Easing of Australia’s borders
The Australian Government is finalising plans to safely reopen Australia’s international border next month.
As Australia approaches 80 per cent vaccination rate, the government is preparing to remove the current overseas travel restrictions related to COVID-19.
This will allow fully vaccinated Australians to travel overseas, subject to any other travel advice and destination border restrictions. It will also assist Australians overseas to return to Australia.
The new arrangement will follow the completion of home quarantine trials in New South Wales (Sydney) and South Australia (Adelaide) . It's anticipated that states and territories that are ready to do so will establish seven-day home quarantine for Australian citizens and permanent residents. This will only be available to those who are fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved for use in Australia or ‘recognised’ by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
The TGA has today announced that two additional vaccines (Coronavac (Sinovac) and Covishield (AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India) should be considered as ‘recognised vaccines’ for the purpose of determining incoming international travellers as being appropriately vaccinated.
The recognition of these vaccines is a major milestone towards more Australians vaccinated overseas getting home sooner.
More details will follow over the next few weeks. Make sure to subscribe and follow @Smartraveller to stay up to date.
See Travel for Vaccinated Australians or read the full statement for more information.
What does this mean for Australian citizens and permanent residents ?
Fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will soon be able to travel overseas without applying for a travel exemption. As of 1 November, vaccinated Australians can come and go as they please from NSW, however they will have a cap of 210 per week for unvaccinated travellers.
We recommend that those Australians wishing to travel overseas subscribe and follow @Smartraveller to stay up to date.
See Travel for Vaccinated Australians or read the full statement for more information.
Phased re-opening of Australia’s borders
The Hon. Alex Hawke MP spoke at last Thursday’s Migration Institute of Australia’s (MIA) National Conference and he outlined the phased re-opening of Australia’s borders and this will be in 3 stages
Stage 1 – Skilled migrants and students
Stage 2 – immediate family including parents of Australians
Stage 3 – everyone else such as working holidays and tourists
So what does this mean for business who need to send staff to Australia ?
Now that the Government has provided a plan to reopen our international borders, it is worth considering that business now start planning for international arrivals. If you have been holding off starting visa applications we suggest that you now initiate the visa applications.
Ref. Smartravller
