Return Of International Aspirants/Students: Check Visa Eligibility Here

On the 22nd of November 2021, the Prime Minister announced that from the 1st of December 2021, fully vaccinated permanent residents, Australian citizens, and eligible visa holders have the permission to travel to and from the country without going for a travel exemption.

• The eligible visa holder includes overseas students’ visa holders and the complete list of visas.
  Here the additional information is also included.

Latest Announcement – Prime Minister of Australia Announced to Reopen Australia From 1 December

Fully vaccinated visa holders who can travel to the country can do so from the 1st of December without applying for a travel exemption. These are aspirants who hold one of the visas listed below.

• 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

Note: Additional visa subclasses might be included over time.

Eligibility

While holding a visa, enthusiasts might also need to fulfil a certain set of requirements, and they are:

• Providing a vaccination status proof
• A Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction *PCR) test report, which needs to be negative. It should be done within three days of departure.
• Be fully vaccinated by taking all dosages and getting approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Kids below 12 years and individuals who own acceptable proof of being medically exempted from the vaccination can access the same arrangements as fully vaccinated travellers.
• The government has also made necessary arrangements to allow unvaccinated minors in the age group of 12 to 17 years to visit the country under fully vaccinated adults. They should look for the requirements before proceeding.
• Details regarding travelling to the country are available on the official site, which they can look for before proceeding.

Quarantine

Territory and State governments specify the quarantine requirements in this country.

• Aspirants need to attain the quarantine requirements in the territory and the state of their arrival as they plan to move. Restrictions might change at short intervals, so travellers need to be careful.
• If they wish to visit a new territory or state, they might have to be in a quarantine period or not be allowed to enter.
• Enthusiasts returning to the country might only travel and enter Victoria, NSW, and the ACT without quarantining.
• Travellers must ensure to meet quarantine and entry arrangements for every territory and state they prefer to visit. They might need to bear the quarantine expenses if aspirants arrive in the country without attaining the requirements.
• To find out about the arrangements, they should visit the State and Territory Information for travellers.

Fully Vaccinated

An aspirant needs to complete the entire course of a vaccine specified by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and they are considered fully vaccinated. It includes mixed doses and vaccines accepted for travel purposes are:
Two doses, while there should be at least 14 days gap between the first and second one. They are:

• Sinovac Coronavac
• AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
• Pfizer/Biotech Comirnaty
• AstraZeneca Covishield
• Moderna Spikevax
• Bharat Biotech Covaxin
• Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for 18-60-year-olds).

If not the above ones, they can also go for one dose of: Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.
The TGA is checking out other Covid-19 vaccines that can be counted as inbound travel to the country. The updated information on the approved vaccines is present on the TGA site.

• In order to consider a person fully vaccinated, at least seven days must have already passed by after the final dose. Mixed doses are also considered fully vaccinated if the TGA recognizes them.

If aspirants have not attained the specified doses specified above, they are not fully vaccinated. It includes the vaccine or dosing schedule eligibility criteria varies in their country of origin. Some exceptions outlined here are:

• Vaccination arrangements and exceptions for children are:
• Aspirants with acceptable proof who cannot go for vaccination for medical reasons and kids below 12 years are also considered fully vaccinated travellers.

The government is also making necessary arrangements to permit partially vaccinated or unvaccinated kids aged 12 to 17 years who can travel with a fully vaccinated guardian and parent. For quarantine arrangements, they can check the official site and look for information.

• The entire travelling group should fulfil the quarantine requirements and passenger caps if an unvaccinated kid travels.
• Use their passport as their age proof for partially or unvaccinated children of 12 to 17 years old.
• Children below 12 years can show their passport as age proof who are counted as fully vaccinated.

When Traveling Or Leaving To Australia: Provide A Proof Of Vaccination

If a vaccinated traveller or overseas does not have an ICVC (International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate), they must also provide a Foreign Vaccination Certificate. It must meet all specifications specified on the site of the Australian Passport Office.

The vaccination certificate includes The ICVC and does not indicate that an aspirant is fully vaccinated. Here is an example.

• A vaccination certificate shows that they have taken a single dose only out of the two. If it does not prove that the travellers are fully vaccinated, they cannot use the document to enter or leave the country. Most importantly, travellers must check their status of vaccination, and they should support the eligibility criteria. They have to comply with all requirements to come to the country.

In case they are not vaccinated for medical reason:

• They have to submit medical exemption proof.
• They must look for the quarantine requirements while travelling as per their territory and state.

Aspirants need to submit a medical certificate that shows why they can’t take the vaccine for Covid-19. The medical certification must have necessary information like:

• Name of the traveller (It should match with the travel identification details).
• Documents that clearly state that they have a medical condition allow them to go for a vaccine.
• Data of medical practitioner and date of medical consultation

Individuals who have not received non-TGA recognized or approved vaccines will never be counted under this section. They are not treated as vaccinated for travelling purposes. When a person plans to travel to a different territory or state after arriving in Australia, they have to look for domestic travel restrictions. Territories and states can apply for their restrictions, and individuals need to fulfil the requirements.

• Note: It is the traveller’s responsibility to make sure that they are attaining the quarantine and entry arrangements. It should be as per the state they prefer to visit. They might need to bear the quarantine costs for attaining the requirements. Check out the specific arrangements to meet the State and Territory Information for travellers.

For updated information and the latest developments, you can get in touch with Registered Migration Agent Perth at ISA Migrations & Education Consultants.