Summary
Victoria is establishing a permit system for all domestic travel into Victoria.
From 5:59pm on 11 January 2021, you will need to apply for a permit to enter Victoria from anywhere in Australia. Apply for a permit at the Service Victoria .
The permit system is based on a traffic light system which allows for areas across Australia to be designated as green, orange or red according to their risk. Find more information about red, orange and green permit zones.
The permit system is for both travellers to Victoria and residents of Victoria returning home from interstate travel.
Greater Sydney update
- Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has now declared that only 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Greater Sydney will remain in the red zone.
- These are Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield City, Inner West, Liverpool City, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality.
- If you have been in one of these 10 LGAs in the last 14 days (other than for transit) you cannot travel to Victoria without an exemption, exception or Specified Worker Permit.
- From 6pm on Monday 18 January, travellers from all other areas of Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains and Wollongong, can apply for an orange zone permit and enter Victoria, as long as you have not been in any other currently listed red zone in the past 14 days and agree to the conditions of an orange zone permit – self-quarantine, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test within 72 hours and remain in self-quarantine until you receive a negative result.
- Exemption applications will no longer be required if you have been in Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains and Wollongong in the 14 days prior to 6pm Monday 18 January - excluding the 10 red zone LGAs in Greater Sydney.
- If eligible, you can apply for an orange zone permit at Service .
- However you may still request an exemption based on your specific and general circumstances, if you have been in a current red zone in the last 14 days other than for direct and short term transit purposes or if you do not meet the relevant requirements of the orange zone permit.
New South Wales border towns
- Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has now declared all Local Government Areas (LGAs) in New South Wales’ border bubble to be green zones.
- From 6pm on Monday 18 January anyone who has been in Albury City, Balranald Shire, Bega Valley Shire, Berrigan Shire, City of Broken Hill, Edward River Council, Federation Council, Greater Hume Shire, Hay Shire, Lockhart Shire, Murray River Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council, City of Wagga Wagga, Wentworth Shire for the last 14 days will not be required to self-quarantine, get tested within 72 hours of arrival and remain in self-quarantine until they receive a negative result.
- Cross border community residents are not required to obtain a green zone travel permit as long as they provide a valid form of ID with their address – like a driver licence.
- However, if you have been in a current orange zone in the last 14 days – such as the Greater Sydney area excluding the 10 red zone LGAs, you must apply for an orange zone permit and agree to the conditions including the requirement to self-quarantine, get tested within 72 hours of arrival and remain in self-quarantine until you receive a negative test result.
- If you have been to a current red zone area in the last 14 days you cannot travel to Victoria without an exemption, exception or Specified Worker Permit.
Queensland zone changes
- Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has now declared the LGAs of Greater Brisbane - Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Redland, Logan, and Ipswich to be orange zones.
- From 6pm on Saturday 16 January 2021 you can apply for an orange zone permit and enter Victoria, as long as you have not been in a currently listed red zone in the past 14 days and agree to the conditions of an orange zone permit – self-quarantine, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test within 72 hours and remain in self-quarantine until you receive a negative test result.
- Exemption applications will no longer be required if you have been in Greater Brisbane in the last 14 days. If eligible you can apply for an orange zone permit at Service .
- However you may still request an exemption based on your specific and general circumstances if you have been in a red zone in the last 14 days other than for direct and short term transit purposes or do not meet the relevant requirements of the orange zone permit.
Brisbane Grand Chancellor
Anyone currently in Victoria who has completed 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine in Brisbane at the Grand Chancellor hotel on or after 30 December 2021 is asked to isolate and contact the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 immediately.
Anyone who has arrived into Victoria from 30 December must get tested and quarantine at home until they receive a negative result. They should call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 immediately.
Previously we had asked travellers to test if they had been in these QLD areas on or after 2 January 2021, however this public health advice has changed based on new information from QLD Health authorities regarding the B.1.1.7 lineage cluster in their hotel quarantine program.
About the permit
- The type of permit that you require will depend on where you have been.
- When you apply for a permit you will be asked where you are coming from and where you have travelled to.
- This is like a registration system and if you want to travel into Victoria you will need to let us know if you have been in a location which has been designated in a red, orange or green zone.
- Whether you live in an area, have worked there, been shopping, or just travelled through, you will need to include these locations on your permit and there will be some conditions.
- The permit system also applies to Victorian residents returning home from interstate.
- It is an offence to provide misleading information, with fines of up to $1,652.
Permit zones
A red zone means that you will not be allowed to enter Victoria without an exception, Specified Worker Permit or exemption.
By land border: If you try to enter Victoria at a land border without an exemption, exception or Specified Worker Permit you will be turned away.
By plane or water: If you attempt to enter via an airport or seaport you will be fined up to $4,957. Victorian residents will also be directed to self-isolate at home for 14 days while non-Victorian residents will be sent back on the first available flight.
Those travelling from a designated orange zone must apply for a permit to enter Victoria. You cannot apply for a permit if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, nor if you have visited a red zone. You are allowed to travel through a red zone for the purpose of transit.
Those travelling from a designated green zone must apply for a permit to enter Victoria. You cannot apply for a permit if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, nor if you have visited either a red or orange zone.
If you notice any symptoms once you arrive in Victoria from a green zone, you should immediately get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19).
During the permit application, along with where you have been, you will also be asked about whether you have symptoms, whether you have been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) or are a close contact of someone who has or whether you have visited particular high-risk locations.
New South Wales/Victorian border communities will continue to have exceptions and will be able to use local residence identification to cross the border.
The map below shows the zones across Australia. There is also a list of LGA's and their zones
The Greater Sydney zones in this map came into effect 6pm on Monday 18 January 2021.
What are exceptions?
New South Wales border community residents are exempt from obtaining a permit to enter Victoria.
People may cross the border without a permit to provide, receive or accompany a dependant who is to receive emergency or essential medical care or other urgent care, including medical care requiring continuity of treatment.
This does not include ordinary child-minding, although formal shared custody arrangements can continue. Carrying a medical certificate, letter from a physician or proof of custody arrangements is strongly recommended.
Emergency workers (including healthcare workers, care facility workers and child protection workers) must carry a letter from their employer evidencing the need for that worker to travel across the border, but do not need to obtain a permit in this instance.
You must follow Victoria’s restrictions when entering this state, including wearing a mask in all indoor public spaces, public transport and on all domestic flights.
What are exemptions?
You can apply for an exemption if you have a valid reason.
Reasons for an exemption may include:
- an end of life event
- going to a funeral
- returning home for health, wellbeing, care or compassionate reasons
- emergency relocation
- caring for an animal on the other side of the border
- Australian Defence Force members undertaking military transfers
Exemptions are limited and only granted in special cases. The Department of Health and Human Services will assess your application and respond. You can apply online for an .
More information
Reviewed 20 January 2021