As a follow up to the Embassy’s July 8th update on air travel via Australia, U.S. citizens are advised that, on July 13th, the Australian government implemented a cap on the number of international passengers arriving at Brisbane Airport (BNE) per week.
The Australian government also recently loosened its requirements for passengers transiting Australia en route to a third country. Transit times of 72 hours are now permitted without exemptions from the Australian Border Force. All transit times of eight hours or more still require a valid ETA or transit visa.
As of July 13th, international arrivals to BNE are capped at 500 passengers per week. Under the cap, all airlines operating international flights to BNE will impose a limit of 30 passengers per flight. However, passengers transiting Australia en route to a third country are not counted toward the cap.
This is in addition to similar passenger caps in Sydney and Perth and a ban on international arrivals in Melbourne, possibly until July 30th. Fluctuation between these ports of entry is possible, as authorities and airlines limit the total number of passengers arriving in Australia to 4,000 per week.
U.S. citizens who choose to travel and who plan to transit BNE en route to the United States or any other third country are advised to consult with their airline(s) to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information and to confirm their reservations. U.S. citizens departing Port Moresby may wish to inform Air Niugini of their onward itinerary well in advance of check-in.
Consistent with prior guidance, U.S. citizens are advised to prioritize routes that minimize transit time in Australia to the greatest extent possible. U.S. citizens are again reminded that domestic travel within Australia, even to connect with onward international flights, is not allowed at this time.
Travelers should also carefully review quarantine requirements in the state or territory in which they arrive or through which they transit.
As of July 13th, travelers transiting BNE for more than eight hours are required to quarantine at a nearby hotel at the direction of local authorities and for their duration of their transit. Travelers requiring quarantine for 24 hours or more will be invoiced for their stays. Transiting passengers will not be charged a fee for quarantine if their transit time is less than 24 hours.
Actions to Take:
- Consult directly with the airlines and/or a travel agent to determine if your planned travel is still viable.
- If you decide to travel and your itinerary requires a transit time in Australia of more than eight hours and your do not already have and ETA or valid visa, obtain a Subclass 771 transit visa
- If you decide to travel and your itinerary transits Australia and you cannot complete your transfer within an a 72-hour window, obtain an exemption from the Australian Border Force in advance of your travel based on a confirmed reservation
- If you decide to travel and your itinerary transits New Zealand, obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authorization
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s websiteon the latest travel restrictions to the United States
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Phone number: +675 308 2100
Email address: ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usembassyportmoresby/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/usembassypom?lang=en
U.S. Consular Agency in Honiara, Solomon Islands
Phone number: + 677 27429 or + 677 74 94731
Email address: us_consular@usconsular.com.sb and keithieusa@usconsular.com.sb
U.S. State Department – Consular Affairs
+1 888 407 4747 or +1 202 501 4444
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