Canada: Residents allowed to travel, but Government urging against it.
It’s worth keeping in mind that most of these countries have quarantine or self-isolation requirements for people who leave then decide to return home.
What happens if you book a flight and arrive at the airport without a travel exemption?
You’ll most likely be prevented from travelling and will likely lose your flight fee.
“If a traveller is not granted an exemption, they should not continue with their travel plans,” a Border Force spokesperson said.
What if I have a work visa or job offer in another country — or I intend to move overseas long term?
If you’ve been offered a job overseas, or obtained a work visa, you may be granted an exemptionunder the “urgent and unavoidable personal business” category.
“Applicants who are seeking travel exemptions for urgent and unavoidable international personal business are encouraged to provide supporting evidence,” the Border Force spokesperson said.
What if I’m a dual citizen? Can I leave Australia bound for my other country of citizenship?
University of Sydney Law School professor Helen Irving said the answer was, essentially, no.
“Under the current COVID-19 restrictions, all Australian citizens, whether dual citizens or sole citizens, have to get permission to leave,” she said.
“The fact that they hold another citizenship is not directly relevant.
“The reasoning behind the restriction is the same: Australian citizens going overseas might return to Australia and spread COVID-19.”
Under international law, the ICCPR also provides: “No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country”.
Professor Irving said Australia had not enshrined this principle in legislation, therefore Australian dual citizens were unlikely to have any protected right to travel to their other country of citizenship.
“This international law principle does not distinguish between sole and dual citizens,” she said.
“Australia has signed and ratified the whole ICCPR, but, for international law to have a direct effect in Australia, it must be incorporated into Australian legislation.
“There is no legislation, to my knowledge, that specifically incorporates the relevant provision, making it part of Australian law.
“But, even if there were, the citizen’s right to leave or enter Australia could still be subject to restrictions, so long as these were temporary and ‘proportionate’ to a legitimate purpose, like protecting public health.” Source: abc
