Business rules in NSW

Check the rules below that apply to everyone in NSW.

Although the public health orders now permit entry to businesses for people who are not fully vaccinated, some businesses may make it a condition of entry that you are fully vaccinated or wear a face mask.

NSW Health strongly advises people get fully vaccinated and wear a face mask where they cannot physically distance.

Changes to isolation exemption for critical workers 

From 6pm on Friday 22 April, the critical worker exemption from isolation rules are no longer required. However, close contacts will still need to comply with any COVID-19 safety measures that have been put in place in their workplace by employers.

Close contacts must wear a mask and comply with risk-management strategies put in place by their employer, including daily rapid antigen tests (RATs).

Any worker who tests positive or who develops symptoms of COVID-19 must self-isolate.

Masks, COVID-19 Safe Check-in and vaccination evidence

Masks

All people over the age of 12 must wear a face mask: 

• on public transport and public transport waiting areas (including in taxis and rideshare services)
• on an aircraft when the aircraft is flying above NSW, and in the airport
• at a cruise terminal

• in a public hospital or private health facility 

• in a residential care facility or hostel 

• at an indoor music festival with more than 1000 people in attendance.

If you are over the age of 12 and are a household or close contact of someone who has tested positive to COVID-19, you must also wear a face mask when you are in an indoor setting that is not your own home, including workplaces and tertiary education settings. School settings may have their own guidance for students which should be followed.

Learn more about face mask rules. 

COVID-19 Safe Check-in

COVID-19 Safe QR check-ins are only required at:

• nightclubs
• strip clubs
• sex on premises venues
• music festivals with more than 1000 people.

Occupiers of premises are required to continue to take reasonable steps to ensure people can check-in or provide their contact details when they enter these premises.

If you are entering a premises where check-in is required, you must:

• check in with the Service NSW app or
• provide your details to the occupier of the premises.

Learn more about COVID-19 Safe Check-in and mandatory electronic check-in.

Vaccination evidence

Most premises in NSW are now open to everyone, regardless of whether you are fully vaccinated or not.

You no longer need to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated at most premises in NSW.

However, you still need to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated if you: 

• attend an indoor music festival with more than 1000 people
• work in certain industries.

Follow the vaccination requirements for workers.

Check what you need as vaccination evidence.

Venues may set their own COVID Safe conditions of entry

In addition to PHO requirements, some premises may choose to require people to be fully vaccinated or to wear a mask as a condition of entry.

It is a matter for the occupier of each premises to exercise judgement on what is appropriate for their premises and the well-being of their staff and customers. 

If you want to enter premises where an occupier has chosen to require you to be fully vaccinated, the occupier may ask to see your vaccination evidence. You do not have to show the occupier your vaccination evidence, but if you do not, the occupier may not let you in.

COVID-19 cases in the workplace

Read the guidance for businesses with a worker who tests positive for COVID-19.

Sport, exercise and outdoor gatherings

General rules

Anyone can participate in sport, exercise, and outdoor gatherings. 

• Customers are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence
• COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required
• Customers and staff are no longer required to wear face masks.

Businesses are no longer required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Optional COVID-19 Safety Plans are available to help businesses keep a safe environment for staff and customers. 

Gyms and indoor recreation facilities

Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can operate with no person or capacity limits in place, including for group fitness classes.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is no longer required.

Optional COVID-19 Safety Plans are available.

Swimming pools are open for all purposes.

Community sport

Community sports, including matches, competitions and training, can take place for all staff, spectators and participants.

Outdoor events

Outdoor events and gatherings can take place in NSW.

There is no limit to the number of fully vaccinated people able to attend outdoor events and gatherings.

Education, art and culture

Schools

From Term 1 2022, there are new rapid antigen testing requirements for schools.

If a child tests positive on a rapid antigen test, parents must register the positive result with Service NSW.

Under the new close contact rules, schools are no longer included in contact tracing.

Libraries, museums and galleries

Information and education facilities, including art galleries, museums and libraries are open. 

Anyone can visit an information and education facility. 

• Visitors and staff are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.
• COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required.
• Face masks are not required.

Information and education facilities are no longer required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Optional COVID-19 Safety Plans are available to help keep a safe environment for staff and customers. 

Shopping and personal services

Anyone can visit retail or business premises. 

• Customers and staff are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence
• COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required
• Face masks are not required.

Retail and businesses are no longer required to have a Safety Plan.

Optional COVID-19 Safety Plans are available to help keep a safe environment for staff and customers.

Personal services

COVID-19 Safe Check in is no longer required at hairdressers, spas, nail salons, beauty salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, tattoo and massage parlours.

Restaurants and hospitality

Anyone can visit a restaurant, café, hospitality venue or nightclub. 

• Customers and staff are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence
• COVID-19 Safe Check-in is no longer required at all hospitality venues
• Nightclubs require COVID-19 Safe Check-in
• Face masks are not required.

NSW Health strongly advises that patrons consider being seated while drinking.

From 18 February 2022, there are no restrictions for singing and dancing in hospitality venues and nightclubs.

Retail and businesses are no longer required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Optional COVID-19 Safety Plans are available to help best keep a safe environment for staff and customers.

Occupiers of hospitality venues

Examples of hospitality premises include casinos, restaurants, cafes, function centres, food courts, take away food and drink premises, kiosks, micro-breweries or small distilleries, cellar doors, pubs, registered clubs and small bars. 

• There are no restrictions on the number of people allowed at hospitality venues or nightclubs. 

• There are no density limits for hospitality venues or nightclubs. 

• Drinking indoors and outdoors may be seated or standing. 

• There is no limit on the number of people for a group booking. 
• COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required (except for nightclubs). 
• Neither customers nor public-facing staff are required to wear a face mask.

Construction and renovations

Construction and renovations across NSW can continue. 

Anyone can enter a construction site. 

• People who enter a construction site are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.
• COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required.
• Face masks are not required.

Retail and businesses are no longer required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Optional COVID-19 Safety Plans are available to help best keep a safe environment for staff and customers. 

Work

Employers can allow staff to work from home at their discretion.

There are no restrictions on travelling throughout  NSW.

Events and entertainment

Anyone can visit an entertainment facility or indoor and outdoor recreation facilities. 

• Visitors and staff are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.
• COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required.
• Face masks are not required.

Retail and businesses are no longer required to have a Safety Plan.

Optional COVID-19 Safety Plans are available to help best keep a safe environment for staff and customers. 

Entertainment and recreation facilities

Entertainment facilities include cinemas, theatres, musical halls, concert halls, dance halls, drive-in cinemas and play centres. 

Indoor and outdoor major recreation facilities include stadiums, theme parks, zoos, aquariums, and showgrounds.

From 18 February 2022, there are no restrictions on singing and dancing at entertainment facilities and major recreation facilities.

Music festivals

Rules apply to music festivals with over 1000 people in attendance. Organisers can read more at the music festival guide.

An indoor music festival is:

• a music-focused or dance-focused event
• has performances by a series of persons or groups that perform live or are pre-recorded
• the persons or groups provide musical or live entertainment
• held indoors, within a defined area
• is a ticketed event.

Music festivals do not include events that:

• use a single stage,
• are proposed to be held over a period of less than 5 hours, and
• have less than 2 headlining performers and less than 4 performers in total.

Rules for organisers

Organisers of music festivals with over 1000 people in attendance must:

• take reasonable steps to ensure all people who enter the music festival check in with the Service NSW app or provide contact details to the occupier.

Organisers of indoor music festivals with over 1000 people in attendance must:

• take reasonable steps to ensure all people who enter the music festival are fully vaccinated.

Organisers of other music festivals may choose to request patrons provide vaccination evidence before entering the venue.

Singing and dancing at music festivals is now allowed for everyone.

Weddings and religious ceremonies

Anyone can attend a wedding, funeral, or place of worship. 

• Attendees or staff are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence
• Face masks are not required.

Organisers are no longer required to have a Safety Plan.

Optional COVID-19 Safety Plans are available to help best keep a safe environment for staff and customers. 

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required at places of worship, funerals, memorial services, or gatherings afterwards.

Standing while drinking is permitted but it is strongly discouraged by NSW Health. 

Travel and transport

General rules

People are able to travel anywhere within NSW. 

People who have recently arrived from overseas, must follow the rules for international arrivals.

You can travel in a vehicle or vessel with people you do not live with. 

Sharing a vehicle and carpooling

For vehicles and vessels used as a public transport service, passengers and staff must follow the face mask rules.

If vehicles and vessels are used for private purposes, such as a party bus, commercial tour or function,  passengers no longer need to check in with the Service NSW app .

NSW Health strongly advises people wear face masks when they cannot socially distance.

Holidays and holiday homes

There are no restrictions on travelling between Greater Sydney and regional and rural NSW for holidays or recreational visits within NSW.

Holiday homes and short-term accommodation can be used by anyone.

There are no capacity limits for holiday homes and short-term accommodation.

International travel

New rules are in place for people travelling to NSW from overseas.

For more information about the rules around leaving and entering NSW from outside Australia, visit International travel to and from NSW.