Australia Welcomes Back Tourists On 21 February

Charlie Immigration updates 8 February 2022 | Updated On February 16, 2024 | 0

Australia is significantly set to ease entry restrictions and will open its borders on 21 February, allowing fully vaccinated tourists and all visa holders to travel to Australia for the first time in two years.

“If you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back,”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison

People who are not fully vaccinated require an essential reason to visit Australia and will still be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements.

Australia has been easing itself into a return to travel. Some international students, skilled workers and visitors from specific countries have already been allowed to return.

The decision to fully reopen borders to vaccinated arrivals comes as Australia records a 23% decline in hospitalisations due to COVID-19.

Entry to Australia

Travellers are set to be able to enter without securing a travel exemption providing that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

People who were vaccinated in Australia can present their International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) to airline staff before boarding their flight. Overseas travellers can present their own official vaccination certificates.

Children over the age of 12 are expected to show proof of full vaccination to travel to Australia. Though arrangements are in place in some states and territories to allow unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged 12-17 years to travel with a fully vaccinated adult.

Children aged under 12 years are exempt.

All arrivals over the age of five must present a negative PCR test result before flying to Australia. The results can be uploaded online, or presented to airline staff, during the check-in process. The test must be taken no later than 72 hours “before the scheduled departure of your first international flight”, according to the Australian Embassy.

Authorised Vaccines For Travel To Australia

To be considered fully vaccinated, arrivals must have received at least two doses including mixed doses of an approved vaccine. At least seven days must have passed since the final dose.

Current approved or recognised vaccines and dosages accepted for travel are:

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.

Australia’s Prime Minister confirmed today that travellers will not need to have a booster vaccine to enter the country.

How Unvaccinated Travellers Can Enter Australia

Unvaccinated travellers who cannot be vaccinated for medical purposes will be able to enter the country, however, they will need to apply for a travel exemption.

Unvaccinated individuals will need to provide a medical certificate that clearly states that they cannot take the vaccine, which must contain:

Traveller’s name (this must match your travel identification documents)
Date of medical consultation and details of your medical practitioner
Details that clearly outline the traveller has a medical condition which means they cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccination

If they are granted permission to enter, they must undergo a period in hotel quarantine before being allowed to freely travel.

Travellers may be subject to different restrictions and requirements depending on which state they land in. To check requirements, see State and Territory Information for travellers.

Do you agree with implementing a tourist tax to deter overtourism? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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