New Zealand Safe Travel Zone (October 15, 2020)

From Friday, 16 October 2020, you can travel from New Zealand to Australia, quarantine-free, if:

• you have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more and not been in a designated hotspot, and
• you are travelling to Australia on an quarantine-free flight.

You do not need to be a New Zealand citizen to travel to Australia quarantine-free if you meet the above criteria, but you will need a valid visa to enter Australia. New Zealand citizens do not need to apply for a visa before coming to Australia. If eligible, they will be granted a Special Category visa (subclass 444) (SCV) on arrival.

A quarantine-free flight only carries passengers who have declared they have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more and have not been in a COVID hotspot in New Zealand in the last 14 days before travel. Quarantine-free flights will be determined by your airline. You should not travel if you are feeling unwell or have signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand will initially be to New South Wales and the Northern Territory only. Other states and territories may be added at a later date.

New Zealand citizens outside New Zealand

The safe travel zone does not apply to New Zealand citizens who are outside New Zealand or who have not been in New Zealand for the last 14 days or more.

COVID-19 Declaration

Before travelling to Australia you must print and complete COVID-19 Declaration form and present it at airline check-in at the airport. If you do not present a completed form, you may not be able to board your flight. This form will be used to determine if you can travel and for contact tracing purposes by relevant state and territory governments.

If you arrive in either NSW or the Northern Territory on a quarantine-free flight, you will not need to enter mandatory quarantine. If you arrive at any other location or you are not on a quarantine-free flight, you will be subject to mandatory quarantine.

Hotspots

There are 0 hotspots in New Zealand, as at 15 October 2020. This could change at short notice so check back here regularly. The Australian Government’s hotspot definition is available on the Department of Health’s website.

Travel exemptions

Travelling from New Zealand to Australia

If you have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more prior to travel you do not need to apply for an exemption to Australia’s travel restrictions. You are automatically exempt. 

If you have been in New Zealand for less than 14 days you will require a travel exemption to travel to Australia. This includes travellers who are transiting New Zealand to Australia.

If you have already submitted a travel exemption request

We will continue to process travel exemption requests from passengers travelling from New Zealand.

Travelling from Australia to New Zealand

If you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident you cannot leave Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions unless you have an exemption. You will be subject to New Zealand entry requirements.

Temporary visa holders do not need an exemption to depart Australia.

Arrival in Australia

Green and red zones have been created at airports in Australia to ensure the separation of passengers arriving on ‘quarantine-free’ flights, from other passengers who are required to enter 14 days mandatory quarantine.

If you travel on a quarantine-free flight, you will be guided through the green zone to complete all border clearance processes in the airport of arrival in Australia.