SA Health is treating the Greater Sydney Region, as defined by the Greater Sydney Commission Act 2015 (NSW)(excluding the Northern Beaches Council local government area), the Central Coast local government area and the City of Wollongong local government area in New South Wales as High Community Transmission Zones.
There is an outbreak of COVID-19 in NSW. The Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 25) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 came into effect 12.01 am on Monday 21 December 2020.
On this page
- Travel within SA
- Travelling to SA
- Travelling from SA to other states
- Arriving in SA from overseas
- Arriving in SA from New Zealand
- Travelling overseas
Travel within SA
Travel within most of South Australia is unrestricted, although people are advised to avoid unnecessary travel.
Some restrictions are currently in place in Aboriginal communities.
Travelling to SA
Cross Border Travel Registration
All travellers coming to South Australia are required to complete a Cross Border Travel Registration.
Cross-Border Travel Registration - SAPOL website
For families, each individual must complete a separate cross-border travel registration form.
Notification
You will be notified by email of your status within 72 hours and given a unique number. You will need to produce this number when crossing the border.
High community-transmission zones and prohibited locations
Arriving in South Australia before 12:01 am 21 December 2020:
If you travelled to South Australia from Northern Beaches Council (NSW) local government area or the suburbs of Cronulla, Lane Cove, Turramurra, Woolloomooloo, Lavendar Bay or Penrith between 11 December 2020 and 12:01 am 21 December 2020:
- You are required to self-quarantine for 14 days commencing on the last day you were in one of the above locations.
- You must get a COVID-19 test immediately within 24 hours (or as soon as possible), on day 5, and day 12.
- You may self-quarantine at a suitable location where you can be isolated. This requires complete separation from others in the household and if this is not suitable, then alternative accommodation will need to be arranged.
Note - Excludes people who travelling through and did not get out of the vehicle. Where travelling on public transport must have been wearing a mask.
If you arrived from other locations in New South Wales (not listed above) on or after 17 December 2020:
- You are not required to self-quarantine.
- You must get a COVID-19 test immediately within 24 hours, on day 5, and day 12 (Day 1 is considered 20 December 2020) (unless you have symptoms, in which case you must self-isolate).
Arriving in South Australia on or after 12:01 am 21 December 2020:
Prohibited locations
From 12:01 am 21 December 2020, Northern Beaches Council (NSW) local government area is a prohibited location. People who have been in the Northern Beaches Council local government area since 11 December 2020 will not be permitted entry to South Australia.
High Community-Transmission Zones
If you have visited:
- Greater Sydney Region (as defined by the Greater Sydney Commission Act 2015 NSW - excluding Northern Beaches Council local government area) since 11 December 2020
OR
- Central Coast local government area (NSW) since 20 December 2020
- City of Wollongong local government area (NSW) since 20 December 2020
As of 12:01 am on Monday 21 December 2020:
- You are required to self-quarantine for 14 days commencing on the last day you were in a High Community-Transmission Zone.
- You must get a COVID-19 test immediately within 24 hours, on day 5, and day 12.
- You may self-quarantine at a suitable location where you can be isolated. This requires complete separation from others in the household and if this is not suitable, then alternative accommodation will need to be arranged.
Other locations in New South Wales
If you travelled to South Australia from any other location in New South Wales (other than a prohibited location or High Community-Transmission Zone) on or after 12:01 am Thursday 17 December 2020:
- You must get a COVID-19 test immediately within 24 hours, on day 5, and day 12. You are not required to isolate while awaiting your COVID-19 test results (unless you have symptoms, in which case you must self-isolate) (unless you have symptoms, in which case you must self-isolate).
Exclusions
The following people are excluded from the High Community-Transmission Zone arrival definition:
- A person travelling in transit through Sydney Airport for no longer than 2 hours, and wearing a face mask for the entirety of the time they are in transit.
- An overseas arrival who, having completed 14 days of quarantine, travels directly to Sydney Airport in a vehicle, is physically present at Sydney Airport for no longer than 2 hours, and is wearing a face mask for the entirety of the time they are present at Sydney Airport.
Essential Traveller Health Exemptions
If you wish to enter South Australia from overseas as an Essential Traveller, you may need approval from SA Health before submitting your Cross Border Travel Registration. This includes Essential Travellers in categories for urgent medical, surgical or dental treatment; compassionate grounds; and health care workers who are required to undertake work on behalf of SA Health.
To seek this approval, complete the SA Health Essential Traveller Application form. Your Cross Border Travel Registration cannot be processed for these categories until you have written approval from SA Health. A Health Exemptions Committee, led by the Deputy State Controller - Health, meets regularly to consider the applications.
Read more about Essential traveller health exemptions.
If you are entering South Australia from a Low Community-Transmission Zone you are not required to seek approval from SA Health, however, you are still required to complete the Cross Border Travel Registration.
Travelling interstate
If you want to travel from South Australia to another state, check the rules of the state you wish to travel to before you leave. Not all state travel arrangements are reciprocal.
Other government COVID-19 website travel information
- Australian Government COVID-19 updates
- Australian Capital Territory: COVID-19
- New South Wales: COVID-19
- Northern Territory: COVID-19
- Queensland: COVID-19
- Tasmania: COVID-19
- Victoria: COVID-19
- Western Australia: COVID-19
The Healthdirect COVID-19 Restriction Checker links to each state's travel restrictions.
Arriving from overseas
All arrivals into Australia are required to complete mandatory, supervised quarantine in an SA Health approved medi-hotel for 14 full days and nights. The date of arrival and check-in to the medi-hotel is counted as day 0.
Read more about International arrivals, including quarantine fees, applying for financial hardship and testing requirements.
Testing of arrivals
A person who is in quarantine and refuses a COVID-19 test must remain in quarantine for an additional 10 day period and includes other persons quarantining with that person.
A person under the age of 16 years who is required to remain quarantined at a place determined by an authorised officer (international arrival) is required to submit a COVID-19 test on Day 1, Day 5 and 12. If the child refuses or fails to submit to a test, the child must remain in quarantine for an additional 10 days (including carer).
A person must not make a statement on an application or upon arrival that is false or misleading, or refuse or fail to answer questions asked by an authorised officer or a person responsible for assisting in the administration of cross border travel.
Any person wishing to enter South Australia from overseas will be required to complete the Cross Border Travel Registration on the SAPOL website.
Compliance
If you are directed by a health professional or law enforcement agency to quarantine for 14 days, you must do so.
A $1,000 on-the-spot fine can be issued to anyone breaching self-quarantine requirements.
SA Health and SA Police are working together to monitor people who should be in quarantine and fines may be issued to people who breach these directives.
Arriving from New Zealand
Travellers arriving directly from New Zealand without being in any other overseas location are now permitted to enter South Australia without the requirement of a 14 day quarantine period, providing they have not entered any overseas jurisdiction (other than New Zealand) within the last 14 days. All travellers coming to South Australia are required to complete a Cross Border Travel Registration.
Travelling overseas
All overseas travel is currently prohibited.