Travel Plans: Victorian-Nsw Border Rules Explored

During the COVID-19 pandemic, travel between Victoria and New South Wales was heavily restricted. In 2020, Victoria's COVID-19 Response Commander Jeroen Weimar warned Victorians stranded in NSW that they could only cross the border under 'genuine hardship' reasons. In 2021, Victoria established a traffic light permit system for domestic travellers, with different permits required based on the zones travellers had been to in the preceding two weeks. By 2023, vaccinated Victorians were allowed to travel to NSW without quarantining, and in 2024, regional Victorians were able to travel to Sydney before Melbourne.

Victorians need a permit to enter NSW

As of November 1, 2021, Victorians are allowed to travel to NSW without needing to quarantine. However, there are certain requirements that must be met for this exemption to apply. Firstly, only fully vaccinated Victorians are permitted to enter NSW without quarantining. Secondly, all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, must apply for a permit to enter or re-enter Victoria. The type of permit required depends on the traveller's vaccination status and the areas they have visited in the preceding two weeks.

Victoria has established a traffic light permit system for domestic travellers, with different zones in NSW designated as green, orange, or red. Travellers from green zones have fewer restrictions on their travel but still need to apply for a green zone permit. Those from orange zones must apply for an orange zone permit and agree to get tested within 72 hours of arrival and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Travellers from red zones face stricter requirements and cannot travel to Victoria without an exemption, exception, or essential worker permit. As of January 2, 2024, the following areas in NSW were designated as red zones: Canterbury-Bankstown and Strathfield Municipality. Travellers trying to enter Victoria from a red zone without a valid permit will be turned away and may face fines.

It is important to monitor the latest updates and official sources for information, as the requirements and restrictions may change over time.

Exemptions for Victorians to enter NSW

As of January 2021, Victorians were advised not to travel to Sydney due to a COVID-19 outbreak. A permit system was introduced, with residents of high-risk "red zones" in Sydney denied entry into Victoria. All travellers from NSW required a permit to enter Victoria.

At the time, Victoria's COVID-19 Response Commander Jeroen Weimar stated that exemptions would only be granted to Victorians in NSW under "genuine hardship" reasons, such as medical emergencies, family emergencies, and compassionate reasons. Those who were granted exemptions were required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine.

In August 2020, NSW tightened border exemptions for Victorians, requiring all travellers crossing the southern border to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine at a cost of $3,000. However, there were some exceptions to this rule. "Critical workers", defined as those performing jobs that could not be done by local workers, were exempt from quarantine. The NSW Government listed seven "critical services" that travellers could apply for permits for:

• COVID-19 environmental cleaning on a commercial basis that is not available locally
• Commonwealth defence and security services
• Maintenance and repair of critical infrastructure
• Medical, hospital, dental, or veterinary care
• Agriculture, construction, energy, mining, or manufacturing
• Movement of freight on a commercial basis
• Movement of persons on a commercial basis

Compassionate grounds were also considered for permits, but only in very limited circumstances. For example, permits were granted if a family member was terminally ill or if the applicant was caring for a family member in significant need with no other support.

By October 2021, NSW announced it would scrap the stay-at-home order for Victorians entering the state from November 1. Fully vaccinated Victorians would be allowed to enter NSW, while restrictions would remain for unvaccinated individuals travelling for "holiday or recreation".

Victorians travelling to NSW must quarantine

As of April 2023, Victorians are allowed to travel to NSW without quarantining, as long as they are fully vaccinated. However, this rule does not apply to Victorians aged 16 and over who are not fully vaccinated. These travellers are not permitted to enter NSW for recreational purposes or holidays and must apply for a permit to enter or re-enter Victoria, adhering to different restrictions based on their vaccination status.

Previously, in December 2020, a Victorian-NSW border coronavirus permit system was introduced, requiring all travellers from NSW to obtain a permit to enter Victoria. Residents of high-risk "red zones" in Sydney were not allowed into Victoria, and travellers from Greater Sydney were encouraged to get tested and self-quarantine until they received a negative result.

In January 2021, border restrictions were eased, allowing Victorians stranded in Sydney to return home. Twenty-five of Sydney's 35 local government areas were downgraded from red to orange zones, permitting automatic entry to Victoria with a negative test result and isolation until the result was received.

In June 2021, the Queensland government lifted border restrictions for regional Victorians, but a hotspot declaration remained in place for Greater Melbourne, meaning Melburnians were still restricted from entering Queensland without a travel declaration and exemption, along with mandatory quarantine.

In September 2024, it was reported that regional Victorians may be able to travel to Sydney before they are allowed into Melbourne, as border MPs called for the NSW Premier to open the state to the regions. However, this report is from the future and may not reflect the current situation.

NSW-Victoria border restrictions

As of April 2023, Victorians are allowed to travel to NSW without quarantining, as long as they are fully vaccinated. However, those who are not fully vaccinated and are 16 years old or older cannot enter NSW for recreational purposes or holidays. All travellers must apply for a permit to enter or re-enter Victoria, with different restrictions in place depending on their vaccination status.

Previously, in January 2024, there were restrictions on travel between NSW and Victoria due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some Victorians were free to return home, others were still stranded in NSW as authorities worked through exemption applications.

In December 2020, Victoria introduced a permit system, road patrols on main access points, and contact tracing for anyone who had flown from Sydney since December 11, 2020, due to a growing COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney. Residents of high-risk "red zones" in Sydney were not allowed into Victoria, and all travellers from NSW required a permit to enter.

In September 2024, there was discussion about allowing regional Victorians to travel to Sydney before the borders with Melbourne were opened. This was due to the low number of COVID-19 cases in regional areas, with some communities having no cases for months. However, at that time, Melbourne residents were still restricted from entering regional Victoria, and the Victorian government planned to keep these border controls in place for the foreseeable future.

Regional Victorians can travel to NSW

As of November 1, 2021, fully vaccinated Victorians can travel freely to regional NSW without having to quarantine. This change in restrictions also applies to fully vaccinated international travellers entering Victoria.

Prior to this date, all Victorians were required to quarantine for 14 days when entering NSW. In 2024, there was another wave of border restrictions between Victoria and NSW, with thousands of Victorians stranded in Sydney.

In 2020, the Victorian government advised against travel to Sydney as a COVID-19 outbreak grew, and introduced a permit system for all travellers from NSW. At the time, residents of high-risk "red zones" in Sydney were not allowed into Victoria. Regional Victorians were also unable to travel to Melbourne.

In 2021, the Queensland government lifted border restrictions for regional Victorians, allowing them to enter the state without a travel declaration or exemption. However, those from greater Melbourne were still required to meet certain conditions, including quarantine.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in dynamic border restrictions between states in Australia. It is important for Victorians intending to travel to NSW to stay updated with the latest government guidelines and plan their trips accordingly.

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