NT COVID-19 hotline 1800 490 484
1 total active cases 239,810 total NT vaccinations (updated weekly) 71% first dose | 55% second dose (updated weekly)
NT COVID-19 hotline1800 490 484
8am to 4:30pm, seven days a week

COVID-19 Australian hotspots and travel restrictions

Visitors to the Northern Territory (NT) will not be permitted entry if they are from a declared Covid-19 hotspot or public exposure site. Any visitors from these areas will be turned around and may be subject to a fine.

You will only be allowed to enter the NT if:

  • you are a returning Territorian (proof of residency is required at the border) or
  • you have not been in a Covid-19 hotspot or public exposure site in the past 14 days or
  • you belong to one of the automatic approval categories (applies to flight crew, freight workers and crews of commercial vessels visiting the NT for work) or
  • you have received approved exemption NT after submitting an ‘Approval to enter the Northern Territory Form’ from the NT Chief Health Officer. This includes children returning from a hotspot .

All arrivals to the Northern Territory (NT) must fill in a Border Entry Form. For all information and links go to Interstate arrival and quarantine page. Exemptions to enter the Northern Territory may take up to 72 hours to process.

Read travel advice for each place you have travelled which includes advice on current hotspots or public exposure sites:

Visit the interstate arrivals and quarantine page to learn more.

Day Three Testing

People who have quarantined interstate then travelled to the Northern Territory are required to enter supervised mandatory quarantine and be tested for COVID-19 on the third day after exiting quarantine in the State or other Territory.  They must remain in quarantine until a negative test is returned.

Vaccination status

If a person is fully vaccinated they are still required to follow all test and quarantine directions.

  • Note: Testing and quarantine requirements apply to any person who arrives in the Territory from Sydney or Canberra Airport from 6pm on 1 September 2021.

    As per CHO Direction no.8 2021 PDF (5.2 MB):

    1. A person is taken not to have been in a COVID-19 hotspot if the person has been in a COVID-19 hotspot only in one or more of the following circumstances:
      1. the person travelled through the area in or on a motor vehicle, public transport or bicycle and did not leave the vehicle, disembark the public transport or dismount the bicycle while in the area;
      2. the person was only at an airport located in a hotspot;
      3. the person
        1. travelled into or out of the area by motor vehicle, public transport or bicycle directly to or from an airport located in the area; and
        2. remained in the vehicle, or on the public transport or bicycle while in the area except when entering or leaving the airport;
      4. the person either:
        1. arrived by aircraft at an airport located in the area and travelled directly from the airport to a hotel that is within 5 km of the airport; or
        2. travelled by motor vehicle or public transport from outside the area to a hotel in the area that is within 5 km of an airport and did not leave the vehicle or disembark the public transport except to enter the hotel; and
        3. after checking in to the hotel, did not leave the person's hotel room until departing the hotel to travel to the airport, except in an emergency; and
        4. travelled directly from the hotel to the airport and departed the area by aircraft.

      Examples for direction 5

      1. A person who travels by car through an area that is a COVID-19 hotspot but stops in the area to refuel the car or drop an item in a friend's mailbox, has been in the area.
      2. A person who rides a bicycle through an area that is a COVID-19 hotspot and stops in the area to buy a drink has been in the area.
      3. A person who flies into an airport located in an area that is a COVID-19 hotspot, remains at the airport during a 6 hour stopover and then departs the airport on an aircraft, is taken not to have been in the area.
      4. A person who flies to an airport that is located in an area that is a COVID-19 hotspot, takes a taxi from the airport to a hotel that is 5 km away from the airport and also located in the area that is a COVID-19 hotspot, checks in, orders room service and remains in the hotel room overnight, checks out the following day, travels directly back to the airport and takes a flight out of the area, is taken not to have been in the area.

  • To assess if you are a close contact and what to do go to Case location alerts and close contacts

  • Travellers need to keep up-to-date with where they can travel and which areas have been declared COVID-19 hotspots, as the COVID-19 situation in Australia is continually evolving. If an area is declared a hotspot after you have departed but before you arrive in the Territory you will be placed in mandatory supervised quarantine.

    If an area you have been in is declared a COVID-19 hotspot within 14 days of your arrival in the NT, you must:

    • Contact the NT COVID-19 hotline 1800 490 484 and identify yourself as a person who has been in an area that has been declared a hotspot since you arrived in the NT
    • If directed, you must submit to a test or assessment for COVID-19 infection
    • Practice physical distancing (e.g. keep 1.5 metres away from others, if unwell stay home, sleep in a separate bedroom away from others, minimise contact with people) until 14 days has elapsed since your arrival in the NT.

    Travellers must be aware of their responsibilities as per current NT Chief Health Officer COVID-19 Directions.

    Don’t put the community at risk.

    • People in supervised quarantine will be subject to testing before exiting quarantine. If you refuse a test, there will be 10 days added to your quarantine time.
    • If you’re found to have provided misleading information on your arrival form you could face a fine of $5,024 for an individual, $25,120 for a business and a possible prison term of up to 3 years.
    • There are very limited reasons by which an exemption will be considered.

    Download the COVIDSafe app, it helps to support and protect you, your friends and family.