Travel Exemptions Changing for Visiting Australians 

Starting August 11, Australians who ordinarily live abroad will no longer be given automatic exemption should they plan to leave the country after coming home for a holiday or to see family and friends.  

Since the government closed the border in March 2020, Australians who wish to travel internationally seek permission from the government to be allowed to leave the country; however, for Australians who usually live overseas, they are given automatic travel exemption and are allowed to leave anytime. This is now set to change as the federal government sees this as a loophole.  

Starting Wednesday, 11 August visiting Australians will have to provide a ‘compelling reason’ to explain why they should be allowed to leave like other citizens.