SMT · 1 · the four levels
Four levels, four colours
The coloured bar at the top of each advisory shows the destination’s overall level. Smartraveller sometimes sets a higher or lower level for a particular city, border region or other area, which appears under “advice levels” on the same page.
| Level | Colour | The words | What Smartraveller says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Green | Exercise normal safety precautions | The security situation is like that of a large Australian city, though laws, customs and the kinds of risk can still differ. Smartraveller still suggests travel insurance, because medical care can be costly. |
| Level 2 | Yellow | Exercise a high degree of caution | More or higher risks than a large Australian city. It is not advice against going, but to research the destination and take extra precautions; conditions can change with little warning. |
| Level 3 | Orange | Reconsider your need to travel | Serious and potentially life-threatening risks. Smartraveller suggests avoiding non-essential travel and checking your insurer will cover you, and says not to expect the government to help you leave. |
| Level 4 | Red | Do not travel | Health and safety are at extreme risk. If you are already there, consider leaving if it is safe to; your insurance might be void and the government may not be able to help. |
The full page, what our travel advice levels mean, lists the precautions Smartraveller suggests at each level, from checking entry rules at level 1 to having an up-to-date will and enduring power of attorney before going to a level 3 or 4 destination.
SMT · 2 · how the advice is written
Where the advice comes from, and when it changes
Smartraveller lists its sources, which include Australia’s diplomatic missions, threat assessments from ASIO’s National Threat Assessment Centre, intelligence reporting, partner governments in the US, UK, New Zealand and Canada, other government departments, the media, and feedback from travellers. It says diplomatic, political and commercial factors do not influence its advisories, and that it gives the public the same risk information it gives Australian officials.
An advisory that has not changed for several months is not out of date, Smartraveller says: it updates when there are new risks or the known risks change, such as terrorism threats, major unrest, armed conflict, disease, new entry rules or laws, or a natural disaster. A change of level is noted in the “Latest update” section at the top of the page.
For countries with few Australian visitors or low risks there may be no advisory at all. Smartraveller suggests checking the advice published by its consular partners: Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand.
SMT · 3 · subscribing
Smartraveller no longer asks you to register a trip
Instead of registering your travel plans, you can subscribe to free email updates. The options are updates to one destination’s advice, all advisories or all those in a region, news updates, and a daily email of everything published in the previous 24 hours, sent at about 6 pm Canberra time.
Two practical details from Smartraveller’s instructions: you must click a verification link before any alerts arrive, and that link expires after one hour; and if you subscribe from the home page rather than from a destination’s page, nothing arrives until you choose your destinations. Subscription is at Smartraveller’s subscription page.
SMT · 4 · consular help
What consular staff may do, and what they can’t
Smartraveller’s Consular Services Charter says you do not have a legal right to consular assistance and should not assume it will be provided. Help may be limited where, for example, your actions were illegal or you deliberately or repeatedly acted recklessly.
They may be able to
- issue a replacement passport or travel document, for a fee;
- give you details of local doctors and hospitals;
- support you if you are the victim of a serious assault or other crime, or are arrested, including details of local lawyers and interpreters;
- contact family or friends for you, if you agree;
- provide some notarial services, for a fee.
They can’t
- guarantee your safety or make your travel arrangements;
- give legal advice, or interpret or translate documents;
- investigate crimes or deaths overseas;
- get you out of prison, or pay bail, fines or legal costs;
- pay for medical treatment or medicines;
- arrange visas for other countries, or store luggage.
This is a selection; the Consular Services Charter has the full lists. It also asks travellers to take out appropriate travel and medical insurance, which the travel insurance guide explains.
SMT · 5 · in an emergency
The Consular Emergency Centre
The charter says emergency consular help is available 24 hours a day from the Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra. From inside Australia the number is 1300 555 135; from overseas, call +61 2 6261 3305. Outside working hours overseas, you can also call the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate and follow the prompts to be connected.
Smartraveller’s scam advice for travellers is gathered in the travel scams guide, and a lost or stolen passport is covered in the passports guide.