International travel guide: Pre-departure and return rules

It has been a slow process but Australia is slowly opening up and reconnecting with the rest of the world though of course, the rules of international travel look different.

There are new things like vaccine passports, COVID-19 travel insurance and for some, quarantine to contend with.

Here's everything you need to consider before booking international travel and jetting off.

1. Do I need to be vaccinated to travel overseas?

Yes, although it depends where you're travelling. Due to the risks of COVID-19, most countries (and some airlines) require travellers to be fully vaccinated in order to travel from Australia.

How do I prove I'm fully vaccinated?

Your first step to restarting international travel is to get proof of your vaccination status. This proof comes in the form of an International COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate (ICVC).

It can be accessed via:

• Your Medicare account through myGov
• The Medicare Express app
• The Individual Healthcare Identifier Service through myGov

The certificate is a PDF with a secure QR code that can be stored on your phone. You'll need a copy of it in printed or digital form when travelling to any country (or via airlines) which require proof of vaccination.

It's compatible with other COVID-19 travel apps including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass.

• See the steps to download your ICVC

  • 1. Log in to myGov. Head to the linked Medicare website (you'll need to link those accounts if you haven't already). On the Medicare homepage, go to "Proof of vaccinations".
  • 2. Under "International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate", click "Request a certificate". Confirm that the COVID-19 vaccination details on your screen are correct.
  • 3. Link your Australian passport (or foreign passport with a valid Australian visa). Enter your passport details and confirm, making sure all the displayed details are correct.
  • 4. Click the button to download your certificate with a QR code. You'll receive a copy of the ICVC the size of an A4 page. You can print out a copy although it's a good idea to keep a version on your phone and in your emails as backups.

2. Will I need to quarantine overseas or when I return to Australia?

It depends on the country you're travelling to. The United Kingdom for instance has scrapped quarantine in favour of testing. Other countries including Fiji have rules where you need to stay in accommodation approved for international arrivals for the firt 48 hours of your trip before you're allowed to travel anywhere you like.

In terms of returning to Australia the federal government can advise the states and territories on who can enter Australia without needing to quarantine, but it's up to those jurisdictions to apply those recommendations.

As of 9 February 2022, most states except for Western Australia allow fully vaccinated travellers to enter without needing to quarantine.

Returning to Australia from overseas

Do I have to quarantine when I return to Australia?

Yes, you will need to do some level of quarantine upon arrival back from overseas. However, this depends on which state you're flying into and your vaccination status.

I'm flying back from overseas to:

• Australian Capital Territory

  • Fully vaccinated travellers must undergo mandatory rapid antigen testing (RAT) or PCR testing within 24 hours of arrival.
  • You must travel directly to your suitable accommodation to await a negative test result.
  • Once you have a negative result, you can leave self-isolation but are encouraged to limit your movement in the community for the first 7 days of your arrival.
  • If you're not fully vaccinated, you must go to mandatory quarantine at your port of entry into Australia, following the rules of that jurisdiction.

• New South Wales

  • If you're fully vaccinated, you must take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test within 24 hours of arrival and self-isolate at home or your accommodation until you receive a negative result.
  • You must do another test on day 6 after arriving in NSW (you don't need to isolate yourself while waiting for this one).
  • You should avoid visiting high-risk settings for 7 days.
  • If you're not fully vaccinated, you must undergo mandatory hotel quarantine for 7 days.

• Northern Territory

  • There are no entry restrictions for anyone entering the Northern Territory regardless of vaccination status.

• Queensland

  • If you're fully vaccinated you must take a RAT or PCR test on arrival and self-isolate until you recieve a negative result.
  • If you're not fully vaccinated or can't meet those conditions, you must go into mandatory hotel quarantine.

• South Australia

  • If you're fully vaccinated, you must take a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival and quarantine until you get a negative result. You should not visit high-risk settings for 7 days.
  • Unvaccinated travellers must complete 14-days of quarantine, depending on your circumstances you will need to complete a quarantine at home or at a medi-hotel.
  • During quarantine, you must take a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival, and on days 6 and 13 after your arrival.

• Tasmania

  • There are no quarantine rules for any travellers arriving in Tasmania.

• Victoria

  • If you're fully vaccinated or you must get a PCR or rapid antigen test within 24 hours of arrival and self-quarantine until you receive a negative result.
  • If you're not fully vaccinated, you must spend 7 days in hotel quarantine with testing required between days 5 and 7.

• Western Australia

  • All travellers need to take a RAT within 12 hours of arrival and report any positive result. Unvaccinated travellers must complete 7 days of hotel quarantine.

Do I need proof of a negative test before arrival in Australia from overseas?

Whether you need a negative COVID-19 test result before you arrive in Australia from overseas depends on which state or territory you're travelling to.

I'm flying back from overseas to:

• Australian Capital Territory

  • No negative test required prior to arrival.

• New South Wales

  • No negative test required prior to arrival.

• Northern Territory

  • No negative test required prior to arrival.

• Queensland

  • You must have proof of a negative PCR test taken within 3 days of your scheduled departure to a Queensland airport.

• South Australia

  • You must produce evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result recieved in the 72 hours prior to departing to Australia or a negative RAT result recieved in the 24 hours prior to departing to Australia.

• Tasmania

  • No negative test required prior to arrival.

• Victoria

  • You must produce evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result recieved within 3 days of your flight's scheduled departure or a negative RAT result recieved within 24 hours of your flight's scheduled departure.

• Western Australia

  • All travellers must have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken 72 hours or less, prior to departure
  • From 3 March 2022 overseas arrivals will need to undertake a rapid antigen test within 12 hours of arrrival.

3. Where can I go?

As it did pre-pandemic Smartraveller, managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), issues guidance on 177 destinations and ranks the level of risk associated with them.

Most countries are at either level 3 "reconsider your need to travel" or level 2 "exercise a high degree of caution".

It's best practice to always consult the DFAT status warnings before booking a trip, as those warnings can impact travel insurance. While COVID-19 remains an ongoing "global health risk" DFAT has stated it won't be downgrading any countries to level 1 just yet.

According to Skyscanner, more than half (51%) of Australians said they were planning to spend more on travel in 2022, compared to 2019. The top 5 destinations Australians are looking to travel to in 2022 include the United Kingdom, India, United States, Thailand and the Philippines.

See our guide for where you can go from Australia and learn about the entry requirements

Which airlines are flying to and from Australia?

International airlines started to return to Australia over the past few months. All these airlines are selling tickets on some international routes to Australia in 2022. It's expected that as demand ramps up with tourists being allowed to enter Australia that capacity will start to increase slowly.

• Which airlines require you to be vaccinated from Australia?

  To protect their staff many airlines servicing international routes require passengers to be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine. In some cases you may be able to fly certain routes with an airline but many are refusing to carry passengers to destinations that require them to be vaccinated. Some airlines have opted to require a COVID-19 test instead of vaccination.

  This list is not-exhaustive and rules may change. Always check with your airline before booking your flights.

  Airline	Policy
  Air New Zealand	All passengers over the age of 18 who are travelling internationally on Air New Zealand aircraft must have proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Medical exemptions for unvaccinated passengers will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  Etihad Airways	All passengers are required to have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test to fly with Etihad Airways even if the country you are flying to doesn't require one.
  Fiji Airways and Fiji Link	All customers over 18 years old must be fully vaccinated agaisnt COVID-19 to travel on flights operated by Fiji Airways or Fiji Link. Vaccines must be approved by the Fijian Ministry of Health. People who are under 18 years of age and children who are not eligble for vaccination in their home country are eligble for exemption. You may be asked to provide proof of vaccination (or exemption).
  Qantas and Jetstar	All travellers travelling to or from Australia on Qantas or Jetstar aircraft need to be fully vaccinated at the time of travel. Children under the age of 12 are exempt, children betweeen ages 12 and 17 are exempt if travelling with a fully vaccinated adult. If you have an exemption you must provide Jetstar with your Australian Immunisation History Statement which displays medical contraindications to COVID-19 vaccines or official certification from a national government. You many need to present proof of vaccination (or exemption).
  Singapore Airlines	All passengers must be fully vaccianted with a WHO-approved vaccine to travel on Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights. Children below the age of 12 can travel with a fully vaccinated traveller who meets the requirements. Children aged 13 and above (by calendar year) must be fully vaccinated. Children born in or after 2010 are considered 12 years old or younger in 2022.
  Virgin Australia	Virgin Australia will only carry passengers on international flights who are fully vaccinated with a a TGA-approved or recognised vaccine. Children who are under the age of 12 are exempt from this requirement but children between 12 and 17 years of age must travel with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian. Those with a medical exemption must provide evidence.

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When will cruises restart?

Australia has banned cruise ships from operating until 17 April 2022. It remains to be seen if the ban will lift or be extended. When it does lift it will take some months before cruises are able to return to full operation for domestic and international travel. Some cruise lines have sailings available for late in 2022 as well as 2023 and 2024.

If you're keen to get sailing check out our cruise deals. You can always head overseas and book a cruise from an international destination.

Need to buy a rapid antigen test for travel quickly?

4. Who is allowed to travel to and from Australia?

From 21 February 2022 all fully vaccinated international travellers will be allowed to enter Australia. Skyscanner saw an immediate spike (+21% increase) in all global visitors to it's site following the announcement on 7th February.

Unvaccinated travellers will still need to apply for an exemption and may have to enter hotel quarantine if approved.

This is the next step in Australia's border reopening process. The timeline of previous significant events is as follows:

• 15 December: Fully vaccinated eligible visa holders (including student, skilled worker, refugee and working holiday visas) were allowed to enter without applying for an exemption. Fully vaccinated South Korean and Japanese citizens were allowed to enter Australia without seeking an exemption.
• 21 November: Eligible fully vaccinated citizens of Singapore were allowed to enter Australia without seeking an exemption.
• 1 November: Fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents no longer needed an exemption to leave the country.

5. Do I need travel insurance and does it cover COVID-19?

Just like before the pandemic travel insurance is an option you have to cover yourself if you get sick or injured while overseas.

Finder travel insurance expert Gary Hunter says “Several insurers now offer cover for COVID-19 medical expenses, trip rearrangement costs if you or someone you’re travelling with gets COVID as well as expenses if you're unexpectedly forced into quarantine during your trip."

"This is in addition to all the other protections that travel insurance offered before the pandemic, such as lost luggage, overseas medical cover and repatriation."

"However, policies generally won’t cover you if there’s a government-imposed lockdown or border closure – this is the main exclusion we’re seeing across all providers.”

Which brands provide insurance for international travel?

Here are 22 partner brands that offer policies for overseas trips, and have some cover for COVID-related expenses.

Brand	COVID-19 expenses	Cooling off period	Overseas medical expenses	Theft or damage to luggage	Standard excess	Apply
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $15,000	$200	Get quote
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $15,000	$200	Get quote
	Some cover	21 days		Optional add on	$100	Get quote
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $15,000	$250	Get quote
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $15,000	$250	Get quote
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $7,500	$200	Get quote
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $5,000	$200	Get quote
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $15,000	$100	Get quote
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $7,500	$200	Get quote
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $15,000	$100	More info
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $12,000	$250	More info
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $15,000	$250	More info
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $15,000	$200	More info
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $8,000	$250	More info
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $10,000	$200	More info
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $15,000	$100	More info
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $15,000	$250	More info
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $4,000	$250	More info
	Some cover	21 days		Up to $15,000	$250	More info
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $10,000	$200	More info
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $2,000	$100	More info
	Some cover	14 days		Up to $2,000	$100	More info

6. What else do I need to consider before I travel internationally?

Even when you have all your papers in order, things can still go wrong. Here are our tips to help make sure things go smoothly when you head overseas.

Bookings

Using an online travel agent or aggregator such as KAYAK, Skyscanner or Agoda can be a good way to find an international travel deal but you may be left in the lurch if you need to make adjustments to your booking so it's best to book your flights directly with an airline and accommodation directly with the hotel.

If international travel is sounding like more work than it used to be and you want to book with a travel agent such as Flight Centre make sure that your agent or branch is able to offer after-hours support so you aren't left in the lurch in another time zone without help.

Always read the terms and conditions, especially with regard to cancellations and refunds. These can change so print or screenshot a copy for your records in the event of cancellation.

Flexibility

Under Australian consumer law, you're entitled to a refund if your flight is cancelled by the airline.

If you can’t get a refund, some airlines offer flexibility with free date changes, Jetstar for example is offering 1 change for travel up to June 2023.

Frequent flyer reward flights

During the pandemic many airlines put their partnerships on hold. This included the ability to book reward flights with partners and transfer points between programs. Some programs such as Velocity and Krisflyer are restarting their parterships slowly.

Credit card chargebacks

An option for peace of mind is to pay for travel with a credit card. You can apply for a credit card chargeback to reverse a transaction if you need to. In some cases, your chargeback may be denied if you can make an insurance claim.

Consider your need to travel

While many people will be itching to get back overseas you should still be mindful that if things go wrong you may end up needing to quarantine while abroad and could face difficulties in returning until you’ve recovered.