From November 1, 2021, fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their families will be able to leave Australia for any reason. As well, limits on the number of people allowed into the country via New South Wales (NSW) will be revoked.
Also, from November 1, NSW will remove the State’s current quarantine requirements. So people flying to Australia, provided they are vaccinated and have returned a negative COVID-19 test, are free to travel around the State.
Pending any other travel updates, international travelers to states other than NSW will be subjected to usual state border rules upon their arrival in Sydney.
Entry Eligibility
The Government of Australia’s priority is to facilitate the return of Australian citizens and permanent residents. Therefore, unless visa holders have an approved travel exemption in place, only Australian citizens, permanent residents, and the immediate family members of those two groups will be eligible.
The Federal Government has made no decision to admit other visa holders, including skilled visa holders, student visa holders, or international visitors traveling under an Electronic Travel Authority. Generally, visa issuing remains on hold.
Details
- The Government of Australia is continuing a “gradual reopening” of the international border in line with the goal of 80% full vaccination rates. Currently, only NSW and the Australian Capital Territory have reached that vaccine milestone.
- For the travel policy to apply, travelers 12 and older will need to be fully vaccinated with a “recognized vaccine” — Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson.
- Temporary visa holders are generally permitted to leave the country. However, under the rules in place from November 1, they would still not be allowed to return unless there is an exemption in place.
Erickson Insights
Given the dynamic nature of the Australian State and Federal Governments’ response to COVID-19, Erickson Immigration Group will continue to share updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.
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