The coronavirus which appeared in December 2019 in China is still a global problem today. It crossed borders at high speed and impacted many countries around the world. In March 2020, the Australian Prime Minister announced the implementation of strong measures to curb the spread of the virus in the country. We are thinking in particular of a total closure of the country's borders. We give you here the information on the current situation with the applied measures and what we can hope for the future.
"IN BRIEF" Australia and the Covid-19
As early as March 2020, the country applied strict measures to fight the Covid pandemic both nationally and internationally. Currently, the state of NSW, ACT and Melbourne are in lockdown. Remember to check the official website of the state or territory where you want to travel before going there.
The measures in place worked well before the arrival of the Delta variant and the country was little affected by the virus . Since this new variant, the country has had to take a new approach. States and territories are therefore accelerating vaccination to get out of confinement. Indeed, the NSW plans to reach 80% vaccination rate of its eligible population (over 16 years) by next October. To date, there are 1,044 deaths linked to Covid-19 across the country.
Closure of international borders
Enter Australia
Since March 20, 2020, Australia's borders have been closed to foreigners . You cannot enter the country. Australia only accepts entry to Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families, and a few exempt categories. A mandatory 14-day quarantine is imposed on them in a supervised hotel. A negative PCR test should also be provided to Australian authorities.
Thus, you can enter Australia if you are part of an exempt category or if you have obtained an individual exemption (request to be made on the government website).
The exempt categories
Here is a list of the categories of people who can enter Australia automatically:
- Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents
- Immediate family members of an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- New Zealand citizens ordinarily resident in Australia
- People in New Zealand for at least 14 days before entering Australia
- Travelers transiting Australia for 72 hours or less
- Airline crew, sea crew
- Diplomats accredited to Australia (visa 995)
- People with a Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 188).
Individual exemption request
Certain categories of people may request an individual exemption. These are the people involved:
- You come for the purpose of providing specialist medical services in Australia
- You are a non-citizen whose entry would be in the national interest
- You are a non-citizen with skills or working in a critical sector
- You are an employer sponsored non-citizen to work in Australia in an occupation listed on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)
- You are a student in their final two years of university study in medicine, dentistry, nursing or health care with a job offer in the medical sector in Australia
- You are requesting an exemption for the death or serious illness of a member of your immediate family
- You are military personnel.
You can travel from New Zealand to Australia without requesting an exemption if you have been in New Zealand for more than 14 days and are arriving by air in Australia.
Quarantine in hotel compulsory
For Australian citizens, permanent residents or immediate family, and anyone entering Australia, 14 days isolation is mandatory. Quarantine hotels have been arranged for all new arrivals. Note that the quarantine is the responsibility of the traveler. Count $ 3000 for 1 person (+1000 per additional person), this includes hotel accommodation and meals.
Note that since April 19, 2021, Australia has opened a Travel Safe Zone with New Zealand . Since that date it has therefore been possible to travel between the two countries 'freely' without having to quarantine in a monitored hotel. Note that if you are in New Zealand , you can apply for a WHV, tourist or student visa to come to Australia.
Update - The travel bubble is currently suspended with the NZ.
Application for new visas and visas accepted before pandemic
The borders are currently closed to foreigners. The government has not announced a date for the reopening of the borders, however, it is likely that they will not reopen until 2022. In addition, the 2021-22 federal budget appears to confirm a reopening for mid-2022.
On July 2, Scott Morrison announced that a 4-phase plan had been accepted by all states and territories. This plan provides for a total reopening of the country, without quotas in phase 4. These phases and the transition from one to the other will depend on the vaccination rate of the Australian population. To move on to phase 2, 70% of the eligible population will have to be vaccinated. For Phase 3, 80%.
Following the last Cabinet meeting, Scott Morrison announced that states could reopen internationally once the 80% of the vaccinated population has been reached. This would mean that the states of NSW and Victoria, currently undergoing accelerated vaccination to lift containment, could reopen their international borders at the end of the year.
Those who do not have a visa can apply. Once you have obtained your WHV, you can travel to Australia as soon as the entry ban is lifted. Remember that once your visa has been granted, you have one year to travel to Australia. Regarding student visas, you can always prepare for your visit to Australia. Students are likely to be the first to be able to return to Australia, potentially late 2021 in small numbers. Tests are currently underway in the country.
For all those who have a current visa and have not been able to enter the country, or those who have a visa that they have not been able to use.
Exit Australia
For permanent or binational residents , you could not leave the territory except for exceptional reasons. You must apply to the Australian government with supporting evidence that it is necessary for you to leave the country (death of a loved one, illness, etc.). See the immigration page for all the information. The international flights to and from Australia are limited.
As of April 19, 2021, travel between Australia and New Zealand is possible (in both directions). Unfortunately it is not possible to go through New Zealand to leave Australia without having to request an exemption. Indeed, the Australian government has clarified that fines and potentially prison terms could be applied for those breaking the rules.
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