Clair Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Hi there, I was wondering if anyone could help me with the following: I'm planning on returning to live in England after 22years in Perth, Australia. I have both an old Great Britain passport (the blue one) which expired in 2001 and an Australian passport (which expired in 2015). Will I need to renew both passports to relocate back home or can I pay for just one passpost renewal? Do I need a special visa? I'm really confused, especially with the covid-19 situation. If anyone would be so kind as to help me I would be so grateful!! Cheers, Clair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 (edited) Strictly speaking, you should leave Australia on your Australian passport and enter the UK on your British one. However, we've had many members who've never bothered renewing their British passport and have travelled back and forth repeatedly with no problems over the years.. However, with Covid, and never knowing when borders are going to be closed or restricted to citizens or who knows what, I would just bite the bullet and renew both to be on the safe side. Once you've got them, you'll have one less thing to stress about. You dont need any visa to enter the UK, just show your passport. You will need to apply to Australia for a travel exemption of course, and be sure to supply plenty of proof that you're moving permanently. Edited June 9, 2021 by Marisawright 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliQ Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 2 hours ago, Marisawright said: Strictly speaking, you should leave Australia on your Australian passport and enter the UK on your British one. However, we've had many members who've never bothered renewing their British passport and have travelled back and forth repeatedly with no problems over the years.. However, with Covid, and never knowing when borders are going to be closed or restricted to citizens or who knows what, I would just bite the bullet and renew both to be on the safe side. Once you've got them, you'll have one less thing to stress about. You dont need any visa to enter the UK, just show your passport. You will need to apply to Australia for a travel exemption of course, and be sure to supply plenty of proof that you're moving permanently. Hi Clair, Take Marisawright's advice and re new both. When applying for your exemption, make sure you send a STAT DEC. We now have our's, after a refusal. We fly back to the UK this July. Good luck with your planning 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted June 9, 2021 Author Share Posted June 9, 2021 Thank you so much both of you. I did feel that renewing both during this time with covid was the best way and you have both confirmed it for me. Thank you!! Sorry to ask but how do I apply for an exception to leave? Cheers, Clair.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliQ Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 5 hours ago, Clair said: Thank you so much both of you. I did feel that renewing both during this time with covid was the best way and you have both confirmed it for me. Thank you!! Sorry to ask but how do I apply for an exception to leave? Cheers, Clair.x Hi Clair, go to website - covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au Here you will find all the criteria, form, and how to apply. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 @Clair, as Ali says, it's all on the website. This is the link: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia You want to apply under the category "you are travelling for urgent or unavoidable personal business". Your personal business is that you are relocating permanently. If you need to make a statutory declaration, here's the best form to use: https://www.ag.gov.au/legal-system/publications/commonwealth-statutory-declaration-form You'll need to get it witnessed by a Justice of the Peace, ring your local library or council to find one (there's no charge). However the most important thing is to attach proof, such as notice to your employer, notice to your landlord/evidence you've put your house on the market, a quote for shipping your belongings. They recommend you don't book flights until you've got the exemption. One question I can't answer - I'm assuming the exemption will be linked to your passport, so I don't know whether it would confuse matters if you applied for the exemption before you renew your Australian passport. Might be better to do the passport first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cup Final 1973 Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Just to add to what’s been posted, you can only apply for exemption within 2 months of wanting to leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted June 11, 2021 Author Share Posted June 11, 2021 Wow!! I truly had no idea of all the red tape. Thank you so much to everyone that has taken the time to help me. I truly appreciate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary H Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 Unfortunately a fair bit of red tape, plus depending on which route you take a possible stop over, look into relocation flights (inbound) as they occasionally offer direct Darwin to Uk/Europe flights on flight out Meanwhile whilst we have to apply for exemptions and struggle with navigating it all, Sco mo visits English Pubs with his team in what he previously stated is a Covid ravaged country, and athletes grin on TV about attending games in Japan. Madness really Good luck with the move, we are holding tight as we are struggling to get our Dog back right now 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliQ Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 On 10/06/2021 at 09:25, Marisawright said: One question I can't answer - I'm assuming the exemption will be linked to your passport, so I don't know whether it would confuse matters if you applied for the exemption before you renew your Australian passport. Might be better to do the passport first? I think you are right Marisawright. Our exemption letter states both our full names and both passport numbers, so it probably is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Plains Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 8 hours ago, Gary H said: Unfortunately a fair bit of red tape, plus depending on which route you take a possible stop over, look into relocation flights (inbound) as they occasionally offer direct Darwin to Uk/Europe flights on flight out Meanwhile whilst we have to apply for exemptions and struggle with navigating it all, Sco mo visits English Pubs with his team in what he previously stated is a Covid ravaged country, and athletes grin on TV about attending games in Japan. Madness really Good luck with the move, we are holding tight as we are struggling to get our Dog back right now Good luck with that. "Sco mo visits English Pubs with his team in what he previously stated is a Covid ravaged country, and athletes grin on TV about attending games in Japan. Madness really" WTF? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary H Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 (edited) 16 hours ago, Dusty Plains said: Good luck with that. "Sco mo visits English Pubs with his team in what he previously stated is a Covid ravaged country, and athletes grin on TV about attending games in Japan. Madness really" WTF? Just last week Scott Morrison was in UK, posing for pics outside a UK pub with his team, the other part is referring to athletes being given exemptions, even from Victoria when it was under recent lockdown "as they had spent a long time preparing " quote from Vic dep Premier. Meanwhile as I said people cannot even travel interstate for personal affairs and relocating overseas has become troublesome. WTF indeed. As soon as things settle down a bit and we can take our dogs reliably, we are out of here, 9 years in the bin company wound up and house sold already. Its all about populist politics with this lot. https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/prime-minister-scott-morrison-visited-not-just-one-pub-on-his-uk-visit-but-three/news-story/442d67be936b584a619d88533f593259 Edited June 20, 2021 by Gary H Link added 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Gary H said: As soon as things settle down a bit and we can take our dogs reliably, we are out of here, 9 years in the bin company wound up and house sold already. I thought you were moving to the Sunshine Coast? I agree with you that ScoMo should not have gone to the UK. He was only an "extra", not an actual member of the G7 and nobody paid him much attention anyway. You can bet the UK trade deal was all negotiated before he even got there, it was all grandstanding. Also completely insensitive to go visiting pubs etc, rubbing people's noses in the fact that he can go on a junket abroad for no good reason, while others can't visit terminally ill relatives. I also think the Olympics shouldn't be happening, mainly because the majority of Japanese don't want it to run. Edited June 20, 2021 by Marisawright 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary H Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 I cannot see things opening up for at least another year and life is what passes by while you wait for the opportunity. So house sold, have a van moving off see what happens heading south for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 31 minutes ago, Gary H said: I cannot see things opening up for at least another year and life is what passes by while you wait for the opportunity. So house sold, have a van moving off see what happens heading south for now. Why not just move back to UK if that's what you really want to do? Not that hard to achieve at the moment, not half as hard as coming back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary H Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 20 hours ago, Marisawright said: Why not just move back to UK if that's what you really want to do? Not that hard to achieve at the moment, not half as hard as coming back. Maybe not hard for you or as you perceive it. I have a service dog that needs to be transported with us, plus other issues that are nobody's concern. Covid has made it all but impossible for us now in our situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 29 minutes ago, Gary H said: Maybe not hard for you or as you perceive it. I have a service dog that needs to be transported with us, plus other issues that are nobody's concern. Covid has made it all but impossible for us now in our situation. Not being nosey, just interested to keep abreast of what's happening if there are more difficulties in moving back compared to recently. Since getting the travel exemption is fairly straightforward once you understand the system, and there's no cap on numbers departing, I thought the hurdles were reducing rather than increasing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 It is ridiculous to say our PM should not have gone to the G7 Personally invited as one of only 4 adviser countries, he has had personally meetings with Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, The Queen and Emmanuel Macron in Paris. These are vital relationships for Australia and Scott has won support from all G7 members in our fight with China. What I find interesting is that he still has to isolate at The Lodge in Canberra on his return despite being fully vaccinated. Does this mean everyone will need to do the same in future after being fully vaccinated? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 9 minutes ago, Parley said: What I find interesting is that he still has to isolate at The Lodge in Canberra on his return despite being fully vaccinated. Does this mean everyone will need to do the same in future after being fully vaccinated? I was reading about this. It's precautionary because they're still not sure whether being vaccinated stops you spreading the infection. They haven't got enough data yet to tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramot Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Just reading in the papers that the PM had the audacity to stop at a Cornish pub. Had a meal and then went round the cemetery in the village his ancestors lived, before being transported to Australia on the first fleet, while en route back to the airport after meeting the world G7 leaders. Honestly the gotch you pettiness is ridiculous. Yes lots of us would like to travel back to UK to be with family, but I certainly don’t begrudge him catching a short time doing the above, why is that more important news, than being invited to join and meet world leaders and the free trade agreement. More and more the attitude seems to be Let’s criticise everyone all the time, and never give anyone credit for anything any more. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramot Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Marisawright said: I was reading about this. It's precautionary because they're still not sure whether being vaccinated stops you spreading the infection. They haven't got enough data yet to tell. 1 hour ago, Parley said: It is ridiculous to say our PM should not have gone to the G7 Personally invited as one of only 4 adviser countries, he has had personally meetings with Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, The Queen and Emmanuel Macron in Paris. These are vital relationships for Australia and Scott has won support from all G7 members in our fight with China. What I find interesting is that he still has to isolate at The Lodge in Canberra on his return despite being fully vaccinated. Does this mean everyone will need to do the same in future after being fully vaccinated? As far as I know. Unless you are someone ‘important!’ i e a film star, most lesser mortals all have to be PR or citizen to be allowed in permanently, have to have an up to date clear test before travel, and quarantine in hotels etc for 14 days irrespective of being fully vaccinated. No idea how long these restrictions will be in place, but there is a drive to build specific quarantine accommodation, away from quarantining travellers in hotels in city centres. Sorry mods this might not be related to the thread, Edited June 21, 2021 by ramot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary H Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 (edited) When planning route back look at Singapore you have then returned from a green status country via a green status country. Routes via the middle east now require a quarantine on return. Even if you have both jabs, although its shortened to 5 days. Edited June 21, 2021 by Gary H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 11 hours ago, Parley said: It is ridiculous to say our PM should not have gone to the G7 Personally invited as one of only 4 adviser countries, he has had personally meetings with Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, The Queen and Emmanuel Macron in Paris. These are vital relationships for Australia and Scott has won support from all G7 members in our fight with China. What I find interesting is that he still has to isolate at The Lodge in Canberra on his return despite being fully vaccinated. Does this mean everyone will need to do the same in future after being fully vaccinated? There are many people coming in now who are fully vaccinated. Doesn't matter, they still get locked into quarantine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 36 minutes ago, Nemesis said: There are many people coming in now who are fully vaccinated. Doesn't matter, they still get locked into quarantine. Obviously, since none of the vaccines is 100% effective and also, they're still not sure whether a vaccinated person can carry and transmit the vaccine (even if they don't get it themselves). Not enough research has been done yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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