Since July 9 this year, the Victorian Ombudsman has received 80 complaints about COVID-19 related interstate travel permits, exceptions and exemptions.

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Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass said while individual cases had been, and continue to be, raised with the Department of Health and several had been resolved, complaints were continuing, raising potentially systemic issues about departmental decision-making.

"The situation is increasingly urgent with the extended lockdown. Some people are telling my office they face effective homelessness, stuck interstate with nowhere else to go," she said.

"Cases that have come into my office have raised concerns about the exercise of discretion under the relevant public health directions.

"This will be a swift investigation to help the Department identify if urgent improvements are needed in processes and decision making."

Ms Glass said she acknowledged how hard public health officials were working to keep Victorians safe in this public health emergency.

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"Decisions about border permits will invariably involve a balance of individual rights with those of the broader community. But it will be important to ensure that balance has been fairly assessed," she said.

This investigation will examine the department's exercise of discretion involving decisions on interstate travel permits, exceptions and exemptions and relevant human rights considerations.

It will also consider several specific matters that have come to the Ombudsman's office, including exemption requests from:

Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Regional Victoria Peter Walsh, whose electorate runs along the border with NSW, said the Ombudsman's decision to investigate came after months of anguish for exiled Victorians.

Ms Glass will present the results of her investigation to the state parliament at the end of the year.

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