Victorian Government Current Travel Updates

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

SOURCE: VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT

Current travel updates

The Chief Health Officer has declared the following update under Victoria's travel permit system:

  • The following Queensland local government areas (LGAs) are red zones (other than for transit) under Victoria's travel permit system from 8:00pm AEST Saturday 31 July 2021:
    • City of Brisbane, Moreton Bay Regional Council, City of Gold Coast, City of Ipswich, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City, Noosa Shire Council, Redland City, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council and Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
  • If you are a Victorian resident and have been in a red zone since current red zones came into effect, other than for transit, you can obtain a red zone permit to enter Victoria but you must travel directly home, get tested and quarantine for 14 days. 
  • If you are a non-Victorian resident and you have been in a red zone since current red zones came into effect, other than for transit, you cannot obtain a permit and you cannot enter Victoria unless you have an exception or exemption.
  • South Australia and Norfolk Island are orange zones.
  • People who have been in these areas in the past 14 days and are travelling into Victoria need to apply for an orange zone permit. People cannot apply for an orange zone permit if they have also been in a red or extreme risk zone in the past 14 days.
  • Orange zone permit holders entering Victoria must isolate on arrival, get tested within 72 hours, and stay isolated until they get a negative result.
  • Existing red zone arrivals to Victoria from South Australia and Norfolk Island who have had a test since arriving in Victoria and received a negative result are released from quarantine.
  • Permit checks are in place at borders and for relevant arriving flights at Victorian airports.

For detailed information, please visit the travel updates page.

To view additional information about the Victoria's Travel Permit System (extreme risk, red, orange and green zones) for Australia and New Zealand, refer to the map below or visit the travel updates page.

Zones?apply from?different times and dates. You may be required to apply for a different permit based on the time you were in a certain area. To find out when red or orange zones apply to you, view?the map below or visit ?the travel updates page.

Border community update

The City of Wagga Wagga, Hay Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council and Murrumbidgee Council will no longer be included in the cross border bubble.

These local government areas will be included under the Extreme Risk Zone from 11:59pm 27 July, in line with the rest of NSW, and residents will need a exemption, exception, transit permit or?specified?worker permit to enter Victoria.

Extreme Risk Zone update

An extreme risk zone category has been added to the Victorian travel zone system, effective 9:00pm on Friday 23 July 2021. From 9:00pm on Friday 9 July 2021, NSW is considered an extreme risk zone.

Different requirements apply for anyone planning to enter Victoria from a jurisdiction defined by the Department of Health as an extreme risk zone with extreme risk of COVID-19 transmission.

  • Anyone who has been in an extreme risk zone after the relevant zone commencement time in the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter Victoria unless you have an?exemption, exception, transit permit or?specified?worker permit.
    • if you have been doing hotel quarantine in an extreme risk zone and immediately transit to Victoria, or if you are in the extreme risk zone for immediate transit to Victoria only, you may be eligible for a green permit
    • exemptions must be applied for and are?only?granted under exceptional circumstances, including for care and compassionate reasons.?To apply, refer to:? exemption.
    • exceptions?only apply to particular categories (for example, air crew,?travelling?in an emergency?or?when escaping harm).
    • eligible?permits?include?a transit permit?for people traveling through Victoria?to another jurisdiction,?and?a specified?worker permit for workers listed on?the?Specified Worker?List.?

If you plan to enter Victoria from a?red zone after 9:00pm on Friday 23 July 2021:

  • Victorian residents who have been in a red zone (but not in an extreme risk zone) after the relevant zone commencement time in the last 14 days can apply for a single-use red zone permit, and must follow permit requirements upon entry into Victoria, including:
    • self-quarantine for 14 days (you can't self-quarantine at an alpine resort);
    • get tested for COVID-19 within 3 days of arrival;
    • get tested for COVID-19 again 13 days after arrival;
    • follow the current restrictions in Victoria.
  • Non-Victorian residents who have been in?a red zone after the zone commencement time within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter Victoria unless you have an?exemption, exception, transit permit or?specified?worker Permit.
    • if you have been doing hotel quarantine in an extreme risk zone and immediately transit to Victoria, or if you are in the extreme risk zone for immediate transit to Victoria only, you may be eligible for a green permit
    • exemptions must be applied for and are?only?granted under exceptional circumstances, including for care and compassionate reasons. To apply refer to:  exemption.
    • exceptions?only apply to particular categories (for example, air crew,?travelling?in an emergency?or?when escaping harm).?
    • eligible?permits?include?a transit permit?for people traveling through Victoria?to another jurisdiction,?and?a Specified?Worker permit for workers listed on?the?Specified Worker?List.?

During the current outbreak in?New South Wales and South Australia, it is recommended transiting travellers avoid areas of high community transmission within these areas?as identified by the relevant Department of Health. If you must transit through these areas, it is recommended you plan your journey in advance so you do not need to stop for fuel, food or rest in these locations wherever possible. If you spend more than 24 hours in transit in an extreme risk zone, you will no longer be permitted to enter Victoria unless you have an?exemption, exception, transit permit, or?specified?worker permit.

Those who attempt to enter Victoria without an exception or exemption or?eligible?permit will be fined?AUD$5452?and?could be?sent back or?placed in?hotel?quarantine?for 14 days?at their own expense