MORE than 31,000 permits to travel into Victoria have been approved under the state's new traffic light system, despite a rollout plagued by "technical issues".
Victoria's hard border with New South Wales softened from Monday night as the state established a new permit system for all domestic travellers.
The changes came into effect from 6pm on Monday, but the permit system wasn't available on the Service Victoria website for almost three hours after the scheduled launch.
The new system means travellers from all states and territories will need a permit to enter Victoria, with existing permits to remain valid so long as they are consistent with public health advice.
The system is based on a traffic-light system, with regions in other parts of Australia designated as green, orange or red zones depending on the coronavirus risk in a particular area.
Border zone residents will still be able to cross the border by using their driver's licence or other ID with proof of address without quarantine.
Among those who got permits yesterday were people who were trapped in NSW by the New Year's Eve border changes.
Regional NSW has been classified as an orange zone, allowing travellers from anywhere outside Sydney and Wollongong to enter Victoria if they return a negative COVID-19 test on arrival.
Under the new system, anyone who has been in a red zone in the past 14 days is not allowed to enter Victoria without an exemption.
Anyone coming from an orange zone can apply for a permit and will need to take a coronavirus test within 72 hours of arriving in Victoria, isolating before the test until they receive a negative result.
Anyone travelling from a green zone can apply for a permit and enter Victoria without needing quarantine or a test.
Announcing the new permit system on Monday afternoon, Premier Daniel Andrews said the new system would make rules for interstate travel clearer.
"With an easy to understand traffic-light system, Victorians and Australians will understand exactly what the latest public health advice means for them and their travel plans," he said.
More information on the new permit system will be made available through the Service Victoria portal at service.vic.gov.au.
