The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) updated its Smartraveller advice late on 20 November, adding Morocco to a growing list of destinations where Australians are urged to “exercise a high degree of caution” because of terrorism threats, political unrest and new entry requirements. The same bulletin reiterated heightened alerts for Thailand, France, Azerbaijan, Brazil and Turkey, all of which have recently introduced new e-visa or digital arrival-card systems that Australians must complete before departure.
For Morocco, DFAT highlights the risk of terror attacks in tourist precincts and the volatile security situation in Western Sahara; it also reminds travellers that an e-visa is now mandatory for stays of up to 90 days. Thailand’s advisory points to armed clashes on the Cambodian border and continuing insurgent activity in the deep south, while noting that arrivals must register online via the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. France remains on its highest terrorism alert, with frequent strikes and protests that can cripple public transport.
![Australia tightens travel advisories and e-visa guidance for Morocco, Thailand, France and other hotspots]()
The expanded advisories have clear implications for corporate travel managers. Companies sending staff to these markets must verify that travellers have completed the correct e-visa or digital-arrival formalities and have contingency plans for sudden curfews, demonstrations or airport disruptions. Insurance providers are likely to flag higher premiums or impose exclusions for visits to border regions such as Thailand’s Sa Kaeo or Morocco’s Western Sahara buffer zone.
The changes also underscore a broader trend toward pre-travel digitisation. More than 60 % of countries visited by Australians now require some form of electronic registration before boarding, according to industry estimates. Failure to comply can result in denied boarding, airline fines and project delays—costs that dwarf the modest fees charged for most e-visas.
Practical tip: integrate Smartraveller RSS feeds into your travel-risk platform so new advisories trigger automatic alerts. Travellers should complete any e-visa or digital arrival card at least 72 hours before departure to allow time for system outages or extra documentation requests.
For Morocco, DFAT highlights the risk of terror attacks in tourist precincts and the volatile security situation in Western Sahara; it also reminds travellers that an e-visa is now mandatory for stays of up to 90 days. Thailand’s advisory points to armed clashes on the Cambodian border and continuing insurgent activity in the deep south, while noting that arrivals must register online via the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. France remains on its highest terrorism alert, with frequent strikes and protests that can cripple public transport.
The expanded advisories have clear implications for corporate travel managers. Companies sending staff to these markets must verify that travellers have completed the correct e-visa or digital-arrival formalities and have contingency plans for sudden curfews, demonstrations or airport disruptions. Insurance providers are likely to flag higher premiums or impose exclusions for visits to border regions such as Thailand’s Sa Kaeo or Morocco’s Western Sahara buffer zone.
The changes also underscore a broader trend toward pre-travel digitisation. More than 60 % of countries visited by Australians now require some form of electronic registration before boarding, according to industry estimates. Failure to comply can result in denied boarding, airline fines and project delays—costs that dwarf the modest fees charged for most e-visas.
Practical tip: integrate Smartraveller RSS feeds into your travel-risk platform so new advisories trigger automatic alerts. Travellers should complete any e-visa or digital arrival card at least 72 hours before departure to allow time for system outages or extra documentation requests.
