The Victorian Government has announced that the Victorian Acting Chief Health Officer has declared that all of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory will become a red zone under Victoria’s travel permit system from 11:59pm Sunday, 11 July.

• This means the Victorian border is effectively closed to New South Wales and the ACT – except for Victorian residents returning on a red zone permit for 14 days of quarantine, and for people with exemptions, exceptions or other valid permits (such as specified workers and cross-border residents).
• Travellers from existing orange zones in New South Wales and the ACT entering Victoria before 11:59pm 11 July can enter on an orange zone permit if they are eligible, including if they are on flights that are scheduled to depart orange zones before 11:59pm 11 July.

Advice for cross-border community members

To cross the border without a permit, cross-border community members just need to carry proof of address (such as a driver’s license).

There are some conditions:

• If you are a cross-border community member and you have been in an orange zone outside of the cross-border area after the relevant zone commencement time in the previous14 days, you can enter Victoria without a permit only if you’ve had a negative COVID-19 test result since you left the orange zone.
• Otherwise, you will have to enter Victoria with an orange zone permit, isolate and get tested within 72 hours, and stay isolated until you receive a negative result.
• If you are a cross-border community member who has been in a red zone outside of the cross-border area, you have to obtain a red zone permit if you wish to enter Victoria. Red zone permits are only available to Victorian residents unless an exception or exemption applies.

Advice for people who do not live in the cross-border community

If you don’t live in the cross-border community, orange zones on the border are the same as any other orange zone in Australia, and you need to obtain an orange zone permit to enter Victoria (or a red zone permit if you have been in a red zone).

If you’re an orange zone permit holder, you need to isolate upon arrival, get tested within 72 hours, and stay isolated until you receive a negative result. You don’t need to immediately visit the first testing centre along the road – you have 72 hours to get tested.