VICTORIA will effectively close its border to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory from midnight tonight.

With a continuing surge in COVID-19 cases in the latest Sydney outbreak - 127 new cases over the weekend - Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer has declared that all of NSW and the ACT will become a red zone under Victoria’s travel permit system at 11:59pm Sunday, July 11.

This means the Victorian border is effectively closed to New South Wales and the ACT – except for Victorian residents returning on a red zone permit for 14 days of quarantine, and for people with exemptions, exceptions or other valid permits (such as specified workers and cross-border residents).

If you’re a Victorian resident, you can obtain a red zone permit and return to Victoria – but you will be required to immediately isolate, get tested, and quarantine for 14 days.

You cannot enter if you have COVID-19, any symptoms, or if you have been defined a close contact by a state health authority (e.g. if you have been to an exposure site).

If you aren’t a Victorian resident, you cannot enter Victoria from a red zone without an exception, exemption or other valid permit.

If you try and enter at an airport or seaport, you will be fined up to $4957 and stay in Hotel Quarantine until return flights can be arranged.

If you try and enter by land, you will be turned away and fined.

Travellers from existing orange zones in New South Wales and the ACT entering Victoria before 11:59pm today can enter on an orange zone permit if they are eligible, including if they are on flights that are scheduled to depart orange zones before 11:59pm, July 11.

Orange zone permit holders are required to isolate on arrival, get tested within 72 hours, and stay isolated until they return a negative result.

If you live in the NSW cross-border area, you can enter Victoria without a permit but you must travel with proof of address.

Conditions apply.

You cannot enter if you have been to a red zone outside of the cross-border area, or if you have COVID-19, any symptoms, or have been defined as a close contact by a state health authority.

If you are entering Victoria as a NSW cross-border community resident, authorities ask you to stay within the Victorian cross-border area at all times.

If you are entering New South Wales as a Victorian cross-border community resident, stay within the NSW cross-border area.

If you travel beyond this area, a red zone permit will be required for re-entry into Victoria.

The Victorian Government is strongly advising all Victorians against travelling to red zones.

Workers in select industries are eligible for a specified worker permit, including forestry, agriculture, essential services, freight, rail, and vaccine distribution.

A strong police and Authorised Officer presence will continue at Victoria’s land borders and airports.

Authorities said substantial fines have already been handed down to individuals arriving without a valid permit since current red zones have come into effect.

The Acting Chief Health Officer has also declared the following changes under Victoria’s travel permit system effective 11.59pm AEST Saturday 10 July:

• Northern Territory: Alice Springs and Greater Darwin - incorporating the City of Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield – have changed from orange zones to green zones.

• Queensland: The Local Government Areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast have changed from red to orange zones.

• Queensland: The Local Government Areas of Townsville (including Magnetic Island), Palm Island, Ipswich, Logan, Redland, Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley, Noosa, Scenic Rim and Somerset have changed from orange zones to green zones.

• Western Australia: The Perth Metropolitan Region and Peel Region in WA have changed from orange zones to green zones.

Permits can be obtained at www.service.vic.gov.au.

See more about Victoria's travel permit system at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victorian-travel-permit-system.