From 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders will be able to travel to and from Australia without a travel exemption.  

Previously, only Australian citizens, permanent residents, and a very small group of visa holders were able to travel without obtaining an exemption.

For businesses and universities hit with the worker shortage and economic downturn, the reopening of our international borders is a welcome step on the path to recovery. The Australian government estimates around 200,000 temporary visa holders to take advantage of the relaxed travel restrictions.

Who is an 'eligible visa holder'?

Eligible visa holders – including skilled workers, working holiday-makers, international students, and refugees – as well as citizens of Japan and South Korea travelling from those countries can enter Australia from 1 December 2021, as long as they meet certain limited conditions (see below).

You are an eligible visa holder if you hold one of the following visas:

What qualifies as 'fully vaccinated'?

International travellers must be fully vaccinated. To qualify as ‘fully vaccinated’, you must have had two doses at least 14 days apart of:

• AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
• AstraZeneca Covishield
• Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty
• Moderna Spikevax
• Sinovac Coronavac
• Bharat Biotech Covaxin
• Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for 18-60 year olds)

Or one dose of:

• Johnson & Johnson/Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine

At least 7 days must have passed since your final vaccine dose. Mixed doses count, so long as the vaccines have been approved or recognised by the TGA. You must also obtain an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) as proof of vaccination.

Travellers who have evidence they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, and children under 12, will also qualify.

Will individual State quarantine arrangements still apply?

Yes.

Travellers returning to Australia can only enter and travel between NSW, Victoria and the ACT without quarantining. Other States will have their own quarantine requirements upon arrival. Before travelling, ensure you check the quarantine arrangements of the individual State you are travelling to on the Australian government’s website.

Summary

In short, you will be able to enter Australia without applying for a travel exemption from 1 December 2021 if you:

• Are an eligible visa holder OR a citizen from Japan or South Korea travelling from those countries;
• Are fully vaccinated;
• Have checked that you meet the requirements of the specific state you are travelling to;
• Have obtained your foreign vaccination certificate;
• Have completed an Australia Travel Declaration 72 hours before your flight; and
• Have completed a COVID-19 test.

You can find a useful checklist for preparing to travel to Australia here.