AUSTRALIAN CONSULATE-GENERAL OPERATIONS – IMPORTANT INFORMATION

In accordance with the adapted confinement measures announced by local authorities, please note the Australian Consulate-General is currently operating under modified work arrangements.

In order to maintain strict social distancing measures, we are currently providing services on an appointment basis only (i.e. we are not accommodating walk-in enquiries). Appointments can be requested through our public telephone line (+687 27 24 14) and our consular inbox ([email protected]) which is regularly monitored during business hours (Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm, except public holidays). We will endeavour to respond to enquiries as soon as possible.

Should you need urgent consular assistance outside business hours, please call +687 27 24 14 and follow the prompts to be connected to the 24/7 Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra.

We thank you for your understanding and request that you carefully follow the instructions of local authorities in the French Pacific. Further information and instructions are available on the websites of the Government of New Caledonia at https://gouv.nc/coronavirus and the French High Commission at https://www.nouvelle-caledonie.gouv.fr/Actualites/Covid-19.

We will publish any further updates on our Facebook page L’AustralieEnNouvelleCaledonie.

Australian travellers should keep up to date with all Australian travel advisories on www.smartraveller.gov.au. Canadian travellers should keep up to date with all Canadian travel advisories on www.travel.gc.ca. 

COVID-19 – MUST READ INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUSTRALIA AND NEW CALEDONIA

The information and links provided below have been collected from official websites in Australia and in New Caledonia to assist you in managing your travel. Please read these carefully and regularly check the official websites for the most up-to-date information and instructions applicable to your circumstances. Regulations can be subject to change at short notice.

For vaccination certificates for international travel, please check with the authorities issuing you with an international vaccination certificate that this document meets the requirements of the countries you are travelling to or transiting through.

The Australian Consulate-General in Noumea is unable to escalate applications or issues with the authorities concerned in Australia or in New Caledonia. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with travel restrictions and requirements that apply to you and your specific circumstances.

If you need information or assistance with your applications, including exemptions, please contact the relevant competent authorities in Australia and in New Caledonia directly. If you are seeking to transit Australia, please contact your diplomatic or consular mission in Australia for advice and assistance. Please also contact your airline, cruise line, port agent, travel provider or employer as appropriate, including on requirements for your specific travel as well as for regulations applicable in the country you are transiting through or travelling to. You should confirm your itinerary and travel plans directly with your airline or travel agent, including through your employer as applicable.

TRAVELLING TO AND FROM AUSTRALIA - Refer to the information and instructions from relevant authorities through the links below

The Australian Department of Home Affairs manages entry and travel restrictions to and from Australia, including visas and travel exemptions for travellers to and from Australia. Home Affairs requires supporting documentation for all applications, including for travel exemptions. You should check the latest information on the Home Affairs website before travelling. If you are unable to find the information you need on the Home Affairs website, please call the Home Affairs Global Service Centre (in Australia 131 881 ​​– outside Australia +61 2 6196 0196​) open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (local time), information is also provided in foreign languages including French.

State and territory borders, international passenger arrival caps in Australia and quarantine programs, including exemptions and fees, are managed by the State and Territory governments, with the support of the Australian Government. All Australian States and Territories have travel restrictions relevant to their jurisdiction that must be adhered to. Additional border measures can be implemented at short notice to protect Australians and permanent residents from new variants of concern. Before travelling, you should check the latest information on international travel and COVID-19 for information on vaccinations, pre-flight testing and travel requirements, as well as the websites of relevant State and Territory health authorities for domestic travel restrictions and remote area access. Please also read the COVID-19 FAQs for international travellers to and from Australia and facts about COVID-19.

Please also read Smartraveller information on planning travel during COVID-19, including the step-by-step guide, as well as what to do if you test positive to COVID-19 when travelling overseas. Please also read the COVID-19: Overseas financial assistance for Australians and permanent residents of Australia who are unable to return to Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions and who are experiencing financial distress, including for eligibility criteria and the online application process.

Australian authorities recommend submitting applications and exemption requests as early as possible.

Please also read all the information below, including information provided through links, as applicable to your circumstances, and follow the instructions of relevant authorities:

• Fully vaccinated Australians and permanent residents of Australia, including children under the age of 12, don’t need to apply for an outward travel exemption to travel overseas. Special conditions apply to Australians and permanent residents of Australia who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents (except children under 12 and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons) are required to apply for an outward travel exemption to leave Australia.
   
• Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and vaccination status for Australians and permanent residents of Australia – People with a Medicare account and vaccinated in Australia are already registered on the AIR. People vaccinated overseas with approved vaccinations, need to have their overseas vaccination certificate in English added to the AIR with the assistance of an Australian general practitioner through MyGov accounts as appropriate. Information, including on how to get proof of COVID-19 vaccinations, is available in foreign languages, including in French. Paper and digital certificates are equally acceptable.
   
• Home Affairs regulations on COVID-19 and the border, including requirement for travellers coming to or leaving Australia – This includes requirements for the immediate family of Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia and for foreign nationals needing to come to Australia or transit Australia, including applying for travel exemptions to come or transit through Australia especially for those travelling to or transiting through Sydney from New Caledonia.  COVID-19 – Your visa and travel questions answered provides information on visas and travel options. Non-Australian travellers need an exemption to come to Australia even if they are vaccinated with a recognised vaccine. From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption, this includes eligible visa holders in Australia seeking to depart and return.
   
• Home Affairs Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) - Required for all travellers and must be filled out prior to travel (online Australian Travel Declaration) and presented at boarding and on arrival in Australia.
   
• Evidence of a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test prior to boarding a flight to Australia – Required for all travellers aged 5 years and over, including transit passengers. Travellers from New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna can be tested up to 96 hours prior to departure. New tests are required if flights to Australia are delayed. FAQs for International Passengers provide further information. 
   
• Mandatory quarantine for travellers entering Australia from overseas – If you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19 you may be able to access modified quarantine arrangements when entering Australia, which may include home quarantine. Contact the relevant State or Territory government for information about the current quarantine requirements applicable to your circumstances. If you are travelling on to another state or territory you may not be allowed to enter or may be subject to a quarantine period, please check domestic travel restrictions applicable to your circumstances. All travellers arriving or transiting in Sydney also need to check the website of the New South Wales Department of Health and apply for an exemption to the mandatory quarantine to facilitate their onward travel (NSW Health advises that if you have not heard about your quarantine exemption or received it within 48 hours of your flight, you should contact them by email at [email protected] or by phone from overseas at +61 2 9391 9000 or in Australia at 1300 288 222). Prepare for quarantine by reading getting ready for quarantine, including recommendations before you depart and what to expect on arrival and recommendations for when you’re in quarantine and how to look after your health and wellbeing, and use these recommendations together with location-specific information from State and Territory governments and further information provided to you on arrival or once in quarantine.

• Masks are mandatory for all international and domestic flights, including within airports – All travellers must read the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on safe air travel – enhancing end-to-end mitigations – international.

TRAVELLING TO AND FROM NEW CALEDONIA - Refer to the information and instructions from relevant authorities through the links below

• Australian citizens and permanent residents of Australia, as well as Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada, still in New Caledonia and encountering difficulties to return to Australia or Canada, are encouraged to register their details with us at [email protected]. Please also contact your airline, travel provider or employer as appropriate for assistance. Stay up to date with and follow the advice of local authorities. Stay also up to date with the Australian travel advice for New Caledonia on Smartraveller and the Canadian travel advice for New Caledonia and monitor news on our Facebook page at L’AustralieEnNouvelleCaledonie.
   
• Regular international passengers flights to and from New Caledonia remain limited and cruises and private yacht arrivals are currently suspended. Travel to and from New Caledonia is managed by the French High Commission in New Caledonia and the Government of New Caledonia. Please visit these  websites for the latest information available and check with local authorities on the conditions and regulations applicable to your circumstances. If you have any concerns around your planned arrival in  or departure from New Caledonia, contact your airline, travel provider or employer for assistance.

• Travelling or returning to New Caledonia - Strict conditions apply to enter New Caledonia and can change at very short notice. All travellers aged over 18 years and over must be vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency prior to their travel being approved (limited exceptions apply for minors and persons with medical conditions). All travellers aged 12 and over are subject to mandatory quarantine at home or in a hotel (location must be specified in advance, checks are conducted) for seven days on arrival (for those travelling under a medical exemption or with a minor, the period is 14 days). All travellers aged 12 and over must obtain a travel authorisation (attestation de voyage) to New Caledonia issued through the Government’s online registration counting form – formulaire de recensement (in French). The online registration requires the provision of vaccination status and residential details for quarantine purposes. All travellers aged 12 and over must also show proof of a negative COVID-19 (PCR or antigenic) test conducted by a medical professional prior to travel (testing timeframes vary depending on which country you’re coming from). Vaccinated travellers must also present proof of vaccination prior to boarding. Tests may also be conducted on arrival as well as during and at the end of quarantine, depending on which country you're coming from. Travellers should also email Aircalin airline ([email protected]) for advice on requirements to board Aircalin planes. People needing to travel for business or work purposes should also email the Government of New Caledonia at [email protected] for advice. Medical treatment and evacuation related enquiries need to be sent to CAFAT-Evasans (email: [email protected] - phone: +687 25 58 08). Sailboats and other private vessels needing further information or assistance must contact the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in New Caledonia (MRCC NC) (email: [email protected] – phone: +687 29 21 21). Visit the website of the Government of New Caledonia (in French) for the latest information and requirements to travel or return to New Caledonia, including the online registration process to obtain a travel authorisation and relevant steps with their timeframes, as well as quarantine and other measures applicable to your circumstances.

• Staying in New Caledonia - A Health Pass with QR code (pass sanitaire avec QR code) is required to enter certain venues in New Caledonia. Travellers who have been vaccinated overseas need to register their foreign vaccination certificates under the Health Pass with QR code for use in New Caledonia (further information is available on the website of the Government of New Caledonia including link to France Connect for foreign vaccination certificates). If you have been vaccinated in Australia, please email [email protected] with a copy of your passport and your Australian vaccination certificate to obtain a health pass with QR code (if you have any issues, please contact the Health Department of New Caledonia by email at [email protected] or by phone on +687 24 37 00). Wearing a face mask is mandatory in public places, including stores and public transport, this includes international and domestic flights as well as within airports. Lockdowns and curfews can take place at short notice. Follow the advice of local authorities and visit the website of the Government of New Caledonia for the latest health measures (in French).

• Departing from New Caledonia - Exit requirements can change at short notice. If you're in New Caledonia and wish to leave, local authorities advise that you should contact your airline or travel provider in the first instance. COVID-19 (PCR) pre-departure tests required for travel to Australia can be undertaken in New Caledonia by appointment at the COVID-19 Testing Centre (Centre de dépistage COVID-19) located at the Gaston Bourret Hospital at the Koutio Medipole in Dumbea (address: 110 Boulevard Joseph-Wamytan – email: [email protected] – phone: +687 20 99 76). The Centre is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 12noon and from 1pm to 4pm (3pm on Fridays). Travellers should email the COVID-19 Testing Centre with their contact details (email and phone number) and with a copy of their passports and itineraries (e-tickets) so that an appointment (mornings only) can be made. The Centre advises fees apply to PCR tests and other tests. Further information, including fees and other testing centres, is available under Instructions for travellers leaving New Caledonia on the website of the Government of New Caledonia. Travellers should check with their airline and the authorities of the other countries they are travelling to which type of test they require. Travellers to Australia from New Caledonia can be tested up to 96 hours prior to departure. Visit the website of the Government of New Caledonia (in French) for the latest information and requirements to leave New Caledonia as applicable to your circumstances.

For further information on, and assistance with, travelling to and from New Caledonia, including entry and quarantine conditions, step-by-step processes and deadlines, please check the websites of the French High Commission in New Caledonia and of the Government of New Caledonia. Please also contact the nearest French diplomatic or consular mission in Australia or the French diplomatic or consular mission in your country of residence for further advice where required. Please also contact your airline, cruise line, port agent, travel provider or employer as appropriate.

INFORMATION ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN AUSTRALIA, NEW CALEDONIA AND IN WALLIS AND FUTUNA

Australia – Up-to-date information about Australia’s national roll-out of COVID-19 Vaccination Program, including on approved vaccines, getting vaccinated (including for booster doses), finding resources for vaccine providers and health professionals, is available on the website of the Australian Department of Health. Information is also available in foreign languages, including French. The COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary and free and, if you choose not to have a COVID-19 vaccine, your eligibility for Government payments won’t be affected. Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program prioritises the rollout of vaccines in Australia and does not extend to Australian citizens while overseas. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia’s regulatory process. Australians overseas should consult their local health professional or local health authorities for advice on vaccine options that may be available locally. The Government’s Australia.gov.au website provides details of Australia’s approach to COVID-19 vaccination, including FAQs on COVID-19 vaccines for Australians overseas, Australian international COVID-19 vaccination certificates and guidance on foreign vaccination certificates. Information is also available on Smartraveller. Depending on the state or territory of arrival, fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents, as well as their immediate family members, may be eligible to reduced quarantine requirements when they enter Australia. Australian authorities advise that, irrespective of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, international travellers may still be required to quarantine upon arrival to Australia and meet other travel restrictions such as pre-departure COVID-19 testing.

New Caledonia – Information on COVID-19 vaccination programs in New Caledonia, including FAQs and obtaining a Health Pass with QR code (Pass sanitaire avec QR code), is available on the website of the Government of New Caledonia under Vaccination. Local authorities advise COVID-19 vaccination is currently free and mandatory. Vaccination certification documents are delivered in New Caledonia in both French and English. Please check with local authorities on the availability of vaccines and certificates should you wish to be vaccinated.

Wallis and Futuna – COVID-19 information is available on the website of the French Administration in Wallis and Futuna. Information on COVID-19 vaccination programs in Wallis and Futuna is available from the Health Agency of Wallis and Futuna (email: [email protected] – phone: +681 72 07 00). Local authorities advise COVID-19 vaccination is currently free and not mandatory. Please check with local authorities on the availability of vaccines and certificates should you wish to be vaccinated.