COVID-19 Testing for travellers entering Australia from China, Hong Kong, and Macau
If you are planning to travel to Australia from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, on or after 5 January 2023, you’ll need to take note of this new regulation. Starting on 5 January 2023, individuals planning to travel to Australia from China, Hong Kong and Macau, will have to take a COVID-19 test and produce proof of a negative result within 48 hours before their scheduled departure.
This applies to travellers entering Australia by air, whether it be on a direct flight or one with a stopover in another country before landing in Australia.
What are the COVID-19 testing requirements?
- You must provide evidence of either:
- A negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or other Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) test taken within a 48-hour period prior to the day of your scheduled departure, or
- A negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) taken by or under the supervision of an authorised person within 48 hours prior to the day of your scheduled departure.
This applies to travellers entering Australia by air, whether it be on a direct flight or one with a stopover in another country before landing in Australia.
You may be asked to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before boarding your flight. You may also be asked to provide evidence of your negative test on arrival in Australia.
Do the COVID-19 testing requirements apply to Australian Citizens?
The COVID-19 testing requirement applies to all travellers entering Australia, irrespective of whether they are visiting for leisure or work, or if they are returning Australian citizens or permanent residents.
Are there any exemptions to the COVID-19 testing requirement?
The Department of Health and Aged Care website provides information on exemptions to the testing requirement. These exemptions include:
- airline crew
- children under the age of 12 on the day they are scheduled to depart
- travellers with evidence from a medical practitioner in the last 30 days that they have a medical condition that prevents them from undertaking a COVID-19 test
- travellers carrying evidence from a medical practitioner of a COVID-19 infection in the last 30 days, including confirmation that they are no longer infectious or symptomatic, and the day of the first positive test result (which must be at least 7 days before the date of the medical certificate)
- emergency medical evacuation flights and those accompanying people on these flights
- travellers entering Australia via the sea.
Do COVID-19 testing requirements apply to travellers transiting through other countries?
The testing requirements applies to travellers who board a flight originating in China, Hong Kong or Macau and ending in Australia. This includes indirect flights that transit through a third country before arriving in Australia.
Australia’s testing requirements does not apply if you travel from China, Hong Kong or Macau, to another country and spend more than 24 hours there before travelling to Australia.
Are COVID-19 testing required for travellers transiting through China, Hong Kong or Macau?
If you are transiting through China, Hong Kong or Macau, and your flight originated in another country you do not need to undertake a pre-departure test.
The testing requirement does apply to those who travel to China, Hong Kong or Macau, from another country and spend more than 24 hours there before travelling to Australia.
What does this mean for travellers with delayed, rescheduled or cancelled flights?
The COVID-19 test requirements apply to your scheduled departure date. If your flight is delayed, a new test will not be necessary.
On the other hand, if your flight is rescheduled or cancelled, it is mandatory to provide a negative test result taken no longer than 48 hours before the new departure date.
Concluding thoughts
This measure is being implemented to ensure the safety of all Australians and travellers from the risk of potential new variants. If you are unable to present evidence of a negative test result on request, you may be subject to a civil penalty, including a fine of up to approximately AU$8,250.
It is crucial that travellers take responsibility for ensuring compliance with Australia’s testing requirements. These arrangements are precautionary and temporary and will remain under regular review.
Contact Migration Affairs today to speak with our immigration experts for further details on entering and leaving Australia.
