What is the new announcement?
As of December first, 2021, Australia will begin to continue taking further steps to safely reopen with additional changes to our international border arrangements. These changes follow the National Plan to safely reopen Australia, which was designed to ensure protection of the health of Australians, while ensuring that families will be reunited and aiding the security of our economic recovery. This announcement follows the changes made from November first that welcomed back fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members. Skilled workers and international students are highly valuable to the Australian economic recovery, providing workers the Australian economy needs and supporting the education sector.
This will be offered without the need of travel exemptions to the following (see below a full list of eligible subclasses)
- Skilled and student visas
- Humanitarian visas
- Working holiday maker
- Provisional family visa holders
Eligible Subclasses:
| Subclass 200 | refugee visa |
| Subclass 201 | in country special humanitarian visa |
| Subclass 202 | Global Special Humanitarian Visa |
| Subclass 203 | Emergency Refugee Visa |
| Subclass 204 | Women 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 |
Requirements:
Eligible visa holders will need to comply with the requirements below:
- Full vaccinated status with the completed dosage of a recognised vaccine approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), with the ability to provide proof of vaccination status.
- Departure is from their home country
- Currently hold a valid visa for one of the eligible subclasses
- Provide a negative Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken within 3 days of departure/arrival.
- Depending on the state/territory of entry. Travellers must comply with the individual quarantine and any other requirements.
From 1 December 2021, Australia will also reopen international boarders to welcome back fully vaccinated citizens from Japan and the Republic of Korea, who hold a valid Australian visa to travel quarantine-free to the participating states and territories, without needing to seek a travel exemption.
