What Are Smartraveller Travel Advisories?

EXERCISE NORMAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Level one indicates no current significant threats in these regions. Travellers can generally expect a stable and secure environment similar to Australia with functioning law and order, comparable healthcare and responsive emergency services.

Will travel insurance cover me in an ‘Exercise normal safety precautions’ region?

Yes, travel insurance will cover you for travel in these regions, subject of course to the terms and conditions of the individual policy.

Health and safety tips for ‘Exercise normal safety precautions’ travel destinations:

• Respect local laws and customs which may be very different to home.
• Use your common sense and exercise standard safety precautions.
• Be aware you may still be at risk of petty crime such as theft and scams.
• Keep in mind terror attacks and other threats can still occur anywhere and at any time.
• Monitor media and Smartraveller for any changes to local conditions.
• Consider purchasing travel insurance that covers medical expenses and all of the activities you want to do on your holiday.

EXERCISE A HIGH DEGREE OF CAUTION

Travelling to a country with a cautionary level warning is still considered relatively safe, but indicates a higher level of risk than what you would typically expect at home.

This could be due to a temporary event such as a political protest or a short-term increase in the region’s domestic security threat. It could also indicate a higher risk of crime, unreliable law enforcement and/or a lower standard of healthcare and emergency services.

Will travel insurance cover me in an ‘Exercise a high degree of caution’ region?

Most travel insurance policies will still cover travel to destinations at this level, subject of course to the terms and conditions of the individual policy.

Health and safety tips for ‘Exercise a high degree of caution’ travel destinations:

• Research specific threats and take extra precautions.
• Seek medical advice about vaccinations and general health risks in this region.
• Pay close attention to your personal safety at all times.
• Be vigilant and monitor local media as the level may indicate instability in the region.
• Be aware that security conditions may change quickly with little warning.
• Consider purchasing an international travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and repatriation if you need to be transported home for emergency treatment.

RECONSIDER YOUR NEED TO TRAVEL

A level three travel warning means that there are dangerous and potentially life-threatening risks in these regions. These could include an ongoing threat of terrorism, current civil unrest, a high occurrence of violent crime or other serious health and safety concerns. It may also be due to a temporary but significant event such as a natural disaster.

If a country is listed as ‘reconsider your need to travel’, it means the Australian Government considers the destination to be unsafe for most travellers and recommends cancelling or deferring your trip if possible.

Will travel insurance cover me in a ‘Reconsider Your Need to Travel’ region?

Some travel insurance policies will still cover travel to destinations at this level, subject of course to the terms and conditions of the individual policy.

Health and safety tips for ‘Reconsider Your Need to Travel’ destinations:

• As the warning says: reconsider any non-essential travel to these regions.
• Research the specific threats and dangers you may encounter.
• Consider the location and security of your planned accommodation.
• Consider how you will travel within the region as public transport may not be the safest option.
• Discuss contingency arrangements and have an emergency response plan.
• Ensure that you’re able to depart independently and that your travel documentation is up-to-date.
• You’ll likely require a specialised insurance policy for travel to these destinations.

DO NOT TRAVEL

If a country is on the ‘Do Not Travel’ list it means the Australian Government believes it to be extremely dangerous and you should NOT travel to that destination.

This may be due to a very high risk of terrorist attacks, ongoing armed conflict, or critical levels of violent crime or violent unrest. It is often also a combination of these factors.

While it’s not illegal to travel to a country on the ‘Do not travel’ list, it’s certainly not advisable. The Australian Government doesn’t issue these warnings lightly, so if you travel against the advisory you are knowingly putting yourself at a very high level of risk.

If you’re already in a country that is upgraded to a ‘Do Not Travel’ status, you should consider leaving immediately.

Will travel insurance cover me in a ‘Do Not Travel’ region?

Most travel insurers will not cover you for travel to countries listed as ‘Do Not Travel’.

If a region you intend to visit is upgraded to this level after you have purchased a policy, you may have provision to claim for cancellation expenses or the costs involved in delaying your holiday until it’s safe to travel again.

Refer to your travel insurance Product Disclosure Statement so you know exactly what is and isn’t covered before making a purchase.

Health and safety tips for ‘Do Not Travel’ destinations:

• The safest option is to avoid travelling to these regions at all costs.
• If you choose to travel despite the advisory, exercise extreme caution and consider seeking professional security advice and hiring personal protection.
• Make contingency arrangements and have a detailed emergency evacuation plan in place.
• Know that the Australian government is unlikely to be able to assist your evacuation if a crisis occurs.
• Check if you will require a special visa or permission to enter or leave the country.
• Keep in mind it may be very difficult and dangerous to cross borders in or out of these areas.
• You’ll likely require a specialised insurance policy for travel to these destinations.