With Australian
borders closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only those with legitimate reasons
to enter Australia are able to obtain a travel exemption. There are many
reasons why one would need a travel exemption to enter Australia.
Reasons for needing a
travel exemption include:
–
Having a
compassionate and compelling need to travel urgently
–
Having a
critical skill
–
Being an
immediate family member (spouse, de-facto, dependent child or legal guardian)
of an Australian citizen or permanent resident needing to travel to Australia
–
Needing
urgent medical treatment or medical evacuation
–
Being a
New Zealand resident who usually resides in Australia
The category you fall
into determines the type of documentation you need to obtain an exemption.
Compassionate and
compelling reasons to travel
There are limited
circumstances that enable you to apply for a travel exemption on compassionate
and compelling grounds. If you believe you have a compassionate or compelling
reason to enter Australia, you must provide details and evidence supporting
this claim to the Department of Home Affairs.
Critical Skills
Non-citizens that hold
skills required to ensure the continuity of critical skills and services in essential
sectors in Australia’s response to Covid-19 and economic recovery may be
granted a travel exemption.
Requests for a travel
exemption must include:
–
Traveller
details: name, DOB, visa type and number, proposed residential address and
phone number in Australia.
–
Case information:
the reasons why this request should be considered for an exemption.
–
Supporting
statement: the request should be accompanied by a supporting letter from a
business involved in the provision of critical goods and services or Australian,
state or territory government authority advising why the skills are critical.
Immediate family
members of Australian citizens or permanent residents needing to travel to
Australia immediately
Those holding partner
visas (subclass 100, 309, 801 and 820) are exempt from the travel restrictions
and are permitted to travel.
Those meeting the
criteria of an immediate family member need to complete an ‘Evidence of
Relationship’ form and outline family and travel circumstances, attaching any
documentation that will assist the Department of Home Affairs with assessing
the family relationship.
Supporting
documentation may include:
–
Marriage
certificate
–
De-facto
or civil partnership registration
–
Shared
financial commitments
–
Joint
residency
–
Relevant
birth certificate for yourself, partner and children.
Urgent medical
treatment or medical evacuation
A travel exemption may
be considered for those needing urgent or critical medical treatment in
Australia. This also includes medical evacuations on compelling and
compassionate grounds. These cases are considered by state and territory
governments on a case by case basis and are subject to the capacity of the
receiving medical facility.
Travel exemption
requests for those requiring urgent medical attention should include:
Medical
documents outlining the illness
–
A support
letter from the originating medical facility or staff
–
A support
letter from the receiving medical facility
–
Flight
details if available
New Zealand citizens
usually residing in Australia
New Zealand citizens who
usually reside in Australia (holders of subclass 444) are eligible for travel exemptions.
Unless arriving in
Australia on a quarantine-free flight from New Zealand, travellers must present
evidence of residency documentation upon check-in.
Acceptable evidence of
residency includes:
–
Government
issued documentation such as Australian drivers’ licence, Medicare card,
registration as an Australian resident with the Australian Tax Office.
documentation should be supported with one other type of documentation
confirming:
Australia (or financial evidence through a local bank)
– Ownership or rental of property in Australia
(utility bill, rates notices, lease agreement etc)
If you are unable to
provide evidence of residing in Australia, you may be prevented from travelling
to Australia.
Other Important
Information
Those requiring travel
exemptions will also need visas such as visitor visas or temporary skills visas
etc to enter Australia.
Australian citizens,
permanent residents and those transiting in Australia for less than 72 hours
are not required to obtain a travel exemption.
Visa Solutions
Australia specialises in travel exemptions and has launched a new website dedicated
to this.
Visit travelexemptionsaustralia.com.au to get in touch with a travel exemption expert today.
To learn more about
travel exemptions or any other aspect of migration, contact the Visa Solutions
team on 1800 828 008.
