- Friday, April 26, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
AUSTRALIA on Monday (22) announced its decision to ease stringent pandemic-related travel restrictions from December, a move which is expected to benefit thousands of Indian students who study Down Under and are waiting to return there after the pandemic disruption.
A statement from the Australian government said fully-vaccinated eligible visa holders, including students and skilled workers, can come to Australia from December 1 without requiring to apply for a travel exemption.
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It said the visitor(s) will have to be fully jabbed with a “completed dosage” of vaccine approved or recognised by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration and hold a valid visa for one of the eligible visa sub-classes, the Press Trust of India reported.
The travellers will also have to produce proof of their vaccination status and show a negative Covid-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test undertaken within three days of departing from Australia.
According to the statement, the travellers to Australia must comply with the quarantine requirements in the territory of their arrival.
“Australia continues to take further steps to safely reopen to the world, with additional changes to our international border arrangements coming into effect on 1 December,” the statement said.
It said the changes will ensure that it continues to protect the health of the local residents of Australia while reuniting families and securing its economic recovery by opening the border to skilled and student-visa holders.
“From 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can come to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. Eligible visa holders include skilled and student cohorts, as well as humanitarian, working holiday maker and provisional family visa holders,” it said.
According to the Australian government, the return of skilled workers and international students to Australia will cement the country’s economic recovery and back the education sector.
“Today’s announcement follows earlier changes which have seen us welcome home fully vaccinated Australians, permanent residents and their immediate family members since 1 November, and follows the commencement of the Singapore safe travel zone yesterday,” it said.
From Sunday (21), Singapore citizens who are considered fully vaccinated are able to travel to Australia without seeking a travel exemption and quarantine-free to participating states and territories, the Australian government said.
