The Australian Government is finalising plans to safely reopen its international border starting next month, as the country approaches an 80% vaccination rate.
This milestone marks a major shift in Australia’s COVID-19 response, aimed at gradually lifting overseas travel restrictions and assisting Australians stranded abroad.
Who Can Travel or Return to Australia?
Stage 1 – Fully Vaccinated Australians
You are eligible to travel to Australia if you are:
- An Australian citizen
- An Australian permanent resident
- Or fall under an exempt category
Temporary visa holders must still apply for a travel exemption to enter Australia.
All travelers must complete the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) at least 72 hours before departure.
Stage 2 – Skilled Workers and International Students
The Government is also planning to welcome fully vaccinated skilled workers and international students before the end of the year.
- NSW Student Arrivals Plan will allow 250 international students to return every two weeks starting early December 2021.
- This plan is backed by both the NSW Government and the Federal Government.
Travel Requirements
1. Vaccination Status
You are considered fully vaccinated for entry into Australia if you’ve completed a TGA-approved or recognised vaccine course, such as:
- Two doses (at least 14 days apart) of:
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria or Covishield)
- Pfizer (Comirnaty)
- Moderna (Spikevax)
- Sinovac (Coronavac)
- Covaxin (Bharat Biotech)
- Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV for ages 18–60)
- One dose of:
- Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)
You must have received your final dose at least 7 days before travel. Mixed doses are acceptable if all vaccines are TGA-approved or recognized.
2. Proof of Vaccination
- Vaccinated in Australia: Show your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC).
- Vaccinated overseas: Provide a foreign vaccination certificate.
If you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, you’ll need to present a valid medical exemption and comply with the quarantine rules of your destination state or territory.
Quarantine Arrangements
Home quarantine will be available in states that complete successful seven-day home quarantine trials, such as NSW and South Australia.
Only fully vaccinated travellers with TGA-recognised vaccines will be eligible for this option.
The TGA recently added Coronavac (Sinovac) and Covishield (AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India) to the list of recognised vaccines, helping more Australians vaccinated overseas return home sooner.
To increase the number of returnees, the Government will also offer facilitated flights to states that agree to the home quarantine program.
More updates are expected in the coming weeks as the situation continues to evolve.
Source:
SmarterTraveller.gov.au – PM Announces Plans to Open Australia’s International Border
