From Australia to here and back, travel restrictions....

[Brighterblighter]

Sadly a relative has passed away, can someone travel from Australia to UK at the moment for a funeral when it's not immediate family?

I'm not sure its exactly the same but old friend recently died in NZ. Her parents havent travelled over as no places available on the quarantine hotels at all, so I heard.

I presume that you have looked here…

covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia

Think your problem will be getting back home

Yes I have looked and it says border closed but I'm wondering how strict they are...

@Brighterblighter

Yes I have looked and it says border closed but I'm wondering how strict they are...

Very I’m afraid. Sorry for your loss.

It's says travel on compassionate grounds but I'm wondering even then how close relatives have to be.

Then what on the top has to go on eg quarantine.. Here in UK, I'm in UK

I would imagine the best people to speak to would be the staff at the Australian embassy in the UK. There probably are exceptions that can be made for some circumstances but I don't think these would be heavily publicized. Maybe they judge each application case by case?

Would someone be from oz have to quarantine here?

They wouldn’t have to quarantine in the UK, but they would have to quarantine on their return to Australia.

You could make enquiries on their behalf from the Australian High Commission in London but it might be more effective for them to make enquiries from their end.

The current law in Australia would mean that they would need to apply for permission to leave the country, and it will not be given without compelling or compassionate grounds.

covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia

And you'll probably need documentary proof of the relationship for attending a funeral, it's likely non immediate family would not be allowed.

If they have the ability to be resident in the UK, then coming here for more than 3 months with other reasons as well as the funeral may help.

Ok brilliant thank you

It might be difficult to get an exemption and you might have trouble getting back again. Consider joining the Facebook group Australians Stranded Overseas.

Whilst there are some exemptions on compassionate grounds, Australia is not behaving like a very compassionate country at the moment.

The flight caps have halved and I think they quietly extended that till October I think

Sorry for your loss

You won't have to quarantine here from Australia.

You might find it a shock particularly if you are coming to England the lack of Covid restrictions- depending which state you are coming from.

You don't even have to wear a mask in Heathrow airport if you don't want to, which might be a mind shift if you are coming from say, Melbourne...

I doubt permission would be given to leave, from what you've presented, and if they do leave Australia, good luck getting back in any time soon plus factor costs of two weeks hotel quarantine if lucky enough to score a return flight.

My understanding is that Aussies must get "permission" to leave Aus and this is very hard to get. Sorry, your contact is unlikely to be able to come, sounds like.