However, not all departments and agencies have the same plans for the return.

With restrictions in Canberra easing from Friday, public servants will be allowed to work in office buildings though face masks will be mandatory in most settings.

Among the departments beginning the return to work on Friday are the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Health Department, Prime Minister and Cabinet and the ATO.

Spokespeople from the agencies said the return would be gradual and flexibility for working from home would remain for the coming weeks until November.

Most staff at DFAT are expected to be back in the office by the end of October, a spokesperson said.

From next Monday, a number of other departments and agencies will restart face-to-face working with teams at the Home Affairs and Education, Skills and Employment departments beginning to filter back.

It's understood some Defence Department staff will also be allowed back in buildings from Monday.

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Veterans' Affairs and the federal science agency CSIRO are part of a contingency of agencies that have flagged a continuation of working from home arrangements.

Flexibility and the wellbeing of staff remains key, a Veterans' Affairs Department spokesperson said.

"DVA is encouraging ACT-based staff to continue to work from home for the time being unless operational requirements exist for them to return to the office," a spokesperson said.

"Those who do need to work in the office have been strongly encouraged to be vaccinated if they can."

Much like September 2020's filtering back to agency offices, a number of measures will be required to prevent major outbreaks among staff.

Social distancing measures, face masks and limits on the number of staff allowed in the building at any one time will be enforced.

But public servants won't be required to be vaccinated upon their return, though it has been encouraged.

"Staff are not required to provide proof of vaccination on their return," a DFAT spokesperson said.

Under the ACT government's roadmap, employers should continue to allow staff to work from home if practical until the end of the month.

In any areas accessible by the public, the one person per four square metres rule must be applied.

Face masks will remain mandatory in indoor working spaces until at least December but will not be required for outdoor settings from October 29.

Masks can be removed if an employee is alone in the office or if they're sitting or standing at their desk and at least 1.5 metres away from any other person.

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