Advice on health and travel
Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources (Department of Health)
COVID-19 (Novel coronavirus) and Australian visas (Australian Border Force)
Travel advice for Australians (Smartraveller)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak (World Health Organization)
Travellers
Call the information line
Call the coronavirus health information line on 1800 020 080.
Current travel restrictions
Check current advice:
- Changes to immigration and border rules in Australia (Department of Home Affairs). This includes advice for visa holders, such as working holiday visas.
- Australians travelling overseas (Smartraveller — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
Airlines
Current advice
Find advice for airlines and flight crew:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources (Department of Health).
Reporting ill travellers
All aircraft entering Australian territory must report sick passengers and crew on the pre-arrival report. A biosecurity officer will then meet the aircraft to:
- screen for coronavirus (COVID-19) and other listed human diseases
- administer the Traveller with Illness Checklist (TIC) to the ill passenger or crew member
- issue directions to manage a suspected case of COVID-19.
Airlines must meet all legal requirements to report and follow directions.
Health screenings for passengers and airline crew
On arrival, all passengers may be directed to the health screening area. They must go there before collecting their bags and leaving the international airport. All incoming passengers arriving by air are required to undergo mandatory quarantine at designated accommodation for a period of 14 days from the date they arrive in Australia.
Airline crew must continue to follow their company’s existing infection prevention guidelines. This includes using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Airline crew are not required to undertake 14 days of mandatory quarantine at designated accommodation on arrival, however must self-isolate at their hotel or place of residence between flights or for 14 days, whichever is shorter.
Passenger announcement and factsheet
Until further notice, all international arriving aircraft will be met by biosecurity officers on arrival, who will read/play a coronavirus passenger announcement on board the aircraft.
Note: Airlines are still required to undertake the in-flight mandatory announcement.
Maritime vessels
Current advice
See Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources (Department of Health) for advice for:
- the marine industry
- marine pilots
- the cruise industry
- non-commercial vessels.
You can also find more information about coronavirus (COVID-19) (Australian Maritime Safety Authority).
Crew leaving a vessel
Crew and passengers on board vessels may need to:
- attend extra health screenings
- self-isolate when they disembark in Australia.
Extra assessment questions have been added into the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS).
See Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for the marine industry (Department of Health) to find out more.
Reporting ill travellers
Follow standard procedures for reporting ill and deceased travellers in MARS. Extra assessment questions have been added to reflect the added risk.
Notifying ports of heightened concern of infection
You must report all passengers and crew who have been ill in the previous 14 days. Use the pre-arrival report in MARS. This is a legal requirement.
A biosecurity officer will then meet the vessel to screen for COVID-19 and other serious infectious diseases. They will either:
- administer the Traveller with Illness Checklist (TIC) to the ill passenger or crew member
- discuss case diagnoses with the vessel’s doctor.
Vessels that have indicated an ill person on board must display the yellow ‘Q-signal’ until assessed by a biosecurity officer.
Airports and seaports
Coronavirus in-terminal announcement
Terminals must play a coronavirus announcement. This announcement must not be edited.
Airport announcement – Melbourne and Sydney international airports only (including information on New Zealand flights)
This is an important health announcement from the Australian Government regarding coronavirus.
If you are feeling sick and have a fever, cough, sore throat, or are having difficulty breathing, please speak to a biosecurity officer now.
Travellers may be required to undergo health screening in the terminal. You must follow the direction of the health professional, who may require you to go to hospital.
Please be patient during this process and please practise physical distancing of 1.5 metres whilst in the terminal.
Travellers arriving from New Zealand in the green zone who are intending to travel to other states and territories should check local requirements prior to travelling. Some state and territory governments may require travellers from safe zone countries to quarantine on arrival.
Do not film or take photos of any Government official.
Please visit the Department of Health’s website for further information.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Downloads
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Airport announcement – all other international airports (excluding Melbourne and Sydney international airports)
This is an important health announcement from the Australian Government regarding coronavirus.
If you are feeling sick and have a fever, cough, sore throat, or are having difficulty breathing, please speak to a biosecurity officer now.
Travellers may be required to undergo health screening in the terminal. You must follow the direction of the health professional, who may require you to go to hospital.
All travellers must remain in quarantine in a hotel for 14 days after entering Australia.
You will be directed to private buses for transport to your hotel. Please follow all directions given by Government officials. Failure to comply with these directions may result in fines or imprisonment.
Do not film or take photos of any Government official.
Please visit the Department of Health’s website for further information.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Downloads
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Seaport announcement
This is an important health announcement from the Australian Government regarding coronavirus.
If you are feeling sick and have a fever, cough, sore throat, or are having difficulty breathing, please speak to a biosecurity officer now.
All travellers must complete an Isolation Declaration Form.
All travellers must remain in isolation in a hotel for 14 days after entering Australia.
You will be directed to private buses for transport to your hotel. Please follow all directions given by Government officials. Failure to comply with these directions may result in fines or imprisonment.
Do not film or take photos of any Government official.
Please visit the Department of Health’s website for further information.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Downloads
| Document | Pages | File size |
|---|---|---|
Seaport announcement English PDF  |
1 | 221 KB |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.