Latest advice
This page is regularly updated.
Travel restrictions
Australia has strict border measures in place to protect the health of the Australian community. Very limited flights are currently available to and from Australia and you may not be able to travel at this time. Travel restrictions are subject to change. Please check back regularly. See: National Cabinet media statement.
All travellers arriving in Australia, including Australian citizens, must quarantine for 14 days at a designated facility, such as a hotel in their port of arrival. See Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. To find out more about quarantine requirements, contact the relevant state or territory government health department.
You cannot come to Australia unless you are in an exempt category or you have been granted an individual exemption to the current travel restrictions.
The majority of travel exemption requests to come to Australia are finalised within 7 days, but some complex requests may take longer.
Update on requesting an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions
We are making it easier to submit and track your travel exemption request with a new purpose-built service delivery platform. The new travel restriction exemption portal provides a range of benefits, including:
- user-friendly functionality
- immediate acknowledgement of your request
- supporting documents can be easily attached and updated
- group and family requests can be linked
- you can track the progress of your request
- immediate notification when a decision has been made.
If you submitted your application before the new portal became available on Friday 17 July 2020, we will have finalised your request. If you submitted before 17 July 2020, and you have not heard from us, please submit another request and we will contact you about your application.
Exempt categories
You are automatically exempt from the travel restrictions and can enter Australia (without obtaining an individual exemption) if you are:
- an Australian citizen
- a permanent resident of Australia
- an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident*
- a New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia and their immediate family members
- a diplomat accredited to Australia (holding a subclass 995 visa)
- a traveller transiting Australia for 72 hours or less
- airline crew
- maritime crew including marine pilots
- recruited under the Government approved Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific Labour Scheme
- holder of a Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188) visa
* If you hold a temporary visa or do not yet hold a valid visa for Australia, you must provide proof of your relationship (such as your marriage certificate, evidence of your de-facto relationship such as shared finances or property, your birth certificate or birth certificate for your children) to the Department before you travel to Australia. Do not travel until we advise that you can. You can find out more about how to provide this information here.
You need to carry evidence that you meet one of the above categories when travelling. Additional evidence may be requested.
Individual exemptions
The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant you an individual exemption if you are:
- a non-citizen travelling at the invitation of the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response
- providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies
- a non-citizen with critical skills or working in a critical sector in Australia
- a non-citizen sponsored by your employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)
- a non-citizen whose entry would otherwise be in the national interest, supported by the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority
- military personnel, including those who form part of the Status of Forces Agreement, Commonwealth Armed Forces, Asia Pacific Forces and Status of Armed Forces Agreement
- a student completing year 11 and 12, with support from the relevant Australian State or Territory government health authority and education department
- travelling for compassionate and compelling reasons.
You must hold a visa and an exemption to Australia’s travel restrictions before you travel. You can request an exemption online and must provide appropriate evidence to support your claims. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided. All documents need to be officially translated into English.
You need to apply for an exemption at least two weeks, but not more than three months, before your planned travel.
Your request must include:
- traveller details: name, date of birth, visa type and number, passport number
- proposed residential address and phone number in Australia
- your reasons for coming: why you should be granted an exemption
- a supporting statement: setting out how you meet one of the grounds for an exemption
- accompanying evidence.
If you are not granted an exemption, you should not continue with your travel plans, as you will not be permitted to board a flight to Australia. If you are granted a travel exemption, you need to take evidence of that exemption decision to the airport.
Compassionate and compelling reasons to travel
The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant you an exemption if you are seeking to travel for compassionate and compelling reasons. Compassionate and compelling reasons include, but are not limited to, needing to travel due to the death or critical illness of a close family member.
You must hold a visa and have an exemption to Australia’s travel restrictions before you travel. You can request an exemption online and must provide appropriate evidence to support your claims. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided. All documents need to be officially translated into English.
Where possible, you should apply for an exemption at least two weeks, but not more than three months, before your planned travel. If you are travelling due to the death or critical illness of a close family member, you can apply inside this timeframe and we will prioritise your application.
If you are not granted an exemption, you should not continue with your travel plans, as you will not be permitted to board a flight to Australia. If you are granted a travel exemption, you need to take evidence of that exemption decision to the airport.
Apply online for an exemption
You need to apply for an exemption at least two weeks, but not more than three months, before your planned travel.
To complete a travel exemption request you should already hold a visa and you should provide information and documents to support your request. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided. This may include the following:
- proof of identity
- evidence that you hold a valid visa
- travel itinerary
- marriage, birth, death certificate/s
- proof of relationship or residence (such as a shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account etc.)
- letter from a doctor or hospital, indicating why travel is necessary
- letter from an employer indicating why travel is necessary
- supporting letter from a business or government agency, advising why your skills are critical
- statutory declaration to support your claims.
Please do not submit multiple requests for one traveller, as only the most recent request will be processed.
Obtaining a travel exemption does not guarantee you will be able to get a flight to Australia at this time.
Please make only one request per person. Duplicate requests will delay assessment. If you are not granted an exemption, you should not continue with travel plans, as you will not be permitted to board a flight to Australia. If you are granted a travel exemption, you will need to take evidence of that exemption decision to the airport.
THE HON ALAN TUDGE MP
MINISTER FOR POPULATION, CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE ACTING MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP, MIGRANT SERVICES AND
MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
THE HON DAN TEHAN MP
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
MEDIA RELEASE
20 July 2020
Supporting international students to support Australian jobs
The Morrison Government is making a number of changes to student visa arrangements to ensure Australia remains a priority destination for international students as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
International students are extremely important to Australia and our economy, contributing
$40 billion annually and supporting 250,000 jobs. Many also go on to become great Australian citizens.
While the closure of our international borders has been critical to our success in slowing the spread of the coronavirus, and Australia has been a leader in this regard, it has presented challenges to the education sector and students, both here and offshore.
These five visa changes will ensure international students are not worse off due to the coronavirus pandemic and that Australia remains competitive with other countries.
The changes include:
The Government will recommence granting student visas in all locations lodged outside Australia. This means when borders re-open, students will already have visas and be able to make arrangements to travel.
International students will be able to lodge a further student visa application free of charge if they are unable to complete their studies within their original visa validity due to COVID-19.
Current student visa holders studying online outside Australia due to COVID-19 will be able to use that study to count towards the Australian study requirement for a post-study work visa.
Graduates who held a student visa will be eligible to apply for a post-study work visa outside Australia if they are unable to return due to COVID-19.
Additional time will be given for applicants to provide English language results where COVID-19 has disrupted access to these services.
Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the changes provide assurance to international students already in Australia and those who haven’t been able to travel due to COVID-19 border closures.
“These measures back the international education sector – our fourth-largest export sector
– and will assist its recovery,” Mr Tudge said.
“In making these changes, we have been guided by the principles that the health of Australians is key, but that international students should not be further disadvantaged by COVID-19.
“We are a welcoming nation with a world-class education system and some of the lowest rates of COVID-19 in the world. Students want to study here and we want to welcome them back in a safe and measured way when it is safe to do so.
“Doing so will not only support the education sector, it will also have flow-on effects for many local communities and businesses, including accommodation services, tourism, hospitality and retail.”
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the changes would give international students confidence in their visa arrangements so they can make plans to study in Australia when it is safe to do so.
“Our remarkable efforts in controlling the spread of the virus mean we can begin to welcome back international students in a COVID safe way once state borders re-open and face-to-face learning resumes,” Mr Tehan said.
“As well as supporting jobs, international education builds our connection to the rest of the world and supports a number of critical industries like health, aged and disability care.”
The Government has previously relaxed work restrictions for international students working in the health, aged and disability care sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also been flexible in cases where the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented international students meeting their visa conditions, such as not being able attend classes in person.
Media contact:
Minister Tudge – Steve Kidner 0466 385 097
Minister Tehan – Lauren Fitzpatrick 0436 697 169
I have a Student visa
I work in a critical sector for COVID-19 (Agriculture, Health, Aged Care or Supermarkets)
Latest updates/media releases
- Coronavirus and temporary visa holders
- Australia’s major supermarkets will temporarily be able to offer more hours to international student employees to help keep shelves stocked.
- International students ready to fill critical staff shortages in aged care.
The Government is taking a flexible approach in relation to student visa conditions where COVID-19 restrictions have prevented conditions being met, such as attendance at class or use of online learning.
If your study in Australia is ending, and you are unable to depart Australia, you can apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). You need to do this before your Student visa expires.
If your course is ‘out of session’
You can work unlimited hours if your course is considered ‘out of session’. Courses are considered ‘out of session’ during scheduled course breaks or if a student has finished their course as scheduled.
If you are studying a masters by research or a doctorate course
If you have commenced studying a masters by research or a doctorate course, you may work unlimited hours.
If your course has been deferred
You can work over 40 hours per fortnight if your course has been deferred.
Exemptions for some international students
Certain student visa holders can work for more than 40 hours per fortnight to support the supply of essential goods and services for Australians if they are:
- Employed in the nursing sector
- Employed by registered supermarkets (from 1 May 2020, this changes and students will only be able to work 40 hours per fortnight)
- Employed in the aged care sector
See Employers with access to these essential service arrangements.
Australian study requirements
The Department of Home Affairs does not regulate mode of study requirements.
You should contact your education provider.
Please refer to the Joint TEQSA and ASQA statement relating to flexible delivery.
For the exceptions as a result of the travel restrictions, see the National Code requirements for affected tertiary students to undertake online study.
Notifying the Department
You do not need to notify the Department if you return home, or your study situation changes.
Your visa remains valid until you lodge another visa application, or your visa expires. The status of your visa will remain unchanged if you return home or defer your studies.
Students experiencing financial difficulties
You are encouraged to rely on family support, part-time work where available and your own savings to sustain yourself in Australia.
If you are unable to support yourself, you should make arrangements to return to your usual country of residence, noting that it is a condition of all Student visas that holders have access to funds to support themselves for the duration of their stay in Australia.
Students who have been in Australia longer than 12 months who find themselves in financial hardship will be able to access their Australian superannuation.
The Government will continue to engage with the international education sector which is providing some financial support for international students facing hardship.