Entry into Australia – Coronavirus Update

The Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison announced the following travel restrictions commence on the 1 February 2020 and are effective immediately. The Prime Minister has announced that these measures are temporary and will be reviewed by government in 14 days.
Travel Restrictions
Effective immediately, all travellers, regardless of nationality,  arriving from mainland China will be subject to enhanced border control measures to ensure that Australia’s safety and well-being are safeguarded against the potentially lethal virus.
The Department of Home Affairs has been instructed by the Australian Prime Minister to deny entry to anyone who has departed or transited through mainland China from the 1st of February 2020. However, the following are exceptions to the above:

• If you are an Australian citizen.
• If you have permanent residency in Australia.
• If you are an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident, this includes spouses, minor dependants and legal guardians.

Limited exemptions exist for airline and maritime crew where the individual has taken appropriate precautionary measures.
The enhanced public safety procedures which have been implemented will apply to not only individuals seeking to arrive in Australia, but also to travellers who are stopping over in Australia whilst in transit to another country.
International Travellers
If an individual has departed mainland China from the 1st of February 2020 and they are not an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an immediate family member of an Australian citizen, they are unable to travel to Australia until the matter is reviewed in 14 days.

• Your airline will not allow you to board the flight if this restriction applies to you.
• If you do arrive in Australia whilst having departed mainland China from the 1st of February 2020 then your visa will be cancelled, and you will be placed in alternative detention for a quarantine period as a precautionary measure.
• If you have departed mainland China, do not travel to Australia until these measures have been reviewed and repealed.
  • Unless one of the aforementioned exceptions applies to you.

Temporary Visa Holders (including Student (subclass 500) visa holders)

• People who hold temporary visas and are ineligible for entry into Australia because they have visited or departed mainland China will have their visas cancelled.
  • To accommodate for the enhanced border control measures which the Prime Minister has announced, arrangements will be made to reinstate visas following the review which will occur in 14 days.
  • This includes Student (subclass 500) visa holders.

Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents and Immediate Family Members
If you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident then you are applicable to enter Australia’s borders.

• However, if you have visited or departed mainland China from the 1st of February 2020 then you will be required to self-isolate for 14 days from the time you have left mainland China as a precautionary measure.

More Information
Ethos Migration Lawyers will continue to provide updates as they become available. If you require further information on how these restrictions may affect you, your business or your family please contact our office.