COVID-safe travel in WA

Think about what you will do if you become a close contact or test positive for COVID-19 while you are away.

If you are unable to return home safely to isolate, you may need to stay where you are (in your holiday accommodation) or find alternative accommodation to complete your isolation.

You may need to cancel or reschedule flights or other travel bookings.

Tips to stay safe on the road

Remember to stay safe on WA roads (external site) – stay where you are if you are not well enough to travel.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19:

• get tested immediately by PCR or RAT (RATs are a quick and convenient option if you are travelling in regional or remote WA)
• stay at home until you get your test results, unless otherwise directed.

If required, wear a mask and if it is safe to do so, open car windows to help clear the air.

To help with contact tracing, keep a record for you and the people you are travelling with, of the people you have had close contact with over your holiday.

If you experience any COVID-19 symptoms, get tested immediately and follow the isolation advice on HealthyWA. Do not wait until you get home to get tested and isolate.

If you or a family member are holidaying in regional or remote WA and experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19, RATs offer a quick and easy way to test for COVID-19.

If you’re unable to access RATs, the COVID-19 testing clinics page on the HealthyWA website lists testing options in metropolitan Perth and regional WA.

You will need to isolate while you wait for your test result, and then follow the relevant testing or isolation protocol.

You must register positive RAT results online at healthywa.wa.gov.au/ratregister or by calling 13 COVID (13 26843).

If you become a COVID-19 case or close contact while travelling

You may travel home by private vehicle, taxi or rideshare service. You may also catch the ferry from Rottnest Island.

You must also:

• be well enough to travel
• have access to private transport
• take the most direct route available
• carry proof of ID, including address
• have enough food, water, medicine, masks, hand sanitiser and fuel with you to complete the trip home without stopping
• if you need to make an urgent purchase (including fuel), it must be contactless

If you are a close contact with no symptoms 

As a close contact with no symptoms, you may also travel by commercial aircraft provided you have returned a negative RAT result in the 4 hours before the scheduled departure.

If you are a close contact with symptoms or you have COVID-19

If you are a close contact with symptoms, or have COVID-19, you may travel by charter flight. You must wear a face mask at all times while on the aircraft and take all reasonable steps to keep at least 2 metres away from any other person during your journey.

I am holidaying in a regional/remote part of WA and need to take a COVID-19 test. Should I take a RAT or attend a clinic for a PCR test?

RATs are an acceptable testing method, as they are convenient, provide results quickly and can be used alongside other important public health measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 where there is widespread community transmission.

If you receive a positive RAT, a follow up PCR test is not required unless you are instructed to do so by Public Health.

If you’re unable to access RATs, the COVID-19 testing clinics page lists testing options in metropolitan Perth and regional WA

I’m COVID-19 positive and holidaying in a tent at a caravan park. Can I isolate here?

If you are COVID-19 positive and can safely travel home by private vehicle (without stopping except as required by law, for urgent fuel purchases or rest which may include one or more overnight stays), you should return home to complete your isolation. If this is not possible, you will need to complete your isolation where you are, or at an alternative premises. If you need to use shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, you must wear a mask at all times and stay at least 1.5m from others. Try and avoid using the shared facilities at busy times and wipe down surfaces you have touched with disinfectant, when you have finished.

If I am identified as a close contact, do I need to get a PCR test or take a RAT?

Yes, you should get tested immediately either by presenting for a PCR test or taking a RAT:

• If you test positive, follow the testing and isolation protocol I have tested positive for COVID-19 (external site).
• If you test negative, and have no symptoms follow the testing and isolation protocol I am a close contact and have no symptoms (external site).
• If you test negative and have symptoms, follow the testing and isolation protocol I am a close contact with symptoms (external site).

Do I need to wait for PCR results before I can go home?

No. You can return home to isolate while waiting for the results of a PCR test but must return directly home if it is safe to do so.

You must comply with mask wearing requirements, all other public health and social measures and the requirements for travellers returning home to isolate. 

Can I remain in my holiday accommodation to isolate until the end of my booking?

If your accommodation is suitable for isolation, you can remain there.

Consider factors such as availability of support networks and practical issues such as arranging contactless delivery of food and other supplies when making your decision.

I have tested positive for COVID-19 while travelling and am now returning home. Does my isolation period start when I return home?

No. Your isolation period starts from the date you took your test (not the date you received the result or arrived home). 

I left my holiday accommodation early to isolate at home. Am I entitled to a partial refund or compensation?

You will need to check the cancellation policy with the organisation you booked the accommodation with or contact them for further advice.

I am a close contact and want to return home to isolate but can’t return by car. Can I make the return trip by plane?

If you are a close contact and do not have symptoms, you may travel to an alternative premises by commercial aircraft if you have had a RAT which returned a negative test result within 4 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight.

If you are a close contact but you do have symptoms, you cannot travel to an alternative premise by commercial aircraft.

Public Transport

Stay up to date with the latest Transperth advice (external site).

Taxi rideshare and private vehicle

• Information for passengers (PDF 299KB)
• Information for drivers (PDF 278KB)

Interstate travel

Check the latest advice when arriving from overseas and are entering via another State (external site).

Each state and territory has its own inbound travel requirements:

• Australian Capital Territory (external site)
• New South Wales (external site)
• Northern Territory (external site)
• Queensland (external site)
• South Australia (external site)
• Tasmania (external site)
• Victoria (external site)

Information for overseas travellers

For the most up to date information on international travel refer to the following:

• WA Government: Travel to WA (external site)
• Australian Government information on International Travel (external site)
• Australian Government FAQs for International travellers to Australia (external site)
• Department of Home Affairs COVID-19 and the border (external site)
• Smart Traveller website (external site)
• Coming to Australia – What I need to do before I travel (external site)
• Services Australia - how to obtain your International Vaccination Certificate (external site)

Information for returned overseas travellers

Vaccinated Australians and permanent residents can now travel in and out of Australia. Visit the Australian Government’s International travel and COVID-19 (external site) page for detailed information.