travel exemption australia

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.

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.

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Changes to travel exemptions for australians who normally live overseas.

From 11 August 2021, if you're an Australian citizen or permanent resident who normally lives overseas, you’re no longer automatically exempt from Australia’s overseas travel restrictions. You can still leave Australia. But you’ll need to apply for an exemption and demonstrate your links to the country where you usually live. A transitional period applies until 7 September.

This change brings travel exemption requirements in line with those for other Australians, keeping the system fair for all.

The change will better assist vulnerable Australians overseas to return home.

If you’re currently in Australia and leaving the country after 11 August, you’ll also need to apply.

If you’ve already received an exemption to leave and have not yet travelled, you can depart using your existing exemption. You don’t need to apply for new exemption unless you’ve already travelled using your previous approval or wish to depart again in the future.

Transitional period until 7 September 2021

Until 7 September, if you arrive at the airport in Australia without an exemption you’ll be allowed to travel if your status as ordinarily resident overseas can be confirmed by an Australian Border Force officer at departure. You’ll need to apply for an exemption in advance through the  travel exemptions portal for any future travel.

Applying for an exemption

You can apply for the exemption to return to your usual place of residence prior to travelling to Australia.

You’ll need to provide supporting evidence such as:

• foreign government issued documentation,
• evidence of residence overseas, or 
• evidence of employment or business interest overseas 

Submit your application at least two weeks, but not more than two months, prior to travel. If you’re travelling for compassionate reasons, you can apply inside this timeframe and the Department of Home Affairs will prioritise your application. You don’t have to book flights before requesting a travel exemption.

For more information or to apply for an exemption visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

• Find out more information on travel exemptions
• Read the Australian Border Force’s Statement
• Read more about travel restrictions

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Further steps to reopen australia and secure our economic recovery.

• Joint media release with:
• The Hon. Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister
• The Hon. Karen Andrews MP, Minister for Home Affairs
• The Hon. Alan Tudge MP, Minister for Education and Youth

Australia continues to take further steps to safely reopen to the world, with additional changes to our international border arrangements coming into effect on 1 December.

Consistent with the National Plan to safely reopen Australia, these changes will ensure we continue to protect the health of Australians, while reuniting families and securing our economic recovery by opening our border to skilled and student visa holders.

From 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can come to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. Eligible visa holders include skilled and student cohorts, as well as humanitarian, working holiday maker and provisional family visa holders.

Under these arrangements, travellers must:

• Be fully vaccinated with a completed dosage of a vaccine approved or recognised by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• Hold a valid visa for one of the eligible visa subclasses
• Provide proof of their vaccination status
• Present a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken within three days of departure.

Travellers to Australia must comply with the quarantine requirements in the state or territory of their arrival, and any other state or territory to which they plan to travel.

The return of skilled workers and international students to Australia will further cement our economic recovery, providing the valuable workers our economy needs and supporting our important education sector.

From 1 December 2021, Australia will also welcome back fully vaccinated citizens from Japan and the Republic of Korea. Under these arrangements, citizens of Japan and the Republic of Korea who hold a valid Australian visa will be able to travel from their home country quarantine-free to participating states and territories, without needing to seek a travel exemption.

• Depart from their home country
• Be fully vaccinated with a completed dosage of a vaccine approved or recognised by the TGA
• Hold a valid Australian visa
• Present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within three days of departure.

Today's announcement follows earlier changes which have seen us welcome home fully vaccinated Australians, permanent residents and their immediate family members since 1 November, and follows the commencement of the Singapore safe travel zone yesterday.

These changes demonstrate the success of our National Plan, as the Government continues to get Australia back to normal and reopen to the world safely.

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Travel exemptions: navigating COVID-19 restrictions and what you need to know before you travel

Contributor.

Currently, nationwide travel restrictions remain in place, affecting thousands of people wishing to exit or enter Australia. A request for a 'travel exemption' is the only means by which some individuals and families can cross national borders and exit or re-enter the country.

The following groups do not require a travel exemption to enter Australia:

-Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members

-New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia and their immediate family members

However, for non-citizens of Australia, including bridging and temporary visa holders on a wide range of visa classes, ongoing travel restrictions mean continued 'lockout' from international travel for a still undefined and uncertain period of time. The impact of these travel delays on individuals, their businesses, their families and on the economy are immeasurable.

Applying for a travel exemption in the form prescribed by the Australian Government can be time-consuming and valid reasons for lodging an application are limited.

The rates of successful travel exemptions in the various categories provide a snapshot of the current situation. Recent figures published by the Department of Home Affairs and Australian Border Force under the Freedom of Information process indicate that between 20 March and 31 July 2020, roughly 25% of outbound travel from Australia was approved, compared to 22% of inbound travel requests.

This makes staying up to date with changes and having detailed knowledge of travel exemption requirements all the more imperative.

Who can apply for a travel exemption?

Information issued by the Department of Home Affairs and updated on 2 September 2020 outlines that applicants for exemptions are required to fall within a number of categories.

A request for a travel exemption must be applied for by each individual wishing to travel who is not automatically exempt.

The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant an individual exemption if the applicant:

• is invited: 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;
• works in critical services: providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies;
• has 'Critical Skills' : a non-citizen with critical skills or working in a critical sector in Australia as defined by the Australian Government;
• has an occupation on the 'PMSOL' : a non-citizen sponsored by their employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL);
• has Government support: a non-citizen whose entry would otherwise be in the national interest, supported by the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority;
• is 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; or
• is travelling for compassionate and compelling reasons.

How can you apply for a travel exemption?

On 17 July 2020, the process for requesting an exemption from Australia's travel restrictions moved to a new, online service delivery platform maintained by the Department of Home Affairs.

New features of the platform include improved tracking of the progress of requests, easier uploading of supporting documents and the linking of group and family member requests.

Applicants are advised to request an exemption at least two weeks , but not more than three months , before the planned travel.

All applicants must hold a visa and an exemption to Australia's travel restrictions before travel. With the exception of the 'Critical Skills' category, the visa must be valid at the time of lodging the travel exemption request.

The travel exemption request must include:

• traveller details : name, date of birth, visa type and number, passport number;
• proposed residential address and phone number in Australia;
• the reasons for coming : why the applicant should be granted an exemption;
• a supporting statement : setting out how the applicant meets one of the grounds for an exemption;
• accompanying evidence : appropriate evidence to support the claim for exemption, which may include:
• proof of identity
• evidence of holding 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 the applicant's skills are critical
• statutory declaration to support the applicant's claims.

All documents need to be officially translated into English and requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided.

Need assistance? Madison Marcus can help.

Applying for a travel exemption can be complicated and stressful. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you navigate the complex processes involved in preparing and lodging a request application. We have had great success helping Australian visa holders (including a wide range of bridging, temporary business and student visa holders) both depart and re-enter the country for urgent personal and business reasons. Plus, we continue to assist communities particularly affected by the border closures.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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Where can I travel overseas from Australia if I'm fully vaccinated? Which COVID-19 vaccine do I need?

Overseas travel is on the horizon for Australians, with the federal government preparing to reopen the international border next month.

But visiting family members or taking a holiday in a different country won't be as simple as booking a plane ticket.

Travellers will need to navigate rules on COVID-19 tests and vaccines depending on where they go and where they've been.

When will I be able to leave Australia?

Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to leave Australia without an exemption as early as November, with some conditions.

Travellers aged 12 and over will need to have had two doses of a "recognised vaccine". Those vaccines include:

• Pfizer (Comirnaty)
• AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria)
• Moderna (Spikevax)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)

The requirement for travellers to be fully vaccinated does not apply to children under 12 . 

Those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are also exempt, however there are  few and limited medical reasons for why a person cannot get a COVID-19 vaccine .

Unvaccinated travellers will need to apply to leave Australia under the current border restrictions.

Temporary visa holders do not need to be vaccinated or apply to leave Australia.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is currently reviewing which COVID-19 vaccines used overseas can be among the "recognised vaccines".

The TGA has advised that the Chinese-made Sinovac and Indian-made Covishield vaccines will be considered "recognised vaccines" when determining whether an incoming international traveller has been appropriately vaccinated.

Will the type of vaccine I've had affect where I can travel?

For some countries, yes, the type of COVID-19 vaccine you have had will determine whether you can enter countries such as Singapore, the United Kingdom and Qatar.

But those three countries recognise the COVID-19 vaccines offered in Australia.

What will have a greater impact on where you can travel overseas from Australia are airline vaccination policies, limited available routes and nations' entry requirements.

Airline vaccination policy

Qantas and Air New Zealand both require passengers on international flights to be fully vaccinated .

Virgin has not announced a requirement for international travellers to be vaccinated.

A COVID-19 vaccination is also not a requirement for travel with Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Scoot, Thai Airways, Fiji Airways, Cathay Pacific, Air Niugini, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines or Lufthansa.

However, passengers must receive a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 48 or 72 hours of their flight depending on their airline or destination.

Limited available routes

There will not only be  fewer direct routes for Australians to travel when the border reopens, but also fewer flights .

Following Prime Minister Scott Morrison's announcement last week that international travel would resume , Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline had already sold out some flights for December.

Here are some of the direct routes open between Australia and overseas destinations:

• Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington (New Zealand)
• London (United Kingdom)
• Los Angeles, San Francisco (United States)
• Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
• Doha (Qatar)
• Bangkok (Thailand)
• Tokyo (Japan)
• Nadi (Fiji)
• Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea)

There are currently no direct flights to Bali. While Indonesia is reopening the tourist island to international travellers this month, Australia is not on the list.

Entry requirements

Just because there is a flight to a country doesn't mean you will be allowed in or even be able to board the plane.

Each country has its own rules for incoming travellers based on their citizenship or  visa, vaccination status, where they have travelled from  and, in some cases, where they have visited in the past few weeks or months .

These rules not only determine whether you can enter a country, but if you are you required to quarantine upon arrival.

These entry requirements can change quickly with little to no notice .

What are the rules for the US and the UK?

Australians can travel to the United States  as long as they provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before travelling.

You do not need to have had a COVID-19 vaccine to travel to the US.

Travellers to the United Kingdom who are fully vaccinated (with any of Australia's recognised vaccines) must take a pre-booked COVID-19 test on or before day two after arriving.

Unvaccinated travellers to the UK must quarantine for 10 days and take a COVID-19 test on days two and eight.

Qatar allows tourists to enter without quarantining if they are  fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine .

The United Arab Emirates also allows fully vaccinated visitors from "green countries" (including Australia) to enter without quarantining .

New Zealand has paused its travel bubble with Australia, meaning travellers must be granted an exemption to enter and undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine.

Tourists are not allowed to enter Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Fiji or  Papua New Guinea.

When will I be able to return to Australia?

The federal government is expected to  ease restrictions on Australians returning home as early as November.

However, Mr Morrison has said this will depend on the outcome of the home quarantine trials in New South Wales and South Australia.

If the trials are successful, Australian citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated will be able to quarantine at home for seven days .

Travellers who are not vaccinated, or have received a vaccine not approved by the TGA , will have to complete 14 days of hotel quarantine.

Australian citizens and permanent residents who cannot be vaccinated, such as those under 12 or those who have a medical condition, will be treated as vaccinated for the purposes of their travel.

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Travelling to or from Australia with medicines and medical devices

You can enter Australia with medicines for you or an immediate family member travelling with you under the traveller’s exemption. When leaving Australia, you must follow the advice of the country you are entering.

Travelling to Australia with medicines and medical devices

The traveller's exemption allows people entering Australia to bring with them for their own personal use or the use by an immediate family member who is travelling with them:

• carry 3 months’ worth of medicine
• any medical devices.

Australian residents require a valid prescription from an Australian doctor for the medication they are travelling with. International visitors should have a valid prescription from their doctor.

Prescription medicines such as morphine, oxycodone, methadone, methylphenidate, Adderall®, and benzodiazepines are all covered by the traveller exemption.

Steps to take before travelling

• Obtain a prescription to confirm that the medicines you are carrying have been prescribed to you OR provide a letter from your doctor that states you are under their treatment and that the medication(s) you are carrying have been prescribed for your personal use. Your doctor's letter must specify the name of the medicine and dosage.
• Ensure the medication remains in its original packaging with the dispensing label intact. This will assist with identifying each substance at the border.
• Be ready to declare all medication to the Australian Border Force upon arrival.

If you need more medication

If you have run out of medication or you will run out of medication during your stay in Australia, you may visit an Australian registered prescriber (for example, a General Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner, Dentist) to obtain a valid Australian prescription. The prescription can be used to purchase medication from Australian pharmacies. Alternatively, if the item is not restricted in Australia a maximum of 3 months’ supply can be imported from overseas.

Special notice concerning codeine medications

All medications containing codeine require a prescription from your medical doctor.

For any medication containing codeine, of any strength, that you bring into Australia for your own personal use, you must have a prescription or letter from your doctor. You must comply with all other traveller’s exemption requirements.

Prohibited items

Travellers may not bring the following substances into Australia:

• Abortifacients (for example, mifepristone – RU486)
• Yohimbe (Yohimbine)
• Aminophenazone, amidopyrine, aminopyrine, dipyrone, metamizole
• Amygdalin/laetrile.

Travelling from Australia with medicines and medical devices

We recommend that all Australians who are planning to travel overseas with medication follow the same travel advice given for travellers entering Australia under the traveller's exemption.

It is important to note that some countries have very strict rules regarding certain types of medications (especially narcotics and medicinal cannabis products), being brought into their country. The Office of Drug Control is not able to provide advice on the exact rules and regulations of each country.

If you have concerns about the medication you are travelling with, check the 'Health' section of the country in question on  SmartTraveller .

The Office of Drug Control is not able to authorise documents to confirm legal authority of the traveller to possess a medication. If a person is travelling to a country that requires official documentation endorsed by the government, we recommend that you follow the advice made available at SmartTraveller .

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and travel

Medicines supplied under the PBS are subsidised by the Australian Government for personal use only. Any medicines that are suspected to be taken overseas for somebody else may be seized by border officials.

Carrying PBS medicines overseas for someone other than you or an immediate family member travelling with you on the same aircraft or ship is illegal. It carries penalties of up to $5,000 and 2 years imprisonment.

Read more about how to manage your PBS medicine overseas .

Country-specific advice for travel with medicines

Find out more information about staying healthy and travelling with medicines to specific countries at the  SmartTraveller website .

Travel enquiries

For more information, please visit Travelling with medicines and medical devices on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website.

For any travel enquiries, please contact the TGA:

• phone  1800 080 653
• email [email protected]
• or by webform here .
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All COVID-19 border restrictions to be lifted

​People travelling to Australia will no longer have to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status, following changes to the Biosecurity Act, which come into effect from midnight AEST on Wednesday 6 July 2022.

“This is great news for families coming home from school holidays who now don’t need to use the DPD,” Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil, said.

The Biosecurity Act changes, which were made following health advice from the Chief Medical Officer, also mean that all visa holders can travel to Australia without needing a travel exemption.

“As more and more of us travel internationally and we get more confident in managing our risk of COVID, our airports are getting busier,” Minister O’Neil said.

“Removing these requirements will not only reduce delays in our airports but will encourage more visitors and skilled workers to choose Australia as a destination.

“And for Australian citizens, with the removal of these requirements, returning home will be much easier.

“I know anyone who has travelled internationally since the borders have opened will find this as one less thing to worry about – especially as more Australians get back to travelling overseas.

“We’ve also listened to feedback about the DPD. While in time it will replace the paper based incoming passenger card, it needs a lot more work to make it user friendly”

Those arriving by sea will also benefit, and no longer need to complete a Maritime Travel Declaration. Airlines, cruise ship operators and other countries may still have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

Australians planning to travel overseas are encouraged to check current travel advice by visiting Smartraveller .

For more information on the changes to international travel requirements visit: www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19 .

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COVID-19 and the border

Updates to Australia's immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

​​​Latest updates

From 12:01am on Saturday 11 March 2023, people travelling to Australia from China, including Hong Kong and Macau, will not be required to show evidence of a negative pre-departure test for COVID-19. For more information see Entering and leaving Australia .

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Australia to dump Covid vaccine requirements and travel exemptions for international arrivals

People arriving in the country will no longer need to use the digital passenger declaration under changes to come into effect next week

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People arriving in Australia will no longer have to declare their Covid vaccination status or obtain a travel exemption under changes to come into effect this week.

The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, announced on Sunday that the government would dump the restrictions that have been in place since the country’s borders reopened late last year, with the changes to the Biosecurity Act made following advice from the chief medical officer, Paul Kelly.

The change will come into effect on Wednesday. “This is great news for families coming home from school holidays who now don’t need to use the DPD [digital passenger declaration],” O’Neil said.

“As more and more of us travel internationally and we get more confident in managing our risk of Covid, our airports are getting busier.

“Removing these requirements will not only reduce delays in our airports but will encourage more visitors and skilled workers to choose Australia as a destination.”

The digital pass, which was announced last September and cost an estimated $75m to develop, replaced the original passenger arrival form and required people to upload their vaccination status ahead of entering Australia.

But the app was criticised for being clunky and difficult to use, with O’Neil saying the government had “listened to feedback” about the pass.

“While in time it will replace the paper-based incoming passenger card, it needs a lot more work to make it user-friendly,” she said.

“I know anyone who has travelled internationally since the borders have opened will find this as one less thing to worry about – especially as more Australians get back to travelling overseas.

The announcement also includes changes to those who arrive by sea, with the scrapping of maritime travel declarations that applied to cruise-ship passengers and maritime crew.

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The health minister, Mark Butler, said travellers needed to still comply with remaining Covid requirements of airlines and shipping operators, as well as those imposed by other countries, states and territories.

Mask-wearing is still required on inbound international flights, while state and territory mask-wearing mandates also remain for domestic flights.

“The Australian government makes decisions on Covid-related issues after considering the latest medical advice,” Butler said.

“The chief medical officer has advised it is no longer necessary for travellers to declare their vaccine status as part of our management of Covid.”

He said that unvaccinated Australians, as well as certain groups of visa holders, had been able to travel to Australia for some time and the government would continue to act on the medical advice as needed.

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What to do before you travel or move overseas. How your plans may affect your payments, concession cards, health care and child support.

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Travelling or moving overseas can affect your payments and concession cards from us. Some will stop while you’re travelling or when you move.

You may need to let us know that you’re leaving Australia and how long you’re going for.

If you get a Centrelink payment or concession card

Sometimes you need to let us know you’re leaving Australia. This will ensure we pay you correctly. You must also continue to meet the normal eligibility rules to keep getting your payment or concession. Find out more about payments or concession cards while you’re outside Australia .

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov you can tell us about your travel plans online.

Sign in to myGov

You can also tell us by calling us on the phone number that relates to your payment.

Follow our guide to advise us of travel using your Centrelink online account through myGov.

If you’re enrolled in Medicare

Medicare doesn’t cover you while you’re overseas. Make sure you have a plan for health care before you travel. Countries that have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with us may cover some of the cost. Check if you’re covered. This doesn’t replace travel insurance.

You may need to enrol in Medicare when you return home . This will depend on how long you travel for. Different rules may apply if you’re a permanent resident or an Australian citizen.

If you have a Child Support Case

If you’re leaving Australia, please call us on the Child Support enquiry line before you leave. Your departure may affect how we manage your case.

If you have a child support debt we may issue a Departure Prohibition Order. It’ll stop you from leaving Australia until you either:

• pay your debt in full
• enter into an acceptable payment arrangement.

We don’t need a court order to stop you from leaving Australia.

If your circumstances change while overseas, call one of our Child Support international lines .

Check your myGov Account settings to make sure you can access myGov while you’re travelling overseas. You’ll either need access to SMS on your phone, or you’ll need to change your myGov sign in options.

If you can’t access myGov, you can’t update your details online while you’re away.

If you don’t have a myGov account, you’ll need to create one and link to a service such as Medicare, Centrelink or Child Support. You only need to do this once.

Read the help pages on myGov if you need help to:

• create a myGov account
• link your service to your myGov account .

The Smartraveller website has information about Australians travelling overseas, including information about:

• visas for other countries
• security alerts and safety
• passport services
• consular services for help while you’re away
• travel insurance.

Get to know the website and read about the country of your destination .

Australia has international social security agreements with some countries. If you’re going to an agreement country, you may be able to claim a payment from that country.

How to make sure you stay healthy and can access health care when you’re travelling or living overseas.

This information was printed 3 June 2024 from https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/before-you-leave-australia . It may not include all of the relevant information on this topic. Please consider any relevant site notices at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/site-notices when using this material.

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