The Federal government have recently announced that from December 1 of 2021, Australia will open its international borders to visa holders within 28 categories including skilled visas and international students.

From Wednesday 1st of December 2021, Australia will open its international borders to fully vaccinated individuals who hold the following visas and will be eligible to travel to Australia without the need to apply for a travel exemption: 

• 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

The above list includes 28 eligible visa categories in addition to Australian citizens, permanent residents, and others who have been individually exempted from the travel restrictions. The fact that Australia open international borders to 28 different categories is a significant relief for skilled workers and international students who have been waiting since March 2020 to enter the country. 

However, Bridging visa holders, Visitor visa holders, or those who are not in an exempt category must still apply for an exemption to travel to and from Australia.

Additionally, international travellers need to be aware of the approved vaccines by the Australian government. The following vaccines and dosages, which have been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), are currently being accepted for the purposes of travelling to Australia:

• Two doses at least 14 days apart of:
  • AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
  • AstraZeneca Covishield
  • Pfizer/Biotech Comirnaty
  • Moderna Spikevax
  • Sinovac Coronavac
  • Bharat Biotech Covaxin
  • Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for 18-60 year olds).
• Or one dose of:
  • Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.

Finally, to be considered to be fully vaccinated, at least seven (7) days must have passed since your final dose of the vaccine. If you want to know more details of conditions to travel to Australia, you can visit the department website here.

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