From 1 November 2021, fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will be eligible for international travel without seeking a travel exemption. 

Children under 12 and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons will also be able to travel overseas without an exemption.

Australian citizens and permanent residents who do not meet the eligibility requirements must continue to follow the current border processes when leaving Australia.

Fully vaccinated

Australia considers you to be fully vaccinated if you have completed a course of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognised vaccine. This includes mixed doses. Current vaccines and dosages accepted for the purposes of travel are:

Two doses at least 14 days apart of:

• AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
• AstraZeneca Covishield
• Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty
• Moderna Spikevax
• Sinovac Coronavac
• Bharat Biotech Covaxin
• Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for 18-60 year olds).
• Or one dose of:Johnson & Johnson / Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.

At least 7 days must have passed since the final dose of vaccine in a course of immunisation for you to be considered fully vaccinated. Mixed doses count towards being fully vaccinated as long as all vaccines are approved or recognised by the TGA.

If you have not been vaccinated with the above doses or schedule, you do not meet Australia’s definition of ‘fully vaccinated.’ 

If you do not meet Australia’s definition of fully vaccinated, current border restrictions apply and you must continue to follow current border processes when leaving Australia or coming to Australia. This includes requesting a travel exemption and undertaking mandatory quarantine.

Children under 12 and Australian citizens and permanent residents with acceptable proof they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons will also be able to travel overseas without seeking an exemption.

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs: Travel for vaccinated Australians and permanent residents

Proof of vaccination when leaving Australia

You will need to show airline staff your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC). The ICVC will be provided in PDF format for you to print or hold electronically on your phone.

Australian citizens and permanent residents departing Australia will need to show evidence of a medical contraindication reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) for all COVID-19 vaccines available in Australia. As proof, you should provide your Australian COVID-19 digital certificate. You can otherwise provide your immunisation history statement.

If a temporary medical contraindication has been recorded on the AIR, the COVID-19 digital certificate will display a ‘valid to’ date. After this time, you will need to either:

• Check with your doctor to see if you can now get a COVID-19 vaccine; or
• ask your doctor to update your status on the AIR if your medical contraindication is still valid. 

Only eligible health professionals as defined on the Department of Health website can report medical contraindications to the AIR.  If you cannot demonstrate that your medical contradiction has been reported to the Australian Immunisation Register, you will need to apply for an exemption to leave Australia. 

Getting a vaccination certificate, including the International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate, does not mean that you are fully vaccinated. For example, your vaccination certificate may show that you have only had one dose of a two-dose vaccine. If your vaccination certificate does not prove that you that you meet Australia’s definition of fully vaccinated, you cannot use it for leaving or entering Australia. It is your responsibility to know your vaccination status and ensure your vaccine certificate supports your eligibility to travel to and from Australia. 

You must also comply with all other requirements for leaving Australia.

   

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs: Travel for vaccinated Australians and permanent residents

Before You Go

Check Smartraveller Advice

Each country has different requirements for entry, including COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Check the current travel, visa and COVID-19 advice for the country you want to travel to using Smartraveller.

Plan your return journey to Australia

Fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to leave Australia without an exemption.  However, arrangements for returning to Australia will depend on the state or territory to which you are travelling.

For information about quarantine requirements that may apply to you, see the Australian Government's State and Territory information for travellers.

If you need to transit through a state or territory on your way to your destination, you will also need to check the Australian Government Department of Health domestic travel restrictions.

You are responsible for complying with travel restrictions and requirements that will apply to you.

Request your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate

Do this using the Express Plus Medicare app or your Medicare online account through myGov.

Keep a hard copy or an electronic copy of your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate so you can show it as evidence of your vaccination during your travels. Airlines will check this when you book your tickets and check-in to your flights.

As You Are Leaving

Departing Australia 

Present your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate to airline staff when you check-in for your flight. They will scan your certificate to view your vaccination history and make sure you meet the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ before you can travel.

If you are not fully vaccinated and do not have an exemption to depart Australia, you will not be able to board your flight (unless you are under 12, an Australian citizen or permanent resident with the required evidence that you are medically unable to be vaccinated).

If you do not have an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate because you were vaccinated overseas, you will need to present a foreign vaccination certificate.

Australia does not have pre-departure testing requirements for outbound international travel.  The country to which you are travelling may have testing requirements.

While You're Away

Travelling Overseas

Stay informed about the country you are visiting, in case things change. For country-specific travel advice see Smartraveller and subscribe for updates.

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs: Preparing to leave Australia