ACT and NSW residents will be able to move more freely around the regions from November 1, but those faced with planning or attending funerals in the interim are still struggling.

Stuart Gray and his family contemplated postponing his mother-in-law's funeral, when it seemed that several of the people closest to her would be left watching via Zoom.

It had looked unlikely that some of his mother-in-law, Julie Vickers', loved ones from Sydney and regional NSW would be allowed to travel to the ACT without completing a 14-day quarantine on arrival.

"We were going to hold off until the first of November but then ... having to just sort of wait around for two weeks when you haven't really had that closure of having the funeral and saying goodbye, we just had to make a decision," he said.

Mr Gray said that "after a huge effort" his mother-in-law's niece and godson were granted an exemption to enter the ACT to attend the funeral, without needing to quarantine.

"Due to the time criticalness of funerals, a full 14 day quarantine period is not required to be undertaken prior to attending," an ACT Health spokesperson said of NSW residents who are granted exemptions for compassionate reasons.

"However quarantine conditions, with permission to attend a funeral may be granted, and this is dependent on the length of time a person is planning to remain in the ACT," they said.

"Advice would be provided by ACT Health through the exemption application process and would be specific to the applicant's circumstances."

NSW residents who live within the approved border postcodes can enter the ACT under a standing exemption for any reason, they said.

Even so, watching NSW and Victoria relax their borders for fully vaccinated people had frustrated Mr Gray as his family worked through the stress of planning a funeral.

The ACT government has steered clear of differentiating restrictions based on vaccination status, and will apply the same approach to reopening to other states.

Mr Gray said he had been overall pleased with the ACT government's handling of the outbreak, "but doesn't mean sometimes you aren't frustrated with what's happening".

"It's just life in the pandemic," Mr Gray said, reflecting on the unfortunate situation.

"But I suppose there is that human element, people are born and people die, and it's an impact on our lives."

Responding to a question from an ACT resident needing to attend a funeral in Newcastle, NSW Cross Border Commissioner James McTavish said it may be easier to return after November 1.

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"It's really, really unfortunate that people have to go through those circumstances at this time," Mr McTavish told ABC on Tuesday.

"But as it sits at the moment, fully vaccinated people are able to attend those funerals in places like Newcastle.

"But until such time as that easing of restrictions on the first of November they will need to seek an exemption and go into quarantine on return to the ACT.

"It may be simpler for them to take a period of leave and then on the first of November return back home to Canberra."

ACT Health on Thursday confirmed that residents returning from postcodes outside of the approved border bubble, prior to November 1, would need to apply for an exemption and quarantine for 14 days on return.

On Friday, they updated advice to say that individuals needing to visit an area of regional NSW outside the border bubble for a short period or for compassionate reason could "apply for an exemption from the 14 day quarantine requirement".

"Any such application would be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the individual circumstances," the spokesperson said.

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