But those arriving in Perth from overseas would still only face self-isolation in a Commonwealth-funded hotel room for 14 days.
Premier Mark McGowan said the government had legal advice on the Commonwealth Constitution which meant the state couldn't create an exemption for West Australians based on where they lived.
"In effect,we'll be turning Western Australia into an island within an island. We're establishing a border with the eastern states,"he said.
"If you want to come into Western Australia,you've got to be exempt. If you're not within the rules,you can't come.
"This will apply to eastern-staters,who we don't want at all,but to West Australians who want to come home:you've got to fit one of the categories in order to come home."
Mr McGowan said clear exemptions would be in place for people travelling to WA on compassionate grounds or for essential workers in healthcare or transport.
There would also be exemptions for fly-in,fly-out workers in the state's mining and resources industry,but 14-day self-isolation rules would still apply.