Automatic Overseas Travel Ban Exemption for Australian citizens and permanent residents removed

The federal government has passed an amendment to legislation to deny Australian citizens and permanent residents who normally live in other countries, from returning home without a border force exemption. This Instrument removes the automatic Overseas Travel Ban Exemption for Australian citizens and permanent residents ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia.

The purpose of the removal of the automatic exemption is to decrease the number of individuals making frequent overseas trips and is designed to reduce pressure on Australia's quarantine capacity to assist vulnerable Australians overseas to return and to reduce the risks posed by COVID to the Australian population.

The Australian Border Force may grant a travel exemption to an Australian citizen or a permanent resident, The person will be required to demonstrate that they have a compelling reason for needing to leave Australian territory.

This provisions of this Instrument will commence on 11 August 2021.

Further information about travel exemptions and applications is available on the Department's COVID mini site.

Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L01068/Download