New travel rule means Australians living overseas must apply for exemption to leave 

Australian residents living overseas have previously been allowed to come and go freely but this is no longer the case. 

A jogger runs past the Sydney Opera House at dawn in Sydney in July 2021. It was decided Australia’s largest city Sydney will remain in lockdown for another four weeks due to a growing Covid-19 cluster. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP

Australian citizens who live overseas might not be able to return home under new travel restrictions being introduced today.

Permanent residents living abroad will now have to apply for an exemption to leave the country.