Victorian Travel Permit System

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 as an extreme risk, 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.

Map of zones

The map below shows the zones across Australia and New Zealand. There is also a list of LGAs and their zones (CSV).

Apply for a permit at Service Victoria.

Apply for a permit at the Service Victoria website.

Permit zones

The travel permit system is a traffic light system that designates areas across Australia and New Zealand as green, orange,red zones or extreme risk zones according to their public health risk.

Extreme risk zone 

An extreme risk zone means a specified location assessed as extreme risk for COVID-19 transmission, but only during the specific period for that location detailed on the Victorian Travel Map on this page as amended from time to time with the approval of the Chief Health Officer. 

From 9:00pm on Friday 23 July 2021, if you were in an extreme risk zone after the relevant commencement time (for NSW, 9:00 pm on Friday 9 July 2021)  in the last 14 days you may only enter Victoria with an exception, Specified Worker Permit, transit permit, or an exemption. 

There are additional requirements for workers permitted to enter Victoria with a specified worker permit, including freight workers, who have been in an extreme risk zone, a red zone or an orange zone after the relevant zone commencement time within the last 14 days. This includes a requirement for freight workers to get tested for COVID-19 every three days if you have been in an extreme risk zone within the last 14 days. For more information, refer to:travellers eligible to apply for a 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.

These websites contain information about current exposure sites in relevant jurisdictions:  

• New South Wales
• Australian Capital Territory
• Queensland
• Northern Territory
• Western Australia
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• New Zealand

From time to time the Victorian Chief Health Officer may determine additional sites in other jurisdictions to be very high-risk exposure sites. If this occurs, the additional sites will be listed on this page.

Red zone

A red zone means a specified location assessed as high risk for COVID-19 transmission, but only during the specific period for that location detailed on the Victorian Travel Map on this page as amended from time to time with the approval of the Chief Health Officer.

Victorian residents who have been in a red zone after the relevant commencement time (but not in an extreme risk zone) in the last 14 days can apply for a single-use red zone permit and, upon re-entry into Victoria, must:

• 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 current restrictions in Victoria.

If you are not a Victorian resident and have been in a red zone after the relevant commencement time within the last 14 days, you 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.
• 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. 

There are additional requirements for workers permitted to enter Victoria with a specified worker permit, including freight workers, who have been in an extreme risk zone,red zone or an orange zone after the relevant zone commencement time within the last 14 days. This includes a requirement to get tested for COVID-19 every three days if you have been in an extreme risk zone or a red zone within the last 14 days. For more information, refer to: travellers eligible to apply for a Specified Worker Permit.

During the current outbreak in New South Wales, it is recommended transiting travellers avoid areas of high community transmission in the Greater Sydney area as identified by the New South Wales 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. 

These websites contain information about current exposure sites in relevant jurisdictions: 

• New South Wales
• Australian Capital Territory
• Queensland
• Northern Territory
• Western Australia
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• New Zealand

From time to time the Victorian Chief Health Officer may determine additional sites in other jurisdictions to be very-high-risk exposure sites. If this occurs, the additional sites will be listed on this page.

Orange zone

An orange zone means a specified location assessed as medium risk for COVID-19 transmission, but only during the specific period for that location detailed on the Victorian Travel Map on this page as amended from time to time with the approval of the Chief Health Officer.

Those travelling from a designated orange zone must apply for a permit to enter Victoria. You cannot apply for a permit if you have COVID-19 symptoms, nor if you have visited a red zone or extreme risk zone after the relevant zone commencement time within 14 days of entering Victoria. You are allowed to travel through a red zone or extreme risk zone for the purpose of transit.

In order to enter Victoria, you must agree to the requirement of self-quarantine, get a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival and remain in self-quarantine until you receive a negative test result.

There are additional requirements for workers to enter Victoria with a specified workerpermit, including freight workers, who have been in a red zone,an extreme risk zone or an orange zone within the last 14 days.

Green zone

Those travelling from a designated green zone must apply for a permit to enter Victoria. You cannot apply for a green zone permit if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have visited a red zone,or an extreme risk zone (other than for short-term transit or is returning immediately and directly to Victoria after finishing hotel quarantine).

If you notice any symptoms once you arrive in Victoria from a green zone, you should immediately get tested for COVID-19.

Permit application questions

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 COVID-19 or are a close contact of someone who has or whether you have visited particular high-risk locations.

Border Communities (Vic/NSW and Vic/SA border)

Residents of nominated Local Government Areas adjacent to the Victorian border can use a photo ID as an alternative to a permit in many circumstances.

Find out more about Information for cross border communities.

New Zealand arrivals

From 11:59pm on Friday 26 February 2021, travellers to Victoria from New Zealand must apply for a Victorian Travel Permit. The Victorian traffic light system allows areas across New Zealand to be designated as green, orange or red zones or extreme risk zones according to their risk.

Aircrew on domestic flights and arriving from Green Zone countries

Aircrew from interstate or who are arriving from Green Zone countries are able to enter Victoria without a permit, exception or exemption on the following conditions:

• Any domestic air crew arriving to Victoria from a red zone or extreme risk zone must be tested every 72 hours, for a fortnight after entry. The Surveillance Testing Industry List and Requirements are available here.
• Crew members must not be a diagnosed person, close contact, or required to isolate by any jurisdiction, nor can they be experiencing symptoms.
• Crew members must comply with all directions in force, and they must monitor and get tested if any COVID symptoms arise.
• Upon arrival, crew members whose ordinary place of residence is within a red or orange zone within the 14 days prior to entry into Victoria:
  • must travel directly from the airport to their designated crew hotel.
  • must only leave their designated hotel 
    • to travel to point of departure; 
    • in an emergency,
    • to undertake required flight simulator or air safety training
    • to obtain medical care or medical supplies
    • to get tested for COVID
    • if required by law; or
    • to leave or depart from Victoria.
• Crew members must wear a mask at all times while on the aeroplane into Victoria and en route to and from the crew hotel.
• Crew members must comply with airline’s COVIDSafe plan and all other airline requirements during the 14 days prior to entry to Victoria.

Exceptions and exemptions

What are exceptions?

• Residents of nominated Local Government Areas along our borders can use a photo ID as an alternative to a permit in many circumstances. For more information, refer to: Information for cross border communities.
• 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 some indoor public spaces, public transport and on all flights. More information on face mask requirements.

What are exemptions?

A person will still be able to enter Victoria from a red zone or extreme risk zone if they have an exception or exemption – such as for compassionate reasons.

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.

Exemptions are limited and only granted in special cases. The Department of Health will assess your application and respond. 

Restrictions on entering other states from Victoria

For information about rules other states and territories impose on entry to their state please visit the relevant government websites:

• New South Wales
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Queensland
• Western Australia
• Northern Territory
• Australian Capital Territory