Australia’s international borders to reopen to fully vaccinated travellers from 21 February

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Australia has announced that it’s borders will re-open to fully vaccinated travellers on 21st February, 2022.

This is ahead of the April 2022 opening of borders  that was recently suggested.

It’s been almost 2 years – March 2020 – since tourists, aside from the odd exemption, have been able to travel.

Australia reopening

Australia to re-open 21st February, 2022

Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia, and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements. These details are to be confirmed.

If you have any questions please Contact Us.

Office: +44 (0)800772 0570
Mobile: + 44 (0)7710 649194
Email: mark@cargilmigration.com

 

Australia reopens to international travellers on 15 December, 2021

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The DHA have confirmed that have reopened to vaccinated travellers as of 15 December, 2021. See the DHA announcement below.

” Reopening to international travel

Australia is reopening its border to vaccinated travellers. This is part of our step-by-step and safe reopening to the world. From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated visa holders from the following cohorts will be able to travel to Australia without an exemption:

  • international students
  • skilled migrants
  • refugee/humanitarian, and
  • temporary and provisional family visa holders.

This was to begin from 1 December 2021, however the reopening was paused due to the emergence of the ‘Omicron’ COVID-19 variant.

As part of Australia’s reopening to fully vaccinated travellers, international safe travel zones have been introduced for New Zealand and Singapore. International safe travel zones with Japan and Korea will begin from 15 December 2021.

For up-to-date information on travel requirements, visit the international safe travel zone and COVID-19 and the border webpages.”

If you have any questions about a visa application and/or exemptions then please Contact Us.

 

Amendments to recently announced 1st December 2021 changes

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Omnicron COVID variant leads to 14 day delay in border reopening

Last week the DHA announced changes to open up the border to eligible visa holders as of 1st December, 2021. The visa holders list included students,  prospective marriage and temporary skill shortage visa holders amongst others.

Given the spread of the new COVID variant the Australian government have announced today that these changes have been temporarily pushed back until 15th December, 2021.

This delay also applies to reopening borders to travellers from Japan & South Korea. Thes were also due to re-open on 1st December.

It follows an announcement on Saturday (27 November, 2021) that the border was closed to any non Australian Citizen, permanent resident or their immediate families, if they have been in a number of African countries where the variant had been detected and spread in the past 14 days.

These countries include South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique.

If you have any questions about a visa application and/or exemptions then please Contact Us.

 

 

Australia to open up to eligible visa holders – 1st December, 2021

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Eligible vaccinated visa holders can travel to Australia without an exemption

The DHA have announced that certain visa holders will be able to travel to Australia without holding a travel exemption.

Travellers  will still need to comply with any quarantine arrangements in their arrival  state/territory. However those arriving in NSW, Victoria and the ACT will likely be able to avoid any hotel quarantine arrangements if they can provide evidence of accepted vaccinations.

Travellers should confirm what is needed prior to travel. State/territory border permits may be required. This includes those arriving in one state, but then intending to travel to another.

The DHA announcement is below – https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/vaccinated-travellers#toc-7

New arrangements for eligible visa holders

From 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can now travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. Eligible visa holders are people who hold the following visas:

Visa
Subclass 200 – Refugee visa
Subclass 201 – In-country Special Humanitarian visa
Subclass 202 – Global Special Humanitarian visa
Subclass 203 – Emergency Rescue visa
Subclass 204 – Woman at Risk visa
Subclass 300 – Prospective Marriage visa
Subclass 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa
Subclass 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (other streams, including Australian Agriculture Visa stream)
Subclass 407 – Training visa
Subclass 408 – Temporary Activity visa
Subclass 417 – Working Holiday visa
Subclass 449 – Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa
Subclass 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled) visa
Subclass 461 – New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa
Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday visa
Subclass 476 – Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa
Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa
Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visa
Subclass 489 – Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 500 – Student visa
Subclass 580 – Student Guardian visa (closed to new applicants)
Subclass 590 – Student Guardian visa
Subclass 785 – Temporary Protection visa
Subclass 790 – Safe Haven Enterprise visa
Subclass 870 – Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa
Subclass 988 – Maritime Crew visa

Note: Additional visa subclasses may be added over time. 

This is in addition to the exemptions outlined on: Travel restrictions and exemptions.

If you have any questions about a visa application and/or exemptions then please Contact Us.

Travel exemptions for Parents of adult Australian Citizens & Permanent Residents to open

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Australian travel exemptions for parents to open on 1st November, 2021

The DHA have announced that parents of Australian Citizens and Permanent residents will soon be able to apply for an exemption to travel to Australia.

This is great news for parents that want to reunite with their children and their families in Australia.

Immediate family exemptions

Who is a parent? 

The definition of parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents includes:

  • biological parents
  • legal (including adoptive) parents
  • step-parents
  • parents in-law.

Exemption & valid visa required 

Before you travel, you will need to have an approved travel exemption. To submit your exemption request you will need to provide evidence of:

  • your adult child’s Australian citizenship or permanent residency; and
  • your parental relationship to the Australian citizen or permanent resident.

You will also need to hold a valid visa.

Quarantine requirements  

Quarantine in Australia is managed by the states/territories. Travellers will  need to comply with the arrangements in the state/territory that they are arrive in. There may be also be requirements in the state/territory that travellers ultimately wish to travel too.

Some states, such as NSW & Victoria, are removing some quarantine requirements for eligible vaccinated travellers as of 1st November. Other states/territories will follow in due course so keep an eye on what’s needed at the time of travel. This could mean no quarantine, or more than one period of quarantine.

If you have any questions about a visa application and/or an exemption request then please Contact Us.

” Ban on Australians leaving the country will be dropped as early as November 2021″

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