fruit and vegetables in South Australia

South Australia has restrictions on what fruit, vegetables, plants and plant products can be brought into the state and Riverland.

Plan your travel to avoid a fine

Avoid any unnecessary fines by checking the travel restrictions for fruit and vegetables before travelling.

You'll be fined if you're caught with restricted fruit and vegetables at the Yamba quarantine station or random roadblocks.

Travelling to South Australia

Understand what fruit and vegetables you can and can’t bring into South Australia from your state.

Travelling to the Riverland

Understand what fruit and vegetables you can and can’t bring into the Riverland from within South Australia. You can no longer bring a receipt for fruit and vegetables at risk from fruit fly.

Disposing of restricted fruit and vegetables

You must dispose of restricted fruit, vegetables, plants and plant products in quarantine bins.

Find a quarantine station or bin

Check the bin and quarantine station map to find locations on your route.

Travellers quarantine resource kit

Download ready-made resources for travellers on quarantine information in South Australia .

Check if you're travelling in fruit fly outbreak areas

Fruit fly outbreaks and restrictions are in place across South Australia. Check the outbreak map to see if you’re travelling in these areas and understand the restrictions.

Call the Fruit Fly Hotline

Report suspected fruit fly or get answers to your fruit fly questions. The hotline is open 24 hours.

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Entering or leaving Australia

Australia welcomes millions of overseas visitors each year. Anyone who is not an Australian citizen needs a valid visa to enter the country.

International passenger caps have been removed for all international passenger arrivals into Australia.

All travellers should be aware that: People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status People entering Australia do not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status Unvaccinated visa holders do not ​ need a travel exemption to travel to Australia Mask wearing on international flights to Australia is no longer mandatory . It is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

Australian Citizens

All Australian citizens must enter and exit Australia on an Australian passport. Your Australian passport must be valid (not expired) on the day of your arrival in Australia. It does not need to have six months remaining validity to enter Australia unless you are passing through a third country that requires it. Citizens are not entitled to a visa, even if you are also a citizen of another country. Please see the  Department of Home Affairs website  for more information. 

Immigration and Visas

All foreign travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia.

»    Immigration and visas

If you have a specific question, please contact the Department of Home Affairs .

You will also need to know what you can and cannot bring into Australia, knowing the duty-free concession limits and what to experience when travelling through Australian airports and seaports.

Please visit the Department of Home Affairs website for more information.

Plan your trip with  australia.com , the official Tourism Australia website, offering a wide range of travel information and planning tools including over 2000 images, a currency converter, daily weather updates, interactive maps, suggested holiday itineraries, holiday deals, specialist travel agents and more. Available in nine languages.

Tourist Refund Scheme

The  Tourist Refund Scheme  enables you to claim a refund, subject to certain conditions, of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia.

Check before you pack and go

While the rules are relaxing for people moving around Australia between different states and territories in relation to COVID-19, the rules remain for the movement of plants and plant products between states and territories to prevent the movement of pests and diseases.

“Just be aware that if you take fruit and veggies with you, you may need to surrender it in amnesty bins at or before the checkpoints,” warned Rod.

“In particular, South Australia still has zero-tolerance for people turning up at the border carrying fruit and veg and you will be fined if you are carrying anything you shouldn’t be.”

“If you are self-catering or camping, you might be tempted to pack all your food before you go. But remember not to pack fruit and veg in your car or caravan if you know you will soon need to cross a state border. You may be disappointed if you have to surrender it because it’s banned.”

“Only buy what you need for the time you will be in the area, or that you know you will be able to take with you.”

It’s generally better to go shopping locally once you arrive at your destination. You’ll not only avoid a fine but also support local businesses in the Empty Esky campaign for to support bushfire recovery.

“Examples are the citrus red mite in NSW, phylloxera in parts of NSW and Victoria, and tomato potato psyllid near Perth, WA. Other offenders are Queensland fruit flies, present in the east coast states and NT, but not SA, WA or Tasmania, and Mediterranean fruit fly which is present only in WA.”

Other zones are ‘exclusion zones’ that are free from particular pests or diseases.

“Particular crops are grown in these areas and we want to keep pests and diseases out. Examples are the potato growing zones in NSW, Victoria and WA.”

So before you pack and get out and about this holiday season, make sure you check the Traveller’s Guide to see what you can and can’t safely take with you wherever you are going. Rules can change too, so check to make sure nothing has changed since you last looked.

Please pass on this important reminder to your interstate (and overseas) friends and family members.

More information

Download Australian Interstate Quarantine: A traveller’s guide

Alternatively, go to the map on the page and click on the name of the state or territory you wish to travel to (ie the text, not the map). A list of commodities will be displayed and the state or territory of origin. For example, no fresh fruit may be taken into South Australia from NSW, NT, Queensland, Victoria or WA.

More information about biosecurity zones is available on the Quarantine Zones page.

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Covid-19-related border restrictions lifted.

The Australian Government is removing COVID-19-related border restrictions .

What's changed?

From 12.01am AEST 6 July 2022, you'll no longer need to:

• fill out a Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration when entering Australia
• declare or prove your vaccination status
• seek exemptions to enter Australia.

Remember that destinations, airlines and cruise ships may have their own COVID-19 vaccination, testing and masking requirements you must meet.

What's still in place?

You’ll still need to wear a mask on inbound international flights. State and territory orders mandating masks on domestic flights also remain in place.

You'll still need to comply with requirements of the state or territory you arrive in, and any other state or territory you plan to travel on to domestically. Read more about current state or territory travel restrictions .

Before you go

It's exciting that travel is returning to a ‘post-COVID normal’. But there are still some things to consider before booking your flight. When you're planning your trip:

• read our Global COVID-19 Health Advisory and our step-by-step guide to travel during COVID-19
• read and subscribe to the travel advice for your destination and your transit locations. Familiarise yourself with their COVID-19 requirements. Ensure you meet their entry requirements, including any visas you might need
• check your passport's expiry date – many destinations require 6-months’ validity
• contact your transport providers to confirm their vaccination, testing and masking requirements.

Always purchase travel insurance and ensure it covers all your planned activities. See our CHOICE travel insurance buying guide: COVID-19 edition for advice on choosing.

Requirements can change quickly. Monitor Government advice and subscribe for updates to your destination/s to ensure you remain informed on global developments that may impact your travel.

Practising COVID-safe behaviours is important to minimise risk to yourself, your loved ones and the community.

If you're unvaccinated, you're strongly discouraged from international travel due to the health risks. Your transport provider can refuse to allow you on board if:

• you're showing symptoms of COVID-19
• you don't meet their vaccination or testing requirements
• you don't meet the requirements of your destination
• you refuse to wear a mask when required.
• Read the media release from the Minister for Health and Aged Care
• Read the media release from the Minister for Home Affairs

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Covid border restrictions across Australia: where you can and can’t travel between states – and to New Zealand

Planning a trip across state borders or a weekend away? Is the border between Victoria and NSW closed? Can you travel into or out of Sydney, from NSW to Qld, or to Victoria, SA, WA, NT or NZ? Before you leave home, check our state-by-state guide to coronavirus travel restrictions.

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The latest Covid outbreak in Australia has once again resulted in state border closures, restrictions and cancelled plans.

State and territory health authorities are monitoring the cases and the situation is changing daily. Here is a state-by-state breakdown of where you can and can’t travel and what you need to do before you leave home.

NSW border restrictions

Sydneysiders are unable to travel to regional NSW. That remains the case until at least 28 August.

People are barred from leaving the city, except for essential purposes, subject to the lockdown rules, and no one is allowed to travel in to greater Sydney without a reasonable excuse.

Interstate arrivals to NSW from Queensland, South Australia, the ACT and Victoria, including people who have been in those states for any time during the previous 14 days, need to complete a travel declaration upon entry.

Anyone who has been to a venue of high concern ( listed here ) must follow testing and self isolation requirements .

Victoria border restrictions

Victoria has tightened its border with NSW. From 11.59pm on Thursday 2 September, six Victorian and two NSW local government areas will be taken out of the state’s border bubble. Residents from Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, City of Benalla, Buloke, Loddon, Yarriambiack, Broken Hill and Edward River will be unable to cross state lines on a permit.

All travellers from anywhere in Australia must apply for a permit to enter Victoria. People living in the SA border bubble region do not require a permit.

The rules on entering Victoria from the border bubble area of NSW tightened from 6pm on 13 August. People on the NSW side of the border bubble will require a permit to travel to the Victorian side of the bubble if they are over 18 years of age. Travel will only be granted for permitted reasons, which are: to obtain necessary goods or services, including medical care and getting a Covid-19 test; for care and compassion reasons; for education including childcare; for getting a Covid vaccination; and for sport and exercise at a sporting club, including alpine resorts.

People under 18 are allowed to travel for the above reasons without a permit.

People from Victoria can also enter NSW for those reasons, but from 6pm on 13 August they will require a permit to return. In both cases people can only travel as far as is “reasonably necessary” into the other state.

Fines for travelling into Victoria without a permit, or in breach of the border bubble restrictions, are $5,452.

Travel from elsewhere in NSW to Victoria is not permitted, even for Victorian residents, unless you have been granted an exemption or are travelling on a specified worker permit or a transit permit. From 23 July, all of NSW has been labelled an “extreme risk zone”.

The ACT and the locked down areas of southeast Queensland , including Brisbane, are “red zones”. Victorian residents are able to return home from these areas but will be required to get a red zone permit and quarantine for 14 days. Non-Victorian residents are not eligible for a red zone permit. The rest of Queensland is a green zone.

South Australia is now classed as a green zone.

Queensland border restrictions

The Queensland government has extended border restrictions to all of NSW except for local government areas along the Queensland border.

Further, essential workers attempting to enter from NSW must have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine from Friday 20 August. This includes emergency and health authorities.

Victoria, the ACT and the greater Darwin and the Katherine region are also declared hotspot zones.

People who live in or have visited these areas are barred from entering the state, unless they are granted a special exemption.

If you are a Queensland resident returning from these areas, you will need to quarantine at a hotel for 14 days at your own expense.

If you are not a Queensland resident, and you have been to these areas, you need to apply for an exemption, and if that is granted, you will need to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days at your own expense.

From midday on 25 August, the Queensland government paused all arrivals from NSW, Victoria and ACT due to pressures on the state’s hotel quarantine system.

Everyone needs to complete a travel declaration form up to three days prior to arrival to enter the state.

No areas of the NT, South Australia, Tasmania or WA were declared Covid-19 hotspots by the Queensland government so travel is permitted, if a travel declaration form is signed.

NSW border zone residents can only cross into Queensland for a permitted purpose are also required to complete an entry pass.

Western Australia border restrictions

Western Australia now requires people who apply to travel into the state from a high risk state – anywhere with more than 50 cases a day – to have proof of at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to be allowed into the state. People in high risk zones also have to have a PCR test completed 72 hours before travel.

From Tuesday 17 August, NSW will be elevated to ‘high risk’. People from NSW are only allowed to travel into WA if they have an exemption. From Thursday 26 August, NSW will be upgraded to ‘extreme risk’, meaning there will be very limited exemptions granted to return to the state, with compassionate grounds no longer accepted.

Exemptions will be available to government employees, members of parliament and diplomats. They will need to go into hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own expense, will need to have returned a negative test in the previous 72 hours prior to arrival, submit to three tests while in quarantine, and also have had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine if eligible.

Victoria, the ACT and Queensland are classed as medium risk, meaning no one who has been in any of those states in the past 14 days is allowed to enter without an exemption. There is no vaccine requirement for medium risk states.

South Australia has been downgraded to low risk, meaning people from SA can enter WA if they have completed a border declaration and also go through 14 days quarantine and testing upon arrival.

Tasmania, the Northern Territory and New Zealand are deemed ‘very low risk’ by the WA government and do not have any quarantine requirements. Arrivals will still have to complete the mandatory G2G pass registration and declaration, as well as completing a health screening on arrival.

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Australian Capital Territory border restrictions

The ACT has tightened its border restrictions in response to the Covid situation interstate.

Non-ACT residents entering from locked down areas of Queensland, Victoria or NSW will not be allowed to enter unless they have an exemption, which will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Returning ACT residents will need to complete an online exemption form prior to their travel, and will still need to quarantine at home for 14 days.

All travellers who left Victoria after Thursday 5 August, 11.59pm, are subject to the stay-at-home order in place until Thursday 12 August, 11.59pm.

Anyone arriving from any state or territory must check the close contact and casual contact exposure locations ( listed here ). Anyone who has visited a close contact exposure location cannot enter the ACT without an exemption . Anyone who has visited a casual contact location must complete a self-declaration form , and isolate until a negative test result.

Travellers from all other states and jurisdictions can travel freely to the ACT.

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South Australia border restrictions

South Australia has closed its border with Victoria, NSW, the ACT and some parts of Queensland.

New rules for essential workers travelling to South Australia from high-risk states will be required to have had a least one Covid-19 vaccine. The new arrangement will target those people who arrive in SA for specific purposes and are allowed out of quarantine to conduct their work during the first 14 days. It will not apply to interstate transport workers who are allowed in according to a strict Covid-19 testing regime.

All arrivals from NSW, including returning South Australian residents, are not allowed to enter SA – unless they are an essential traveller or have an exemption. This excludes the LGA of Broken Hill.

All non-SA residents who have been in Victoria in the previous 14 days are barred from entering SA, excepting those in the 70km border buffer zone.

As of Sunday 8 August, 2.30pm, travellers who have visited Queensland in the previous 14 days are not permitted to enter. Those who have not been in Greater Brisbane, Cairns or Yarrabah LGAs in the past two weeks can enter until Monday 9 August, 11.59pm but must get a test within 24 hours and then quarantine until they receive a negative result, then get tested again on day 5 and 13.

Travellers from WA and the NT are allowed, but must have Covid tests on day 1, 5 and 13, and must self-quarantine until receiving their first negative result.

There are no restrictions on people from Tasmania.

Northern Territory border restrictions

A snap 72-hour lockdown has been announced for Darwin, Palmerston and the Katherine region after one COVID-19 case was confirmed overnight.

All interstate arrivals to the Northern Territory must fill in a border entry form .

Travellers who have been in a declared Covid-19 hotspot within the previous 14 days or attended a public exposure site cannot enter unless they have proof of residency, qualify for an automatic exemption or have received CHO approval. Transit through Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns airports is still permitted.

Border restrictions have been lifted for the rest of Victoria and all of South Australia. But anyone who has been at a public exposure state in any other state must get a Covid-19 test and quarantine in a suitable place for 14 days.

Tasmania border restrictions

No one from NSW, the ACT or Victoria may enter Tasmania unless they have special permission from the deputy state controller.

No one who has been at a declared high risk premises during a public exposure period, in any state, is allowed to travel to Tasmania. This includes Tasmanian residents.

Tasmanian residents who have been in the locked down areas of Brisbane and south-east Queensland can apply for an essential traveller permit to return to Tasmania and complete 14-days quarantine on arrival.

People who have been in the following LGAs in the Northern Territory on or since 11pm 12 August 2021 are not able to enter Tasmania: City of Darwin; City of Palmerston; Litchfield Councill Wagait Shire; Belyuen Shire; Dundee; Bynoe; Charlotte; Cox Peninsula; Municipality of Katherine, including Tindal. Some exceptions apply for “essential travellers”.

Other than people who have been at high risk premises, Tasmania is open to travellers from South Australia, WA, parts of the NT, New Zealand, and parts of Queensland.

New Zealand travel bubble

The NZ government has announced it will stop quarantine-free travel with Australia for two months.

New Zealand had already paused the travel bubble with NSW and Victoria, but the new shut down applies to all of Australia for eight weeks from midnight Friday, 23 July.

Managed return flights from NSW are running from Monday 9 August through to Sunday 22 August, however registrations for these have closed.

Due to the unprecedented and ongoing nature of the coronavirus outbreak, this article is being regularly updated to ensure that it reflects the current situation at the date of publication. Any significant corrections made to this or previous versions of the article will be footnoted in line with Guardian editorial policy.

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South Australia opened its borders to COVID-19. So, what have we learned?

South Australia this week went where no other state — possibly no other jurisdiction — has gone before.

Key points:

• SA opened its borders to NSW, ACT and Victoria last Tuesday
• As of Saturday, 10 positive cases had been recorded in interstate travellers
• Close contacts of positive cases still need to quarantine

After enjoying months without a single case of local transmission, the state opened last Tuesday and allowed the virus into the community, with its vaccination rate sitting just shy of 80 per cent.

By comparison, Sydney celebrated its "Freedom Day" when 73 per cent of its population over 16 had received two jabs, while England opened in July with its double-dose vaccination rate at 68 per cent. 

South Australian authorities are hoping they will be able to minimise the health impact from borders re-opening, but also want to teach the state how to live with COVID-19.

Almost a week into that plan, here is what we have learned so far.

There will be cases

There were jubilant scenes at Adelaide Airport on Tuesday , as families and friends separated by border closures reunited.

Road travellers – either fully vaccinated, or with an exemption in hand — spilled into SA at midnight, desperate to spend time with loved ones.

Then, as if on cue, South Australia recorded its first new case 24 hours later .

A girl from Victoria, who was too young to be vaccinated, had travelled into the state to visit relatives.

She received a positive result after undergoing testing at Tailem Bend and returned to Victoria to isolate – leaving her grandparents in quarantine here for seven days, too.

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier immediately declared the case a "wake-up call".

Several more cases from interstate travellers have since been recorded – 10 in total as of this afternoon.

That is still a significant number for a state that is used to zero.

People still have to quarantine

Though fully vaccinated travellers from across the country are now free to enter South Australia, this week has shown us that mandatory quarantine remains a necessary, albeit inconvenient, measure for now.

According to current directions, fully vaccinated close contacts of positive cases in SA need to quarantine for seven days, while unvaccinated close contacts must quarantine for 14 days.

The direction captured all passengers aboard a Qantas flight deemed close contacts , and several rows of passengers who had travelled on two other flights.

Presumably, some of those travellers had been looking forward to reunions of their own.

Anyone who bought a donut at the airport Wednesday mid-morning was also told to immediately get tested and isolate until they received a negative test result.

It seems a trip into South Australia could still cost a traveller at least seven days in quarantine , while picking up a sweet snack could land you in isolation for at least a day or two.

It is a stark reminder to those looking to come into South Australia in the lead up to Christmas, that "open borders" won't necessarily mean worry-free travel.

It's different for businesses this time – but they're still under pressure

SA Health is still listing exposure sites according to risk.

But this time around, businesses impacted by positive cases won't have to close for deep cleaning, unless otherwise advised by SA Health.

That does not mean business owners and their staff will not have a lot to work through now that borders are open.

Business owners are grappling with how to manage potential exposure to the virus, and planning for the event that multiple staff may need to quarantine for up to 14 days if they are not vaccinated.

The state government has mandated vaccines for some industries, including health services, police, education, and taxi and rideshare services.

But Premier Steven Marshall has ruled out introducing a blanket approach – meaning it will be up to individual businesses as to whether they impose vaccine mandates for staff and customers.

Not all states and territories are on board

While those in New South Wales, the ACT and Victoria are well accustomed to daily case numbers in the hundreds or thousands, Western Australia is holding off throwing its borders open until it hits its 90 per cent double-dose rate.

South Australia has acted as a buffer for WA throughout the pandemic, sometimes shielding the state from truck drivers and other travellers carrying the virus.

But WA Premier Mark McGowan has warned his state will reintroduce border restrictions with South Australia, should WA health authorities recommend it.

On Friday, Mr McGowan said while South Australia chose to open its border before reaching an 80 per cent double vaccination rate, WA would remain "far more careful" and "cautious".

At the same time, the Northern Territory reintroduced testing requirements for those entering from South Australia.

South Australia's reopening has been joyous news for many, but some governments remain wary.

Authorities don't really know how this will play out

Modelling released in early November presented several scenarios.

The "best case" scenario suggests there's a 27 per cent chance of an outbreak within 300 days of borders opening .

That scenario estimates several thousand cases and 13 deaths.

So will the modelling, and cases of community transmission, spur on more South Australians to get vaccinated, setting the state up for its long-term recovery?

Exactly a week before the border was due to open, 13,935 jabs were administered, compared with 15,612 on Tuesday – a difference of 1,677.

The Premier and Chief Public Health Officer have both predicted more people in the vaccine-hesitant camp will get their jabs once cases pop up in the community.

With Christmas and the "Mad March" festival season fast approaching – along with a federal and state election — any outbreak will have wide implications for the South Australian public and its leaders.

No one can predict exactly how it will all play out.

The strongest advice remains to simply to get vaccinated, and fast.

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