Australian Border Restrictions to End for Vaccinated Travellers

expat network

Australian Border Restrictions to End for Vaccinated Travellers

The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, announced today that Australia’s international borders will re-open on 21 February 2022 for fully vaccinated travellers almost two years after they closed due to COVID-19.

Written by Sheila Woods (MARN: 0533879) of Interstaff 7 February, 2022

State and Territory based caps on international arrivals and quarantine arrangements will remain in place as regional governments deal with Omicron outbreaks and implement individual COVID-19 transition plans.

The announcement means that international tourists will be able to return to Australia from 21 February 2022, following moves to allow vaccinated skilled and student visa holders to enter Australia from 15 December 2021.

Travellers will need a visa and evidence of being fully vaccinated to enter Australia.
This requires evidence from the below list of Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved/recognised vaccine dosages:

Two doses at least 14 days apart of:
- AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
- AstraZeneca Covishield
- Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty
- Moderna Spikevax or Takeda
- Sinovac Coronavac
- Bharat Biotech Covaxin
- Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for people under 60 years of age on arrival in Australia)
- Gamaleya Research Institute Sputnik V
- Novavax/Biocelect Nuvaxovid
Or one dose of:
- Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.

At least 7 days must have passed since the final dose of the vaccine. Mixed doses may count towards being fully vaccinated.

Exceptions apply for the below:

Travellers with proof they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons
Children under 12

Restrictions could change at short notice as more information about Omicron continues to emerge. We will certainly keep you updated.

We encourage you to call Interstaff’s Migration Agents on 08 9221 3388 (Perth) or 02 7200 2567 (Sydney) or 03 8319 0902 (Melbourne) or +61 8 9221 3388 (International) or get in touch here if you have further questions.

Established in 1988, Interstaff has over 35 years of Australian visa and migration experience and provides strategic immigration advice to businesses and individuals Australia-wide and internationally. MARN: 0533879.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.