australian government international travel

Countries, economies and regions

Select a country, economy or region to find embassies, country briefs, economic fact sheets, trade agreements, aid programs, information on sanctions and more.

International relations

Global security.

• Australia and sanctions
• Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office (ASNO)
• Counter-terrorism
• Non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control
• Peacekeeping and peacebuilding

Regional architecture

• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• East Asia Summit (EAS)
• Australia and the Indian Ocean region
• Pacific Islands regional organisations

Global themes

• Child protection
• Climate change
• Cyber affairs and critical technology
• Disability Equity and Rights
• Gender equality
• Human rights
• Indigenous peoples
• People Smuggling, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
• Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment
• Australia’s treaty-making process

International organisations

• The Commonwealth of Nations
• United Nations (UN)
• World Trade Organization

Foreign Arrangements Scheme  

Trade and investment, about free trade agreements (ftas).

• The benefits of FTAs
• How to get free trade agreement tariff cuts
• Look up FTA tariffs and services market access - DFAT FTA Portal
• Discussion paper on potential modernisation – DFAT FTA Portal

About foreign investment

• The benefits of foreign investment
• Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS)
• Australia's bilateral investment treaties
• Australia's foreign investment policy

For Australian business

• Addressing non-tariff trade barriers

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

Stakeholder engagement.

• Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment
• Trade 2040 Taskforce
• First Nations trade

Australia's free trade agreements (FTAs)

• ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand (AANZFTA)
• Chile (ACLFTA)
• China (ChAFTA)
• Hong Kong ( A-HKFTA & IA)
• India (AI-ECTA)
• Indonesia (IA-CEPA)
• Japan (JAEPA)
• Korea (KAFTA)
• Malaysia (MAFTA)
• New Zealand (ANZCERTA)
• Peru (PAFTA)
• Singapore (SAFTA)
• Thailand (TAFTA)
• United Kingdom (A-UKFTA)
• USA (AUSFTA)
• Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
• European Union (A-EUFTA)
• India (AI-CECA)
• Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
• Australia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

Trade and investment data, information and publications

• Fact sheets for countries and regions
• Australia's trade balance
• Trade statistics
• Foreign investment statistics
• Trade and investment publications
• Australia's Trade through Time

WTO, G20, OECD, APEC and IPEF and ITAG

Services and digital trade.

• Service trade policy
• Australia-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement
• Digital trade & the digital economy

Development

Australia’s development program, performance assessment.

• Development evaluation
• Budget and statistical information

Who we work with

• Multilateral organisations
• Non-government organisations (NGOs)
• List of Australian accredited non-government organisations (NGOs)

Development topics

• Development issues
• Development sectors

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

• Sustainable Development Goals

Where we deliver our Development Program

Humanitarian action.

Where and how Australia provides emergency assistance.

People-to-people

Australia awards.

• Australia Awards Scholarships
• Australia Awards Fellowships

New Colombo Plan

• Scholarship program
• Mobility program

Public diplomacy

• Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program
• Australia now
• UK/Australia Season 2021-22

Foundations, councils and institutes

• Australia-ASEAN Council
• Australia-India Council
• Australia-Indonesia Institute
• Australia-Japan Foundation
• Australia-Korea Foundation
• Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR)
• Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR)

International Labour Mobility

• Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme
• Agriculture Visa

Australian Volunteers Program

Supporting organisations in developing countries by matching them with skilled Australians. 

Sports diplomacy

Australia is a successful global leader and innovator in sport.

A global platform for achievement, innovation, collaboration, and cooperation

About Australia

Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and one of the strongest performing economies in the world.

Australia in Brief publication

This is the 52nd edition of Australia in Brief, revised and updated in February 2021

Travel advice

To help Australians avoid difficulties overseas, we maintain travel advisories for more than 170 destinations.

• Smartraveller – travel advice

International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate

Prove your COVID-19 vaccinations when you travel overseas.

• Services Australia

The Australian Passport Office and its agents are committed to providing a secure, efficient and responsive passport service for Australia.

• Australian Passport Office

24-hour consular emergency helpline

• Within Australia: 1300 555 135
• Outside Australia: +61 2 6261 3305
• Getting help overseas
• Visas for Australians travelling overseas
• Visas to visit Australia

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) promotes and protects Australia’s international interests to support our security and prosperity.

We work with international partners and other countries to tackle global challenges, increase trade and investment opportunities, protect international rules, keep our region stable and help Australians overseas.

Latest news

The sixth rcep joint committee meeting, 26-27 march 2024.

The Sixth RCEP Joint Committee (RJC) Meeting was held in Beijing, China on 26-27 March, co-chaired by Indonesia and China.

Resolution of wine dispute with China

The Australian Government has been notified that, from 29 March 2024, China will remove its duties on Australian bottled wine. The re-entry of Australian bottled wine into the Chinese market will benefit both Australian producers and Chinese consumers.

Pangolins, water dragons and bear-cats: Science diplomacy in action with New Colombo Plan

Third-year Bachelor of Science student at Griffith University, Jordan McGrath has a passion for global conservation and using his mathematical mind to solve environmental problems.

Statement concerning recent actions in the South China Sea

The Australian Government shares the serious concerns of the Philippine Government about the actions conducted by China’s vessels against Philippine vessels and crew, including those engaged in routine resupply missions in the South China Sea on 5 and 23 March.  

Business Envoy provides the latest insight into our open trade and investment agenda.

The Office of the Pacific is enhancing Australia’s engagement with our Pacific family.

Portfolio Budget Statements and Official Development Assistance Budget Summary.

A new opportunity for Australian businesses to employ skilled people from the UK under the Australia-UK FTA

Scholarships & grants for study and internships / mentorships in the Indo-Pacific region.

Travel advice you can trust. Stay informed by subscribing for updates.

Reporting Fraud and Corruption – What you need to know.

For Australian businesses to recruit workers from 9 Pacific countries and Timor-Leste.

Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio

Tourism 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.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Download the checklist [PDF 128 KB]

Learn about your destination

• Read our  travel advice  for your destination. We’ll tell you the key risks and advise you how to  stay safe . Learn what each  advice level  means in our travel advisories.
• Subscribe  to our travel advice and we’ll update you when things change. Also follow us on  X ,  Facebook  and Instagram .
• Research the  local laws  of the countries you plan to visit. If you're a  dual national , check if this will have any implications for your trip.

Organise your documents and insurance

• Confirm your  passport  is valid for at least 6 months from when you think your trip will end.
• Get the right  visa  for countries you’re visiting or transiting through. Smartraveller can’t help you with visas. Visa conditions change regularly so check the  Embassy  of the destinations you’ll visit before every trip.
• Get comprehensive  travel insurance  to cover you and your belongings. Check the fine print - get insurance that’s right for  you  and covers your  activities  in the  places  you’ll go. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
• Check if extra documents are needed if you’re  travelling with children.
• If you’ll  drive overseas  check out the local traffic laws and practices. You’re likely to need an International Driving Permit  (IDP)  as well as your Australian driver’s licence.

Plan for your health

• Consider if you’re physically  and mentally  healthy enough for travel.  Get advice from your doctor if you’re unsure.
• See your doctor or travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you go for a basic health check. Get the  vaccinations needed for the places you’ll go.
• Check if your  medication  is legal and available in the places you’re going. Take enough of your prescribed medicines to last the whole trip. Carry copies of your prescription and a letter from your doctor.

Tell people where you're going

• Tell your bank you’re travelling and check if your cards will work. Have several payment options. Check how much local and foreign currency you can bring into your destination.
• Share your itinerary with friends or family members. Give them copies of your passport and visa.
• Give a trusted contact copies of your passport and visa, key documents such as prescriptions, your insurance policy and documents for travelling with children.

Plan for if things go wrong

• Know what to do if there’s a  crisis  where you are overseas.
• Keep a list of  contacts  in case you need assistance.
• Read the  Consular Service Charter  to understand how we can help Australians overseas.
• Learn about Australia's border and biosecurity measures  (Department of Home Affairs)
• Find your destination's  embassy or consulate in Australia  for visa information.
• Learn about  International Driving Permits  (IDPs) .
• Visit  Scamwatch (ACCC)  to learn how to recognise, avoid and report scams.

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