Entry requirements into Australia and New Zealand – TravelEssence

What is required prior to departure?

To enter Australia, you must hold a valid passport, a valid visa, and a completed and signed Incoming Passenger Card.

Incoming Passenger Cards are distributed during your flight to Australia by your airline.

Australia has announced that pre-departure Covid tests for international travellers are no longer required, since April 17th, 2022.

Travellers will still be required to wear a mask on international flights based on medical advice. These measures will be implemented under the non-emergency provisions in the Biosecurity Act.

Here are some useful resources to help you travel with confidence. And some more information about preparing to travel to Australia.

Check the rules of the airline you are travelling with

Airlines may ask you for a vaccination certificate or a negative Covid-19 test result. However, this differs per airline. Whether you have to wear a face mask during the flight often depends on the rules that apply in the country of your destination and the country from which you depart. Therefore, before you leave, check the applicable rules of the airline(s) with which you are flying to Australia.

Singapore Airlines

Emirates

Qantas

Etihad

Malaysia Airlines

Cathay Pacific

Check the rules of the country where you have a stopover

Do you have a stopover en route? Are you staying in Singapore, Dubai or Hong Kong for a few days on your way to Australia? First, read more about the locally applicable regulations. Before you leave, also check the applicable rules for that country on the website of the central government.

From January 5, 2023, you must take a Covid test within 48 hours before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macau, and be able to show the results upon arrival in Australia. This is not necessary if you only have a transfer at these destinations. Are you staying several days in China, Hong Kong or Macau before travelling on to Australia? Then the test is mandatory. Read more about these test conditions.

For more information on the applicable rules for Australia, please visit the Australian government site.

Apply for a tourist visa

Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you will need a valid visa to enter the country. As a British passport holder, you will need to apply for the free eVisitor 651 visa which will be linked to your passport. This allows you to enter Australia multiple times over 12 months and stay for a maximum period of 3 months. You can apply online. Firstly, by creating an ImmiAccount where you can activate your email. Requests are generally approved within four days of application. And the visa starts on the day it is granted. We recommend you print all the email attachments and take them with you to Australia. You need to have a valid passport before travelling to Australia. You should ensure that it has a validity of more than six months. Children are also required to have a valid passport. Go to the Australian Department of Home Affairs website to apply for a visa. Or, you can visit your local Australian Embassy. We can help you find the answers if you are unsure of anything.

What is required upon arrival?

Depending on where you arrive in Australia, will depend on what is required upon arrival. Please check the information per state or territory here.

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

What is required upon return to the UK?

You are not required to take a COVID test before returning to the United Kingdom.