How to visit Australia via VTL - without quarantine

After months of restricted travel, for some Singaporeans, Australia represents the opposite of lockdown: long sandy beaches, stunning national parks, thousands of km of wild desert outback. Then there's the extraordinary wildlife and the buzzing cities.

But of course, Covid-19 means the 'Land Down Under' is not quite as free and open as it was before the pandemic: for example, it's not so easy to move between states. However, most of Australia's day-to-day Covid-19 restrictions (face masks, hand-washing etc) will be familiar to Singaporeans.

By visiting Australia via the VTL/Safe Travel Zone initiatives, you will be able to avoid quarantine (assuming you do not test positive for Covid-19 on arrival). 

You'll need

●       A valid Singapore passport

●       A valid Australian visa

●       Proof of vaccination with a vaccine approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

●       A direct, non-transit ticket from Singapore to a participating Australian state (i.e. a VTL flight)

●       Proof of a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken within three days before departing Singapore

●       To complete an Australia Travel Declaration (ATD)

Travel insurance is not a requirement to visit Australia but is strongly encouraged. See section below for more details.

Get a quote for your trip to Australia now

Allianz Travel Insurance includes:

• Selected Covid-19, pandemic and epidemic cover*
• 24/7 Medical Assistance
• Cancellation, Delay, Curtailment
• Loss/theft/damage of valuables
• Rental Excess cover (Silver & Platinum Plans only)

As a Singaporean resident you will need to get a visa to enter Australia under the 'Safe Travel Zone' scheme. Some of these can be applied for online, while others must be applied for through the Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) in Singapore.

For most people planning a short-term visit for tourism or business, the Electronic Travel Authority (visa subclass 601) will fit their needs. This can be applied for through the ETA app (available on Android and Apple).

The ETA visa is valid for one year and permits multiple visits of up to 90 days.

Meanwhile, the Long Validity Visitor visa (visa subclass 600) is valid for six years and also allows trips of up to 90 days.

You'll need to complete an Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) at least 72 hours before you leave Singapore. This requires contact details, and declarations about your vaccination status, PCR test, where you've travelled in the prior 14 days, and your understanding of the testing and quarantine requirements that may apply to the state you're visiting.

Failure to complete an ATD could land you with a fine of $6,660 AUD, although in practice you will need to show you’ve completed the ATD before you board the plane for Australia.

Note that quarantine and post-arrival testing requirements can change at short notice. Most states require you to take a Covid-19 test within 24 hours of arrival in Australia. If you're planning to travel between states, you'll need to familiarise yourself with the restrictions specific to the state(s) in question. Again, these can change at short notice.

Which states and territories are taking part in the Safe Travel Zone scheme? Participating states and territories are: New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Note that it's possible the VTL/Safe Travel Zone schemes may be paused depending on the Covid-19 situation.

At time of writing you do not need travel insurance to enter Australia. However, travellers are strongly encouraged to take it out. The Australian Government travel authority states “If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel".

Medical care in Australia can be expensive for travellers and visitors.

With Allianz Travel Singapore insurance, cover includes selected Covid-19 coverage* plus cover for epidemics and pandemics in general (when diagnosed with a disease). Medical and Dental cover limit is S$500,000 (Silver Plan), S$200,000 (Bronze Plan) and S$1,000,000 (Platinum Plan).

●       24/7 Medical Assistance

●       Cancellation, Delay, Curtailment

●       Loss/theft/damage of valuables

●       Rental Excess cover (Silver & Platinum Plans only)