Aust govt removes outbound travel ban exemption for overseas residents

[Mattg]

The Australian government will remove the automatic exemption from the outbound travel ban for Australian citizens & permanent residents who normally live overseas. This change will take effect from 11 August 2021.

From 11 August, Australians who normally live overseas will now have to apply for a travel restriction exemption under one of the other existing criteria, e.g. "travelling overseas for a compelling reason for 3 months or longer".

Overseas Residents No Longer Exempt from Outbound Travel Ban

Australian citizens and permanent residents who normally live overseas will no longer be exempt from the Australian government's outbound travel ban from

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Seat0B]

Oh no there is another impediment to Seat Son ever getting home.

 

[Pushka]

Oh no there is another impediment to Seat Son ever getting home.

He will be returning overseas for more than 3 months and will have evidence of that - eg Drivers licence and address etc. Maybe get him to bring a letter from Employer stating he is due to return on ABC date for work.

Shout out to @dajop for reference.

 

[Seat0B]

He will be returning overseas for more than 3 months and will have evidence of that - eg Drivers licence and address etc. Maybe get him to bring a letter from Employer stating he is due to return on ABC date for work.

Shout out to @dajop for reference.

Yes possibly, but it refers to a "compelling" reason, and as per the article:

"Australians can still apply for an exemption on the basis of leaving the country for at least 3 months. Australians who normally live overseas and are planning to return home for at least 3 months should still be eligible to leave the country on those grounds. But the exemption for overseas residents will no longer be automatic...The change is intended to make it harder for Australians who normally live overseas to regularly travel to Australia during the pandemic for short visits."

And of course this is exactly what he wants to do - come home for 1 month and then it is essential that he can return unimpeded to the UAE or he will lose his job. I'm not sure they are going to regard that as "compelling", given that dying relatives, weddings, funerals etc have not been regarded as compelling. Bottom line, I don't think he will be in a position to take this additional risk.

I am feeling so despairing and angry and frustrated right now.

 

[mviy]

Hopefully they can get the exemption to leave again if they haven't been back home to Australia during the pandemic, but getting it for a second time could be a problem.

It is going to be problematic. Outbound exemptions are valid for just 3 months. At the moment you would be likely to wait more than 3 months to get home. So it's going to be tricky to not only get on a flight but secure an exemption to depart again unless they let those ordinarily resident overseas get an outbound exemption that is valid for longer.

 

[Pushka]

Yes possibly, but it refers to a "compelling" reason, and as per the article:

"Australians can still apply for an exemption on the basis of leaving the country for at least 3 months. Australians who normally live overseas and are planning to return home for at least 3 months should still be eligible to leave the country on those grounds. But the exemption for overseas residents will no longer be automatic...The change is intended to make it harder for Australians who normally live overseas to regularly travel to Australia during the pandemic for short visits."

And of course this is exactly what he wants to do - come home for 1 month and then it is essential that he can return unimpeded to the UAE or he will lose his job. I'm not sure they are going to regard that as "compelling", given that dying relatives, weddings, funerals etc have not been regarded as compelling. Bottom line, I don't think he will be in a position to take this additional risk.

I am feeling so despairing and angry and frustrated right now.

I am sure it’s meant for people doing this multiple times. I’d make it quite clear in this application that this is his first and likely only time, and likely it will need to be a stat dec. I agree it’s another knife in the back but has to be done. If he isn’t staying here for more than say 9-11 weeks it’s likely he can apply for it before he leaves Dubai so he can safely come to Oz. Approvals last for 3 months.

 

[Seat0B]

Bottom line for Seat Son is that he just can't take the risk of being locked up in Stalag Australia when his life is overseas. Which I suppose is exactly what the government is trying to do, but it is just so cough. He is fully vaccinated, and really should not need any excuse what so ever to enter and leave Australia. Australian citizenship is not worth the paper it is printed on. Australia is a concept, not a country. I will be looking for some form of civil disobedience I can undertake.

 

[kamchatsky]

Bottom line for Seat Son is that he just can't take the risk of being locked up in Stalag Australia when his life is overseas. Which I suppose is exactly what the government is trying to do, but it is just so cough. He is fully vaccinated, and really should not need any excuse what so ever to enter and leave Australia. Australian citizenship is not worth the paper it is printed on. Australia is a concept, not a country. I will be looking for some form of civil disobedience I can undertake.

Very sorry to hear this. I wonder would it work if you travel to see him for more than 3 months?

 

[mviy]

How much more restrictive can they get before a legal challenge is successful? This is practically a ban on people coming home. People should not be forced to risk their livelihoods to come home.

 

[mviy]

I am sure it’s meant for people doing this multiple times. I’d make it quite clear in this application that this is his first and likely only time, and likely it will need to be a stat dec. I agree it’s another knife in the back but has to be done. If he isn’t staying here for more than say 9-11 weeks it’s likely he can apply for it before he leaves Dubai so he can safely come to Oz. Approvals last for 3 months.

A stat dec should include (but not limited to):

• Reasons why the trip home is urgent (if applicable)
• Mention that you haven't been home since the pandemic started (if applicable)
• Details of visa/citizenship indicating right to remain overseas
• Details of employment, living arrangements, overseas documents (translated if applicable), no real estate and other assets in Australia etc. showing that life is overseas
• Undertaking not to travel home again for several months or longer after returning overseas. Acknowledgment that you accept that this is likely to be the only time you are allowed to depart Australia for some time.
• Letter from Employer approving your leave mentioning that you need to be back in country overseas to do your job. If critical skills such as helping to fight COVID-19 in that country then mention that as well. Also perhaps noting limited leave balance will be left after the proposed trip so whilst flexible on when the leave to travel home is taken, unlikely to approve more than one trip home in say the next 12 months or longer

Medical certificates, payslips, employment contract detailing only get limited leave a year etc. could be provided to support what is in the application.

 

[Flashback]

Ridiculous.

 

[henrus]

I actually think this is a good idea. There have been a few examples (in the media) of people returning to Australia a few times just for a couple of weeks and then going back overseas to live again. By making them apply under a compelling reason it should bring a stop to a bit of this activity.

After all, those who are returning for just a few weeks but for a compelling reason will be unimpacted (can apply for an exemption) and it should make it easier for those who are planning to return to Australia to live full time to get a seat.

 

[Flashback]

I actually think this is a good idea. There have been a few examples (in the media) of people returning to Australia a few times just for a couple of weeks and then going back overseas to live again. By making them apply under a compelling reason it should bring a stop to a bit of this activity.

After all, those who are returning for just a few weeks but for a compelling reason will be unimpacted (can apply for an exemption) and it should make it easier for those who are planning to return to Australia to live full time to get a seat.

Not really, I have many compelling reasons yet in the AU government eyes it's not compelling. May as well cancel my trip now before the airline does.

 

[Seat0B]

Very sorry to hear this. I wonder would it work if you travel to see him for more than 3 months?

thanks for asking @kamchatsky, but that is not possible for me right now. Still working part time before planned retirement in 2023. Building a house. And sandwich generation with a 90 year old father-in-law who just broke his pelvis in a fall and an 87 year old mother dealing with Stage 3 melanoma. Sigh.

Post automatically merged: Aug 5, 2021

Not really, I have many compelling reasons yet in the AU government eyes it's not compelling. May as well cancel my trip now before the airline does.

I totally empathise.

May as well let the airline cancel so you can get a refund though!

 

[Flashback]

thanks for asking @kamchatsky, but that is not possible for me right now. Still working part time before planned retirement in 2023. Building a house. And sandwich generation with a 90 year old father-in-law who just broke his pelvis in a fall and an 87 year old mother dealing with Stage 3 melanoma. Sigh.

Post automatically merged: Aug 5, 2021

I totally empathise.

May as well let the airline cancel so you can get a refund though!

Used AA miles, free cancellation so no worries there.

 

[Seat0B]

And this is potentially bad news for you too @Flying mermaid. Sending hugs.

 

[Flashback]

Is there any reason you can't apply for the exemption, before heading over to Australia?

 

[Pushka]

Is there any reason you can't apply for the exemption, before heading over to Australia?

Agree, I mentioned that earlier. They are valid for 3 months.

 

[Flying mermaid]

And this is potentially bad news for you too @Flying mermaid. Sending hugs.

I must admit my blood pressure went up a notch when I started reading it, but I really don’t think it applies to our sons. They haven’t been hopping back and forth, this is their first visit in nearly two years. Master FM a is coming back to renew his visa which he has to do every two years, so I can’t see how he could be affected.

However dealt with public servants for 30 years in my business and every now and then he you get one that is horribly rigid and doesn’t think, so you just hope you don’t get one like that - or if you do I guess you try again…..

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes possibly, but it refers to a "compelling" reason, and as per the article:

"Australians can still apply for an exemption on the basis of leaving the country for at least 3 months. Australians who normally live overseas and are planning to return home for at least 3 months should still be eligible to leave the country on those grounds. But the exemption for overseas residents will no longer be automatic...The change is intended to make it harder for Australians who normally live overseas to regularly travel to Australia during the pandemic for short visits."

And of course this is exactly what he wants to do - come home for 1 month and then it is essential that he can return unimpeded to the UAE or he will lose his job. I'm not sure they are going to regard that as "compelling", given that dying relatives, weddings, funerals etc have not been regarded as compelling. Bottom line, I don't think he will be in a position to take this additional risk.

I am feeling so despairing and angry and frustrated right now.

But it’s regularly travel home and he hasn’t been back for two years - I honestly think it’s fine!