International travel to and from NSW

Travel to and from New Zealand

New Zealand has been declared a COVID-19 hotspot. Anyone who has been in New Zealand in the last 14 days is required to immediately leave Australia, go into quarantine, or if medical treatment is required, go to a medical facility for treatment 

Some airlines require travellers to have been in Australia for at least 14 days before departure to New Zealand.

If you have been in another country within the last 14 days you may need to quarantine before travelling on to New Zealand.

Check arrangements with your airline before travelling.

Entering from another country

Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members are permitted to travel to Australia.

From 22 October 2021, parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents are now eligible to apply for a travel exemption, for travel to Australia from 1 November 2021.

If you want to return to Australia from overseas, you should return as soon as possible by commercial travel.

Quarantine rules will apply.

Flights with confirmed cases of COVID-19

Find out what to do if you were on a flight that had confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Arriving in NSW by sea

Travellers who arrive by sea must be authorised to disembark by the Commissioner of Police or delegate and must go to a quarantine facility, hospital or other medical facility as directed by the Commissioner to undertake a quarantine period. 

If leaving Australia by air, you will be directed to go to an airport (to get a flight out of Australia). You must follow the directions of the Commissioner while travelling to the airport.

Leaving to go to another country

There is currently a ban on overseas travel from Australia, unless granted an exemption.

As the situation may change, continue to check the Australian Government website for any changes that may occur.

You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption. Visit the Department of Home Affairs Leaving Australia page for further information, including details on exemptions to the ban. 

Transiting through NSW

Intrastate travellers

If you are planning to transit through NSW to another location, find out about the rules and restrictions for

• interstate travellers
• what you can do in regional and rural NSW
• local government areas of concern (Sydney)
• any restrictions in place for other states and territories.

Going to an international destination

International transit passengers arriving into Australia can depart on another international flight if your transit time is less than 8 hours and you can stay airside (i.e. in the transit zone). This will be possible only if your bags have been checked through to your next destination. You do not need to apply for an exemption and are able to continue your journey to another country.

If you go through immigration, you will require an exemption.

If your departure flight is between 8 to 72 hours after arrival flight, you will be taken to a quarantine hotel to wait until your departing flight. An exemption must be approved.

To apply for an exemption refer to exemptions for air and maritime quarantine.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (symptoms include fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat, shortness of breath or loss of taste or loss of smell), let a member of the airline know immediately, or if you are in the airport tell a biosecurity officer or a health official.

Coming in from overseas and going to another location in Australia

If you arrive in NSW from overseas, you must go into quarantine for 14 days before continuing your journey to another state or territory. After this isolation period you can transit domestically and travel home.

Across Australia, states and territories have their own quarantine rules in place. Some require approval to travel across borders from NSW, or even a second 14 day isolation period when you arrive.

For the latest information visit Australian Interstate Quarantine.

Find more information for transiting passengers.