Government Bans Departure of Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents

Effective from 12pm Wednesday 25 March, Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents are banned from travelling overseas under the new Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Overseas Travel Ban Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020.

Limited exemptions apply, including:

• Australians usually resident overseas
• Members of the crew of an aircraft or vessel (other than the outgoing aircraft or vessel) or is a worker associated with the safety or maintenance of an aircraft or vessel (other than the outgoing aircraft or vessel)
• A person engaged in the day-to-day conduct of inbound and outbound freight
• a person whose travel is associated with essential work at an offshore facility;
• A person who is travelling on official government business (including a member of the Australian Defence Force)

Exemptions must be obtained from the Department of Immigration in writing before departure. Anyone who fails to comply with these rules may commit a criminal offence and be imprisoned for a maximum 5 years, or be fined 300 penalty units ($63,000).

Further information on the Australian travel restrictions and the Coronavirus can be found on the Australian Border Force website here.

Source: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/current-alerts/novel-coronavirus