24-hour Consular Emergency Centre +61 2 6261 3305 (outside Australia) or 1300 555 135 (within Australia)
Each year almost seven million Australians travel overseas – and each year the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides consular assistance to more than 20,000 Australians in difficulty.
Travel smart provides useful travel information and advice to help you have an enjoyable, hassle-free travel experience.
Visit our top ten travel tips page for our ten most important travel tips.
The travel advice on this website contains important destination-specific information that you need to know when planning an overseas trip. You'll find useful advice on local laws, entry and exit requirements and health issues and an indicative rating of the security situation in particular countries. Our aim is to help you determine at a glance the level of risk in travelling to a particular destination. Remember that the security situation can change quickly, so check the travel advice regularly while you're away or subscribe to get free email updates. Alternatively, you can phone 1300 139 281 to hear a recording of DFAT's travel advisories.
Register your travel details online or at the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive, so that we can try to contact you in case of an emergency, such as a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue. All registration information is protected by Australia's strict privacy laws. If you're travelling in a large group, call 1300 555 135 before you go to organise a group registration form.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. That might sound a bit harsh, but organising insurance is an essential part of preparing for your overseas trip because if you're uninsured you (or your family) are personally liable for covering any medical or other costs resulting from unexpected incidents or accidents.
Comprehensive travel insurance should cover all medical expenses for injury or illness, as well as theft of your valuables and cancellations or interruptions to your flight plans, baggage damage and more. It also saves you the worry and financial burden if you have an accident or illness overseas – medical costs can be in the tens of thousands of dollars and many families have been devastated financially in paying these costs.
Shop around, including online, to find the policy that best suits your individual needs:
For more tips and information on insurance and how to choose the right policy for you, visit our travel insurance page.
You might just want to jump on a plane and get moving, but it's important that all your documentation is in order before you leave. Find out what you need in advance as some documents can take a while to organise.
Your passport is your most important travel document. You need it to leave and enter Australia and other countries, obtain visas and cash travellers cheques – and in some countries you must carry it at all times as a form of identification.
More information on passports can be found at www.passports.gov.au or by calling APIS on 131 232 (in Australia). If you're out of the country and need passport information, contact the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate.
Find out early which visas you need by contacting the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate of the country you plan to visit. You should also discuss visa requirements with your travel agent.
A visa does not necessarily guarantee you entry to a country, particularly if authorities suspect you might breach the conditions upon which the visa was issued.
When you enter some countries, you receive an entry permit that tells you the date when you must leave. If you want to stay longer you must apply for an extension. Be aware that visa-free schemes may not permit extensions and if you overstay you could be fined or jailed.
Don't assume you can use your Australian licence overseas – in many countries you'll need an international driving permit to rent a car. You can get an international driving permit from the automobile club or association in the state or territory where your licence is current. See our page about road safety and driving for more information.
Make two photocopies of the following documents and leave one copy at home with your family or a friend and the other in a safe place while you're travelling, separate from the originals:
If you or your parents were born in another country, you may be considered a citizen or national of that country, even though you are an Australian citizen and even if you've never travelled outside Australia. It is worth noting that Australia recognises dual citizenship.
Some countries offer citizenship to people who marry their citizens, or to people whose grandparents were born in that country. Before you leave, it's important to know about the implications of local laws for dual nationals – for example, you may be liable for military service in the country of your other nationality.
A country may not permit Australian consular assistance to be given to Australian citizens who, according to its laws, are considered to be its own nationals. Some countries may not recognise your Australian citizenship unless you are travelling on an Australian passport.
You must use your Australian passport to leave and return to Australia.
If you hold another country's passport, seek advice about using it from the country's embassy before you leave. To find out more about what dual nationality and Australian citizenship mean, call the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's information line on 131 880 and read our information for dual nationals.
Read up on the health issues affecting the country you are travelling to before you go. See a doctor at least six to eight weeks before you travel to discuss travel health issues, even if you're well at the moment.
Standards of medical care overseas may be very different from those in Australia. Medical treatment in other countries can be very expensive and you might have to pay in advance. In some cases medical evacuation may be necessary, costing in the thousands of dollars.
Organising comprehensive travel insurance before you leave can save you the worry of unexpected medical costs.
In some countries, HIV/AIDS is a significant risk. You should take appropriate precautions if you're doing things that expose you to risk of infection.
You can find more information about taking care of your health overseas:
If you need medical treatment while overseas, the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate will be able to supply you with a list of English-speaking doctors.
Visit a doctor at least six to eight weeks before you travel to allow time for any vaccinations or other medical treatment or tests required for your trip. Remember that some vaccines require a long period to take effect and more than one dose may be needed.
It is important to get advice that is tailored to your health needs and the places you plan to visit.
You may need to update immunisations such as measles, whooping cough and tetanus, which can occur regularly in many parts of the world, including developed countries.
In discussing your travel needs with your doctor you should consider vaccinations against diseases that are a risk to travellers, such as hepatitis A and influenza. Depending on your travel plans, your doctor may recommend additional vaccines, such as for encephalitis or typhoid.
It is strongly recommended that before you leave you check the vaccination entry and exit requirements of all countries on your itinerary. You can get this information from the relevant embassy, consulate or high commission.
If you are travelling to a country where yellow fever occurs, you may be asked to provide proof of vaccination when returning to Australia. For more information about yellow fever vaccinations, visit the Department of Health and Ageing website.
Before you leave, check that the medications you plan to take are legal in the country you are visiting. You can do this by contacting the country's embassy, consulate or high commission located in Australia. Make sure you do this in plenty of time to receive a response.
It's an offence to carry or send Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicine overseas unless it is for your own personal use, or for the use of someone travelling with you. You could be fined $5,000 and spend two years in prison if you break the law.
If you are taking medicines overseas:
If you have to inject your medication, it may be preferable to carry your own needles and syringes, if it is allowed in the countries you are visiting. If you have to buy needles or syringes overseas, make sure they are sealed and sterile.
For more information on travelling with medicines, go to the Medicare website or call 1800 500 147 within Australia.
Australia has health care agreements with Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Under these agreements, Australians can be provided with urgent or emergency medical treatment overseas. But be aware that you can only access general medical services when the need for treatment arises during the visit and it would be unreasonable to delay treatment until you return to Australia.
These agreements are not a substitute for travel insurance. They won't cover you if a doctor recommends you should be evacuated back to Australia. You would need to cover these costs yourself if you don't have adequate travel insurance.
For more information visit the Medicare website or call 132 011.
Since 2003 there have been outbreaks of various strains of influenza (including H5N1 and H1N1) in a number of countries around the world.
Information, including precautionary advice for travellers, during these types of outbreaks is generally available from the Department of Health and Ageing and the World Health Organization.
There is no limit to the amount of cash money you can bring in or out of Australia. However, you must declare amounts of $10,000 or more in Australian currency or foreign equivalent. If asked by a Customs and Border Protection officer you must also complete a Bearer Negotiable Instruments form if you're carrying promissory notes, travellers cheques, personal cheques, money orders or postal orders.
For more information, visit the AUSTRAC website.
Packing tips and information on items that can be included in carry-on and checked luggage are available through your airline and on the CASA website.
If you're unsure about what you can take with you overseas, download the brochure Guide for travellers – know before you go from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service website, or call the Customs Information and Support Centre on 1300 363 263 (from within Australia) or +61 2 6275 6666 (from overseas).
When travelling, always remember:
Every year, DFAT's consular service receives thousands of calls from worried family members and friends who haven't heard from someone who is travelling. Follow these tips so that your friends and family can also have a worry-free time:
When it comes to the law, pleading ignorance is no defence. Always obey the laws of the country you are visiting, even if they are different from those in Australia. In some cases you may be bound by Australian laws as well.
Check out the local laws section in the country-specific travel advisories before you go.
Don't use, carry or get involved with drugs overseas. Every year, the Australian Government provides consular assistance to Australians arrested or jailed overseas for drug offences. Consular assistance cannot override local law, even where local laws appear harsh by Australian standards. Some countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, may impose the death penalty or life imprisonment for drug offences.
Australia has introduced laws with lengthy jail terms for Australian citizens and residents who engage in sexual activity with children in foreign countries – see DFAT's travel bulletin Helping to fight child sex crimes abroad. Violations of Australia's child sex laws should be reported to the Australian Federal Police by calling 1800 813 784 within Australia, visiting www.afp.gov.au or writing to the Australian Federal Police Operations Coordination Centre, GPO Box 401, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Giving consular assistance to Australians does not extend to protecting them from the consequences of actions that are prohibited under Australian law or the laws of the country they are visiting. Consular officials have to report serious criminal misconduct of this kind to the Australian Federal Police.
Whichever country you are visiting, be aware that local laws and penalties do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail. See our Consular Services Charter for more information on what the Australian Government can and can't do for you.
It's important to respect local cultures and customs when travelling. Here are a few tips to assist you:
If you want a child born to you overseas to be recognised as an Australian citizen and travel on an Australian passport you must register them as a citizen by descent. For information on registering a child by descent go to citizenship.gov.au.
Many Australians choose to get married overseas. If you're planning on doing this be aware that laws regarding marriage vary from country to country and legal complications can arise. Make sure you check out the legal, cultural and religious implications for yourself, your partner and any current or future children.
Australians intending to marry overseas should contact either a legal practitioner or the embassy or consulate of the country they would like to marry in for details on the requirements they must meet.
Each year more than 1,000 Australians die overseas. It can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 to bring the remains of loved ones home – make sure your travel insurance covers this before you go. For more information, visit our page about death overseas.
We publish a range of brochures with travel hints for specific travel groups, and information about how to cope with unexpected events. You can download or order printed copies of our brochures.
When you return to Australia, there are a few basic things you can do to make the process quicker and easier:
Depending on the type of trip you've had, coming home can either be a relief or have you already planning your next adventure.
Guide for travellers − know before you go is a guide for international travellers about Australia's prohibited and restricted goods laws and personal duty-free allowances.
Tax back for travellers provides information on how you can claim a refund under the Tourist Refund Scheme for the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia and take overseas.
Both brochures are available on the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service website, or you can call 1300 363 263 from within Australia or send an email to information@customs.gov.au.
Some Australian and New Zealand ePassport holders now have the option to self-process through passport control using SmartGate. This is a simple way to go through the customs and immigration checks usually done by a Customs and Border Protection officer. You can use SmartGate if you have an Australian or New Zealand ePassport and are aged 18 years or over. To see how SmartGate works or for more information visit the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service website.
Australia has strict quarantine laws in place to help minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country.
When you arrive in Australia, your baggage may be inspected by Quarantine officers, x-rayed or checked by a detector dog team.
You should be aware of current quarantine import restrictions so that you avoid bringing back items of quarantine concern, such as fresh fruit, plant cuttings, seeds and nuts, and anything made from wood, plant or animal material – this includes meat and poultry products.
You must declare all food, plant or animal products on your Incoming Passenger Card. When you sign the card, you are making a legal declaration. If you don't read and truthfully answer all questions there might be serious consequences.
For more information, read the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service brochure What can't I take into Australia?, available by calling +61 2 6272 3933 or visiting the AQIS website.
For information about wildlife products or souvenirs, importing or exporting wildlife and obtaining necessary permits, read the brochure If in doubt, check it out – does your luggage break wildlife laws?, available by calling the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities website or phoning +61 2 6274 1900.
If you find yourself in trouble, contact the consular service at the nearest Australian diplomatic post.
In some countries, Canadian posts can also help Australians.
Contact information is listed in the travel advice for each country.
The Australian Government will do its best to help Australians in difficulty overseas, but it pays to be realistic in your expectations of what we can and can't do. When you travel you should be aware that you're leaving behind Australia's support systems, emergency service capabilities and medical facilities. There are limits on the level of consular service that we can provide in other countries.
We can help with:
We cannot help with:
See our Consular Services Charter for more information.
If you need help from consular officials while overseas, you should be aware that your rights to privacy are protected by the Privacy Act 1988. Information about you can't be disclosed without your consent – even to your immediate family or friends – except in certain limited circumstances.
By law the consular service must charge fees for notarial and certain other services. These fees are determined by an Act of Parliament and do not reflect the full cost of providing consular services.
DFAT's Consular Emergency Centre provides urgent consular assistance around the clock to Australians in distress overseas. The centre's staff are highly experienced officers who can be contacted on 1300 555 135 (from within Australia) or on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas).
This service is provided where the problem is serious and requires emergency assistance, and you can't contact the closest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate.
Consular officers are present in Australian diplomatic and consular posts abroad. In some locations overseas, limited consular services are available from consulates.
If a country has no Australian diplomatic or consular post, the travel advice refers you to the nearest post that has responsibility for that country, as well as to Canadian and other posts that give consular assistance to Australians in that country.
You may also find that another country's representatives will help you until you can establish contact with an Australian consular official.
