How to Apply for Exemption to Leave Australia?

International travel is prohibited in Australia. If you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, you are not permitted to leave the country unless you have a valid travel exemption to leave Australia or are going somewhere that is not prohibited.

Australian residents are free to leave the country whenever they want. Travel to high-risk COVID-19 nations poses a significant health risk to the Australian population, according to current medical recommendations.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel is increasingly challenging. There are more factors you should think about when organizing your trip. Make sure you have a look at our Visa guide for Australia.

Procedure for an exemption to leave Australia

Only a very few of the following extremely rare circumstances will be accepted for those requesting an “exceptional circumstances” exemption to leave Australia to certain high-risk COVID-19 countries.

People traveling in Australia’s national interest, crucial personnel helping the COVID-19 response in their destination country, or patients seeking emergency care for a serious condition that cannot be treated in Australia.

There must be supporting data.

The Outward Travel Restrictions Operation Directive’s “extraordinary circumstances” exemption to leave Australia criteria do not currently apply to those who want to travel to any of the high-risk COVID-19 nations mentioned above.

COVID-19 vaccines are now accessible for necessary international travel.

Access to COVID-19 immunizations is now available to Australian citizens and permanent residents under 50 with an approved external travel exemption to leave Australia in an eligible category.

Travel exemptions must be given on or after May 20, 2021, for one of the following reasons to be eligible:

• Your trip is a part of the effort to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, which also includes the distribution of aid
• you’re on business or for the benefit of your employer
• You are leaving Australia to receive immediate medical care that is not possible there
• You are moving because it is humane or necessary
• you’re on the road for unavoidable or urgent personal business
• Your journey serves the interests of the country

You can submit a fresh travel exemption to leave Australia request if you have a travel exemption approved for an acceptable cause before May 20, 2021, and you haven’t left Australia. Upload any necessary paperwork and indicate that you want to be vaccinated before traveling.

Traveling to New Zealand

Beginning at 21:59 AEST on April 18, 2021, travel from Australia to New Zealand will no longer require a quarantine.

For an Exemption to leave Australia To go to New Zealand without going through quarantine, you must:

• have met the health requirements set forth by the New Zealand Government and have spent 14 days or more in either Australia or New Zealand within 14 days of your departure flight (this includes spending the full 14 days in Australia or traveling from New Zealand to Australia and returning within 14 days). The same rules on immigration and biosecurity apply to all other standard entrance criteria.
• Keep up to date as quarantine-free travel may be delayed or suspended at any time.
• Without requesting an outwards travel exemption, Australian citizens and permanent residents who have only been in Australia or New Zealand for the 14 days before departure may travel to New Zealand.

Note that this only applies if New Zealand is the final destination. You must apply for an outward travel exemption to leave Australia if you are passing through New Zealand on your way to another location.

If your outward travel exemption to leave Australia is granted for “compelling circumstances for at least 3 months,” you won’t be qualified for a COVID-19 immunization.

Visit this site for additional details on scheduling your vaccination appointment.

Australian citizens and long-term residents

Due to COVID-19 requirements, unless you have an exception, you are not permitted to leave Australia if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

The following are some application reasons:

• Your travel is necessary for your employer or business. You are traveling to receive urgent medical care that is not available in Australia. You are traveling outside of Australia for a compelling reason for three months or longer. Your travel is necessary for humanitarian or compelling reasons.
• You need to back up your claims with facts. Insufficient evidence may result in requests being rejected without further review.
• Evidence could consist of—Passport, marriage license, birth certificate, death certificate, and relationship proof (for example, shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account, etc.)
• Evidence that you are relocating permanently to another nation, such as leases, employment offers, and shipping documents
• Proof of your current, valid visa, a letter from a doctor or hospital describing any medical condition with justifications for your need to travel, a letter from your employer, or other evidence that you are traveling on business, as well as documentation of your intention to return to Australia, as well as any other proof you may have to substantiate your claims.
• See Evidence of a relationship for details on how to prove your relationship.
• travel for at least three months
• Your projected journey must be for a compelling reason, and you must present proof to back up your claims if you want to be excluded from Australia’s outward travel limitations because you’re leaving the country for three months or more.

The Statutory Declaration must declare that you are requesting a travel exemption to leave Australia because you anticipate being away from Australia for some time longer than three months.

Evidence could consist of

A doctor’s note supporting your claim that you are traveling to care for sick family members, as well as any other evidence you wish to present in support of your request for exemption to leave Australia, should be included with your confirmed flight itinerary with a return date that is at least three months after the date of departure.

According to Section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959, it is an offense for someone to make a false statement in a statutory declaration. If insufficient supporting documentation is offered or is absent from a Statutory Declaration, requests may be resolved without further investigation.

The Australian Border Force will keep an eye on whether announced travel periods are being followed.

A travel exemption to leave Australia claim requires that all accompanying documentation be professionally translated into English.

Before planning to travel abroad, Australians should consult Smartraveller for guidance on the hazards.

Bottom line

Only go on a trip if you have an urgent need to go somewhere, and go right away.

If you request a travel exemption to leave Australia you must read and agree to travel risk warnings, which include potential delays getting back to Australia. You must make sure you have enough money saved up to maintain yourself while traveling abroad for an extended period in the likely case that your flight is canceled or your trip plans are otherwise altered.

Requests for travel exemptions that aren’t accompanied by the proper documentation to back up your claim won’t be granted and hamper your exemption to leave Australia.

If you are not given a waiver, you shouldn’t proceed with your trip arrangements. If you are given a waiver, you must bring proof of that decision with you to the airport.

This for sure would help with exemption to leave Australia.