Before you travel to Australia from the US, this is what you need to know before you depart, during your flight, on arrival and throughout quarantine.
QUICK FACTS
Australian Travel Declaration – required to be filed no later than 72-hours before departure with all travel and address information for tracking purposes.
Negative test – You will need to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72-hours of departure.
Quarantine – On arrival in Australia, everyone must quarantine for a period of 14-days at a government-approved hotel which is allocated on the day of arrival. You cannot choose your hotel and it will be at your own expense (see chart below). On limited or extenuating circumstances, you may be exempt from payment, but this is rare.
WHO CAN TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA?
Regardless of if vaccinated or unvaccinated, you can travel between America and Australia during COVID-19 if you are an Australian Citizen OR a Permanent Resident of Australia OR an immediate family member only. If you do not fall into this category, you will need to apply for a travel visa which is rare to obtain.
At this stage, holiday or vacation or business travel (if not a citizen, permanent resident or immediate family member) is not permitted until Australian borders reopen.
PRE-DEPARTURE
Before departing, all travelers must have the following completed before boarding their flight:
- Provide a negative Covid-19 test
- Completed the Australian Travel Declaration
- Provide travel and intended address information for arrival
Negative Test
All travelers must provide their airline with a negative COVID-19 test before able to check-in for their flight. The test must be taken 72-hours or less prior to departure from an approved outlet and must be an approved COVID-19 PCR test. If you do not have a negative test (or test positive), you will not be able to board your flight.
Australian Travel Declaration
The Australia Travel Declaration collects your contact details for when in Australia, flight details, quarantine requirements and your health status. This information helps the Australian Government determine your quarantine arrangements and also allows the relevant health departments to contact you if someone you travelled with (EG: onboard the flight) tests positive for COVID-19.
If you do not complete the declaration, you may not be able to board your flight, or you may experience significant delays when you arrive in Australia.
Travellers who do not need to complete the Australia Travel Declaration include:
- flight crew
- foreign diplomats
- people travelling on military flights
- people arriving by sea (both crew and passengers)
Before you commence your declaration, have the following information ready:
- passport details
- full trip information – dates and address(s)
- destination details
- contact details
The declaration is free to complete. The outcome in your email will have either a:
- green response (with a tick), if you do not need to quarantine on arrival
- blue response (with an hourglass), if you need to quarantine on arrival
- red response (with a cross), if you indicated that you have been near someone or recently contracted Covid-19
The declaration can be found and filled out here.
AIRPORT AND FLIGHT REQUIREMENTS
At the airport, a mask must be worn at all times. Social distancing is enforced when checking in and while waiting for your flight. All passengers must follow the advice and/or instructions given by ground staff and security at all times.
While onboard your flight to Australia, certain requirements are mandatory. A mask must be worn at all times, except for when drinking or eating. Food and beverage may be limited while onboard, so it is recommended to take snacks along with you, remembering the 100ml liquid rule which is still in effect.
Here is a handy checklist of what to take on board your flight:
- Your mask plus 1-2 spare masks per person for the journey in case you drop your mask on the floor. On the 13-hour flight from the US East Coast to Australia, you will be ready to change your mask on arrival
- Snacks – not all flights are providing full meals and beverages. This varies between carriers but there is always some form of catering available. Take some simple and healthy snacks such as nuts, fruits or other packed goodies. Read our guide to what to carry onboard long-haul flights here
- Entertainment – not all carriers are providing seatback entertainment (such as Qantas on repatriation flights), so pimp out your tablet, laptop or mobile device just in case
- Remember to keep liquids under 100mls
- Hand sanitiser (travel sizes) – take at least two bottles to get you through the airport, flight and to the hotel at the other end
- Refresher towels – after wearing your mask for so long, a nice Wet One or other handy wipe will feel good on the face. Scent-free are best and no alcohol wipes are recommended to avoid drying your skin out even more
- Avene water spritzer (or any brand) – a small travel size bottle that sprays a fine mist of spring water onto your face or body. Great way to refresh.
QUARANTINE ON ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA
All quarantine arrangements are made by the Government including which hotel you will stay in on the day of your arrival. There is no way to select a specific hotel (it’s delegated on the day of arrival based on availability) and it must be in your port of arrival, regardless of your final destination.
EG: If you are traveling from Los Angeles to Sydney to Perth, Sydney is your port of arrival and where you will need to quarantine for 14-days, so don’t book your onward/connecting flight until 14-days later.
Once the quarantine period has been completed, you are free to travel within Australia any time, pending each State’s requirements at the time.
You may be tested for COVID-19 in the first 48 hours and then between days 10 to 12 of quarantine. If you refuse to test, you may have to quarantine for a longer period. Exact testing arrangements depend on states and territories. These tests are mandatory for every person in the hotel room (including children) and must be negative to be able to leave.
If you test positive at any time during your stay, you will need to extend your stay, potentially at your own expense, until a negative test is supplied.
Preparing for quarantine
The Australian government has produced a two-part guide on how to handle the quarantine experience. Staying in a hotel room, with no visitors for 14-days can be stressful and being prepared will go a long way in helping relieve the stress and boredom.
While in quarantine you can not use any shared spaces such as pool areas, hotel gym or any other shared area. You will be confined in your hotel room for 14-days.
Part one of the guide is to prepare you for quarantine. Read part one of the guide here.
Part two of the guide is to help you with ideas once in quarantine. Read part two of the guide here.
Quarantine costs
If you are directed to quarantine in government arranged accommodation, you will have to pay a contribution to the overall cost of your quarantine.
As rooms cannot be cleaned by hotel staff, daily towels and linens will be supplied. On request, cleaning supplies can be delivered to your room for self-servicing. While in quarantine, no use of shared areas such as the pool or gym is permitted due to the requirement to be confined to your room.
The cost of quarantine includes three meals per day delivered to your room, with WiFi and laundry facilities usually included (varies by hotel). Alcohol and other hotel items will be charged to your room and settled on the day of your departure. The fee also includes your transport from the airport, security and other logistics.
For a look at some of the meals provided in different cities, check out this Facebook Group dedicated to sharing the hotel meals. By all accounts, some of them don’t look too bad, while others….
All costs in AUD. Click the titles for links with more information.
- 1 adult (1 room) – $2,800
- 2 adults (1 room) – $3,710
- 2 adults and 1 child (1 room) – $4,165
- 2 adults and 2 children – $4,620
- 3 adults and 3 children (2 rooms) – $7,875
NEW SOUTH WALES QUARANTINE COSTS
Travellers will be charged $3,000 for one adult; additional occupants will be added as follows:
- additional adults: $1,000 each
- children (under 18): $500 each
- child (under three): no additional cost.
The following maximum fees will be charged to residents in hotel quarantine.
- $3000 for one adult
- $1000 for each additional adult in the same room or apartment
- $500 for each child aged between three and 18 years
- No fee is charged for children aged under three years.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA QUARANTINE COSTS
- Room cost/day – $180
- Cost for each additional person/room/day – $60
- Total 1 person/room – $2520
- Total 2 persons/room – $3360
- Children under six will not be charged the additional cost component of the fee.
The cost for each additional person in the room is fixed and cannot be waived.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA QUARANTINE COSTS
The following fees apply for overseas travellers quarantining in South Australian medi-hotels:
- One adult – $3,000
- Additional adults – $1,000
- Additional children – $500
- Children under 3 – no additional cost
RELATED STORIES …
AIRLINES FLYING BETWEEN AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA DURING COVID-19
Some airlines are still flying limited schedules between the US and Australia as follows. Note that all schedules are subject to change at any time and check with the airline directly for the latest information and fare availability.
Airfare prices are currently not cheap! You will get sticker shock. Currently, the Australian Government has limited the number of passenger arrivals into Australia daily. This means airlines are told how many seats can be sold on each flight (around 20-30% of available seats), hence prices are sky-high. This is to not overwhelm border control and hotels and to keep a tighter control on who is entering and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, as the majority of cases have been from Australian’s returning from overseas.
Non-Stop Airlines USA to Australia
Currently, Qantas and Virgin Australia have suspended all flights to the US.
DELTA AIRLINES
Departs: Los Angeles
Arrives: Sydney
Frequent Flyer partner: Virgin Australia, Sky Team
AMERICAN AIRLINES
Departs: Los Angeles
Arrives: Sydney
Frequent Flyer partner: Qantas, OneWorld
UNITED AIRLINES
Departs: Los Angeles, San Francisco
Arrives: Sydney
Frequent Flyer partner: Star Alliance
One-Stop Airlines USA to Australia
FIJI AIRWAYS
Note: All flights currently suspended, due to begin again August 2021 at the time of publish
Departs: Los Angeles
Arrives: Sydney
Via: Nandi
Frequent Flyer partner: Qantas, American Airlines, OneWorld
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Note: Singapore has a green list of transit countries where you can connect same day in Singapore. America is part of that green list. View the full list here.
Departs: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York (Newark)
Arrives: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth
Via: Singapore
Frequent Flyer partner: star Alliance, United Airlines (was Virgin Australia pre-Covid, no plans announced yet)
EMIRATES
Departs: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, New York (JFK), Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC
Arrives: Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth
Via: Dubai
Frequent Flyer partner: Qantas, Alaska Airlines, Jet Blue
ETIHAD AIRWAYS
Departs: Chicago, New York (JFK), Washington DC
Arrives: Melbourne, Sydney
Via: Abu Dhabi
Frequent Flyer partner: Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, American Airlines
QATAR
Departs: Atlanta, Houston, New York (JFK), San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Philadelphia
Arrives: Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane
Via: Doha
Frequent Flyer partner: Qantas, Alaska Airlines, OneWorld, American Airlines,
KOREAN AIRLINES
Departs: Honolulu, Atlanta, New York (JFK), San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Boston, Washington Dulles, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle
Arrives: Sydney, Brisbane
Via: Seoul
Frequent Flyer partner: Delta, SkyTeam
JAPAN AIRLINES
Departs: New York (JFK), San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Boston, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Kona
Arrives: Sydney, Melbourne
Via: Tokyo (Haneda)
Frequent Flyer partner: Qantas, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, OneWorld, Hawaiian Airlines
RETURNING TO THE USA
Currently, Australian’s are not allowed to leave the country, so to return to the US, you must have your current American Green Card or American Passport to depart Australia. For additional proof, carry your US drivers license and any other document to prove you live full time in the US, such as your Social Security Card, Health Insurance card, home bills and so forth just to be sure.
Read more here from the CDC on entering the USA.
While no mandatory quarantine is required, the recommendations are that fully vaccinated people, with an FDA-authorized vaccine, or a vaccine authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel.
Travel information for unvaccinated people:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
For full up-to-date details from the Australian Government, visit the Australian Department of Health website here.
PLEASE NOTE: This information was published on 21 May 2021. All information is provided for general purposes only and is not legal advice and can change or be updated at any time. Always check the links provided above for the latest correct information.
Comments
Comments are closed.