Prime Minister Scott Morrison released a media statement last 29 November that Australia’s border reopening to international students, skilled migrants, humanitarian, working holiday makers, and provisional family visa holders is paused from 1 December until 15 December 2021. 

Also, the reopening of travellers from Japan and the Republic of Korea will be paused until 15 December.

The temporary pause will allow Australia to collect information they need to understand the Omicron variant, including the vaccine’s efficacy, the range of illness, including if it may generate more mild symptoms and the level of transmission.

Australia’s border is already closed to travellers except for fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family, as well as fully vaccinated green lane travellers from New Zealand and Singapore and limited exemptions.

All arrivals to Australia must also have a negative PRC test and complete Australian traveller declaration forms detailing their vaccination status and indicate that they have met all the state and territory public health requirements.

Last 27 November, the Australian Government announced the following measures:

1. Effective immediately, anyone who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, or their immediate family, including parents of citizens, and who have been in African countries where the Omicron variant has been detected and spread – within the past 14 days – will not be able to enter Australia. The countries are South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique.
2. Australian citizens and permanent residents, immediate family members including parents arriving from these countries, will need to go into immediate supervised quarantine for 14 days subject to jurisdictional arrangements.
3. Anyone who has already arrived in Australia and has been in any of the eight countries within the past 14 days must immediately isolate themselves and get tested for COVID-19 and follow jurisdictional quarantine requirements, including quarantine for quarantine 14 days from the time of departure from southern Africa.
4. These restrictions also apply to people, for instance, international students and skilled migrants, arriving from the safe travel zones we have established with New Zealand and Singapore who have been in any of the eight countries within the past 14 days.

There are no flights planned from these countries.

These measures will also be continued until 15 December.

Under state public health requirements, New South Wales and Victoria have already initiated testing and 72 hours of isolation requirements for Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members entering the country. A regulated quarantine period of 14 days is required in other states, and traveller caps are in place.

Australians can be assured that the Government is in a strong position to deal with COVID and its emerging challenges.

Australia has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with 92.3 per cent having had the first dose and 86.8 per cent of our eligible population now double vaccinated, and we have one of the only whole of population booster programs being delivered, with around 415,000 Australians having received their booster.

Australia has a proven record of dealing with COVID. They have one of the lowest fatality rates, highest vaccination rates and strongest economies in the world.

You can visit this website for updates regarding the travel restrictions and exemptions: https://bit.ly/3reyaEw

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Source:

Prime Minister of Australia