Entering Victoria from NSW
From 11:59pm on 19 October 2021, changes have been made to the Victorian Travel Permit System.
Regional NSW is now classed as a green zone - Entry from a green zone to Victoria is permitted by simply applying online for a permit to enter Victoria, this process takes 5 minutes.
Greater Sydney and ACT remain orange zones.
If you live in the cross-border community – and you haven’t left the cross-border area or you haven’t been in a Red or Orange Zone elsewhere any time in the previous 14 days – you can cross the border and enter Victoria without a permit for any reason.
People who have been in a red or orange zone outside the border zone are required to obtain an orange or red zone permit and abide by the conditions of the permit.
If you live in the NSW/Victoria cross-border area and want more information about conditions on entering or re-entering Victoria, visit Information for cross border communities
PLEASE NOTE, WHILE VICTORIA HAS RELAXED THEIR ENTRY REQUIRMENTS FOR NSW, NSW STILL HAS RESTRICTIONS ON ENTERING NSW FROM VICTORIA AND BOTH STATES RULES NEED TO BE ADHERED TO.
FAQ's - Updated 20.10.2021
- I’m from Regional Victoria, can I visit Echuca Moama?
Yes, you can visit Echuca (provided your home LGA is not under lockdown) - there are no restrictions on travel in Regional Victoria.
If you cross the border from Echuca (VIC) into Moama (NSW) you need to be able to complete the online permit/declaration process for BOTH states:
REGIONAL VICTORIANS UNDER THE VICTORIAN RULES
The following regional Victorian local government areas ARE considered border zone residents by the Victorian Government and as such can travel to Moama (NSW) and return by providing their driver’s license when requested.
The local government areas in the border zone on the Victorian side are:
Alpine Shire Council, City of Greater Bendigo, City of Greater Shepparton, City of Wodonga, Rural City of Benalla, Rural City of Horsham, Rural City of Mildura, Rural City of Swan Hill, Rural City of Wangaratta, Shire of Buloke, Shire of Campaspe, Shire of East Gippsland, Shire of Gannawarra, Shire of Glenelg, Shire of Hindmarsh, Shire of Indigo, Shire of Loddon, Shire of Moira, Shire of Southern Grampians, Shire of Towong, Shire of West Wimmera, Shire of Yarriambiack. The border zone also includes residents of two unincorporated areas - Mount Hotham Alpine Resort and Falls Creek Alpine Resort.
If you are from Victoria but outside the border bubble and you cross the border into Moama (NSW), when you return to Victoria you will be entering from a green zone and will need to apply for a permit to return to Victoria, this permit is valid for 14 days from the original date and can be used multiple times during this period.
Please see the Victorian Government website for current information regarding border restrictions at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victorian-travel-permit-system
REGIONAL VICTORIANS UNDER THE NSW RULES
Regional Victorians are permitted to enter NSW, provided they fill out the Travel Declaration on the Services NSW website and have not been in a place of high concern in the previous 14 days. However, the entire state of Victoria is currently listed as an area of concern under NSW rules which means the 14 days Stay at Home Rules need to be followed on entry to NSW, unless you are considered a border region resident under the NSW definition.
Check the NSW-Victoria border region map to see if you are considered by NSW to be a border region resident. You are a border region resident if you are a resident of NSW or Victoria and you usually reside in the shaded area on the map. Click here to view the map.
You do not need to complete a declaration or follow stay at home rules if you are a border region resident and you stay within the border region after entering NSW.
Please see the NSW Government website for current information regarding border restrictions at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/interstate-hotspots
- I'm from Melbourne, can I visit Echuca Moama?
No - Travel from Melbourne to Regional Victoria is currently not permitted except for certain limited reasons - leisure travel is not one of the permitted reasons.
- I’m from Regional NSW, can I visit Echuca Moama?
Provided your local government area is not under a NSW Stay at Home Order you can visit Moama - there are no restrictions on travel in Regional NSW between areas which are not under NSW Stay at Home Orders.
If you cross the border from Moama (NSW) into Echuca (VIC) you need to be able to complete the online permit/declaration process for BOTH states:
REGIONAL NSW RESIDENTS UNDER THE VICTORIAN RULES
The following regional NSW local government areas ARE considered border zone residents by the Victorian Government and as such can travel to Echuca (VIC) and return by providing their driver’s license when requested.
The local government areas in the border zone on the NSW side are:
Balranald Shire, Bega Valley Shire, Berrigan Shire, Broken Hill City, City of Albury, Edward River Council, Federation Council, Greater Hume Shire, Hay Shire, Lockhart Shire, Murray River Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council, City of Wagga Wagga, Wentworth Shire.
If you are from outside the border bubble in regional NSW you are currently in a Green Zone. A Green Zone permit will be required to cross the border from Moama to Echuca, this permit can be obtained online and takes about 5 minutes. This permit is valid for 14 days from the original date and can be used multiple times during this period.
REGIONAL NSW RESIDENTS UNDER THE NSW RULES
NSW residents returning to NSW from Victoria can enter NSW provided they fill out the Travel Declaration on the Services NSW website and have not been in a place of high concern in the previous 14 days. However, the entire state of Victoria is currently listed as an area of concern under NSW rules which means stay at home rules need to be followed on entry to NSW, unless you are considered a border region resident under the NSW definition.
Check the NSW-Victoria border region map to see if you are considered by NSW to be a border region resident. You are a border region resident if you are a resident of NSW or Victoria and you usually reside in the shaded area on the map. Click here to view the map.
You do not need to complete a declaration or follow stay at home rules if you are a border region resident and you stay within the border region after entering NSW.
Please see the NSW Government website for current information regarding border restrictions at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/interstate-hotspots
- I'm a resident of the border region, do I need a permit?
Residents in the local government areas along the NSW/Victoria border do not need a permit to travel between the two states, and will simply need to provide their drivers license if requested.
The defined border zone is different depending on which states rules you are looking at:
BORDER RESIDENTS UNDER THE VICTORIAN RULES
Please see the Victorian Government website for current information for cross border communities at: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/information-cross-border-communities
The local government areas in the border zone on the Victorian side are: Alpine Shire Council, City of Greater Bendigo, City of Greater Shepparton, City of Wodonga, Rural City of Benalla, Rural City of Horsham, Rural City of Mildura, Rural City of Swan Hill, Rural City of Wangaratta, Shire of Buloke, Shire of Campaspe, Shire of East Gippsland, Shire of Gannawarra, Shire of Glenelg, Shire of Hindmarsh, Shire of Indigo, Shire of Loddon, Shire of Moira, Shire of Southern Grampians, Shire of Towong, Shire of West Wimmera, Shire of Yarriambiack. The border zone also includes residents of two unincorporated areas - Mount Hotham Alpine Resort and Falls Creek Alpine Resort.
The local government areas in the border zone on the NSW side are: Balranald Shire, Bega Valley Shire, Berrigan Shire, Broken Hill City, City of Albury, Edward River Council, Federation Council, Greater Hume Shire, Hay Shire, Lockhart Shire, Murray River Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council, City of Wagga Wagga, Wentworth Shire.
BORDER RESIDENTS UNDER THE NSW RULES
Check the NSW-Victoria border region map to see if you are considered by NSW to be a border region resident. You are a border region resident if you are a resident of NSW or Victoria and you usually reside in the shaded area on the map. Click here to view the map.
You do not need to complete a declaration or follow stay at home rules if you are a border region resident and you stay within the border region after entering NSW.
- I'm in Echuca (Victoria) can I swim/fish/boat/ski in the Murray River?
Yes, provided you do not set foot on the NSW bank of the river (unless you are a border zone resident) Victorians are able to access the Murray River as per the below directions:
Other reasons for a prohibited person to enter Victoria without a border permit
(5) Despite subclause (1), a person may leave Victoria to travel along the Murray River but only if the person:
(a) does not set foot on the banks of the Murray River on the New South Wales side of the Murray River; and
(b) prohibits or prevents any person who resides in, visits, has been in or travelled through New South Wales (except for persons from the cross border community) from travelling on the Murray River with them or entering Victoria with them.
- I'm in Moama (NSW) can I swim/fish/boat/ski in the Murray River?
Yes, the Murray River is part of NSW, so provided you do not exit the river on to the Victorian Bank (unless you are a border zone resident) you are not entering Victoria.
Echuca Moama Visitor Centre
The Echuca Moama Visitor Centre, located at 2 Heygarth Street, Echuca can assist visitors with border queries.
We are open for face to face visitor servicing from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sunday. Alternatively, we can assist you via email at info@echucamoama.com or via phone at 03-54807555 or 1800804446.
Visit the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services website for information about Victoria’s current restrictions.
Visit the New South Wales Government website for information about NSW’s current restrictions.
