Australian Border Reopening Pushed Back

The next phase of Australia’s border reopening has been pushed back to 15 December 2021 due to the spread of the Omicron strain of COVID-19.

From 15 December, certain fully vaccinated eligible visa holders will be allowed to enter Australia without requiring a travel exemption.

Eligible visa holders are people who hold the following visas:

• 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

A person is considered fully vaccinated (for the purposes of Australian immigration) if they have completed a course of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognised vaccine. This includes mixed doses. Current vaccines and dosages accepted for the purposes of 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 18-60 year olds).

• Or one dose of:

  • Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.

Travel restrictions are now in place for people who have been (within the last 14 days) in:

• South Africa;
• Lesotho;
• Eswatini;
• Namibia;
• Botswana;
• Zimbabwe;
• Mozambique;

Australian citizens, permanent residents or their immediate family members entering Australia who have been in any of the above countries in the last 14 days must enter supervised quarantine for 14 days in line with state and territory requirements. This is regardless of vaccination status.

Any other travellers who have been in these countries in the last 14 days are not permitted to enter Australia. This applies even if they hold a travel exemption, eligible visa or are seeking to enter under a safe travel zone arrangement.

Written by Adam Byrnes

Principal Immigration Lawyer