Interstate travel to and from NSW
Rules and restrictions on entering NSW from other Australian states or territories, places of concern, entry declarations, border community travel and leaving NSW to go to another state or territory.
Follow the rules
If you are planning to enter NSW or you have already arrived, follow the instructions for the states or territories that you have been to in the previous 14 days.
Entering NSW from another Australian state or territory
Entry to NSW is restricted when a NSW Health concerns notice identifies interstate hotspots, affected areas and places of concern.
For some travel you may need to complete a NSW entry declaration form.
Before you plan to travel to NSW make sure to check current rules and restrictions in place.
| If you have been in | What you need to do |
|---|---|
| ACT |
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| Northern Territory |
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| Queensland |
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| South Australia |
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| Tasmania |
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| Victoria |
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| Western Australia |
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General rules - concerns notices
The COVID-19 concerns notice identifies affected areas, areas of concern, places of high concern casual contacts, and places of high concern close contacts.
If you are entering or plan to enter NSW from interstate, rules and restrictions will apply if you have been in a place listed in a COVID-19 concerns notice.
Interstate zones (a suburb, town, city, region or state) identified in a COVID-19 concerns notice may be:
- an affected area
- an area of concern
- a place of high concern (a specific location or public transport route).
Check the COVID-19 concerns notice to find out if you have been to one of these places.
If you are allowed to travel to NSW from a location that appears in the COVID-19 concerns notice, when you arrive in NSW you must
- follow the interstate traveller guidelines if you have been in an
- area of concern or
- place of high concern
- comply with
- stay at home rules if they apply to you
- self-isolation rules if you are required to self-isolate
- face mask rules
- follow the COVID-19 rules and restrictions that apply in NSW
- get a COVID-19 test if required to do so.
NSW entry declaration form
You must complete a NSW entry declaration if you have been in an affected area, in the previous 14 days
- either within the 24-hour period before you enter NSW or on entry
- whether you cross the border by any means including air, road or rail
- each time you enter NSW, (or if you enter NSW from a relevant point of entry each time you enter NSW at that point) but not more than once per calendar day (unless you are entering from Queensland or the ACT, in which case once per 72 hours).
An exemption is in place for NSW-Victoria border region communities.
When you complete an entry declaration form you must
- ensure the information is true and accurate
- carry evidence of a completed NSW entry declaration
- provide photo identification if asked by an enforcement officer.
Entry declaration forms can be found on the Service NSW website.
Get help completing the form
For free help in your language call 13 14 50 (Translating and Interpreting Service). To view this page in your language, click on the language translation button at the top of the screen.
If you do not have an email address or a smart phone or you need assistance, a trusted relative can help you complete the form.
Residents returning to NSW and anyone already in NSW
| I have not been to an affected area, area of concern or a place of high concern in the past 14 days |
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| I have been to an affected area in the past 14 days |
Before you enter
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| I have been to an area of concern in the past 14 days |
Before you enter
After you enter
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| I have been to a place of high concern in the past 14 days |
Before you enter
Close contacts
Casual contacts
|
Non-NSW residents planning to enter NSW
| I have not been to an affected area, area of concern or a place of high concern in the past 14 days |
|
| I have been to an affected area in the past 14 days |
Before you enter
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| I have been to an area of concern in the past 14 days |
Before you enter
After you enter
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| I have been to a place of high concern in the past 14 days |
Check the locations on the COVID-19 concerns notice to find out if you are considered a casual contact or a close contact, as the rules are different. Close contacts
Casual contacts
|
NSW-Victoria border communities
When to complete a NSW entry declaration
Check the NSW-Victoria border region map. to see if you are considered a border region resident. You are a NSW-Victoria border region resident if you are a resident of NSW or Victoria and you usually reside in the shaded area on the map.
You do not need to complete a declaration
- if you are a NSW-Victoria border region resident and
- you stay within the border region after entering NSW.
If you are a NSW-Victoria border region resident and you have travelled outside the border region, the stay-at-home rules may apply.
You do not need to follow the stay at home rules if you have stayed within the border region.
If you are not a NSW-Victoria border region resident, you may need to complete a NSW entry declaration when you enter NSW.
NSW-Victoria border region map
Check the map or go to the border region address check to look up an address.
Download the NSW-Victoria border region map (PDF, 2.02 MB)
Entering NSW from particular states or territories
Victoria
| NSW Health classification |
Affected area Area of concern Places of high concern: close contact Places of high concern: casual contact |
|---|---|
| Effective date | Thursday 5 August 2021 |
| Entry declaration form | Required |
| Location details | See the COVID-19 concerns notice |
| Permission to enter NSW | Check the rules for interstate travellers |
If you enter NSW, or you are already in NSW and have been to any of the areas of concern in the COVID-19 concerns notice on or after 8:00pm on Thursday 5 August 2021 you must
- follow the stay at home rules for 14 days since you were last at the place in the concerns notice (or until the notice is revoked)
- only leave home with a reasonable excuse.
An exemption applies in certain circumstances if you are a NSW-Victoria border residents.
You must complete the declaration form
- either within the 24-hour period before you enter NSW or on entry
- whether you cross the border by any means including air, road or rail
- each time you enter NSW, but not more than once per calendar day.
Complete a NSW entry declaration form on Service NSW website.
Queensland
| NSW Health classification |
Places of high concern: close contact Places of high concern: casual contact |
|---|---|
| Entry declaration form | Not required |
Places of high concern
Close contact location
If you have been to a close contact place of high concern at the time and date specified in the COVID-19 concerns notice you must not enter NSW unless you are
- a NSW resident or
- transiting through NSW to the ACT.
If you are permitted to enter NSW, you must self-isolate until it has been 14 days since you were last at the close contact place of high concern.
Casual contact locations
If you have been to a casual contact place of high concern at the time specified in the COVID-19 concerns notice, you must not enter NSW unless you
- are a NSW resident
- transiting through NSW to the ACT
- have had a negative COVID-19 test after being at the venue.
If you are in NSW, you must self-isolate until you receive a negative COVID-19 test.
You must follow the stay at home rules until the notice is revoked.
Australian Capital Territory
| NSW Health classification |
Place of high concern: close contact Place of high concern: casual contact |
|---|---|
| Entry declaration form | Not required |
Places of high concern
Close contact location
If you have been to a close contact place of high concern at the time and date specified in the COVID-19 concerns notice you must not enter NSW unless you are a NSW resident.
If you are permitted to enter NSW, you must self-isolate until it has been 14 days since you were last at the close contact place of high concern.
Casual contact locations
If you have been to a casual contact place of high concern at the time specified in the COVID-19 concerns notice, you must not enter NSW unless you
- are a NSW resident; or
- have had a negative COVID-19 test after being at the venue.
If you are in NSW, you must self-isolate until you receive a negative COVID-19 test.
You must follow the stay at home rules until the notice is revoked.
Northern Territory
There is currently no concerns notice for the Northern Territory.
South Australia
There is currently no concerns notice for South Australia.
Tasmania
There is currently no concerns notice for Tasmania.
Western Australia
There is currently no concerns notice for Western Australia.
Leaving NSW to go interstate
Check the state government website for your destination before you travel as you may need an entry permit.
- Queensland travel alerts
- South Australia Cross-Border Travel
- Tasmania travel alerts
- Victoria COVID-19 Border Entry Permit
- Western Australia controlled interstate border arrangement
Jervis Bay
The Jervis Bay Territory is a Commonwealth administered territory, occupying the Bherwerre Peninsula, and forming the southern boundary of Jervis Bay.
If you are planning to go to Jervis Bay, check the community bulletins before you travel.
Domestic flight services
Stay at home rules apply to certain parts of NSW which limits travel into and out of these areas.
Domestic flight services continue to operate from Sydney airport to nominated destinations.
Follow the rules for wearing a face mask.
Each airline and airport terminal has various measures in place to ensure the health and safety of passengers based on a protocol developed by the Australian aviation industry.
Check your airline website for current information on what is required for travel on domestic flights.
Stay at home rules
Stay at home rules mean that you must not leave your residence for 14 days after you were last in a place of high concern (close contact venue) or while the concerns notice is in force, whichever is sooner.
You must stay at your residence unless you have a reasonable excuse to leave, such as
- obtaining food and services
- travelling for the purposes of work or education if you cannot work or study at home
- medical care
- getting vaccinated
- exercising outdoors.
If you have been to a place of high concern (close contact venue) at the date and time listed in the COVID-19 concerns notice, you must get tested and self-isolate until 14 days have been passed since you were last there, regardless of the result or stay-at-home rules.
Travel restrictions to remote Aboriginal towns and communities
Due to the current COVID-19 risk, NSW Health strongly recommends avoiding all travel to, from and between rural and remote Aboriginal communities across NSW.
Advice is available on Community Action Plans for Aboriginal communities page.