Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that starting December 1, fully-vaccinated eligible visa holders will be able to enter the nation without having to request a travel exemption. If you know about legal process please consult your immigration lawyer
The decision comes as New South Wales, whose capital is Sydney, is projected to reach an 80 percent first-vaccination dosage rate on Saturday, significantly ahead of the rest of Australia, allowing it to speed up the entry of international visitors by several weeks.
After the strict guidelines imposed at the start of the outbreak, this is the first time non-residence and citizens will be allowed into the country. Here are the updated guidelines provided by the governments for visa holders.
If there is any confusion regarding the entry or exit from the country, consider hiring an immigration lawyer in Perth to help you navigate the process.
Who is Allowed?
International students and skilled employees will travel to Australia without any restrictions. For the first time since the borders closed in early 2020, fully vaccinated qualified visa holders – including students, skilled workers, and those on humanitarian, working vacation, and family visas – will no longer be required to travel.
Testing Requirements
For travel to Australia, a negative COVID-19 test result is required. You must supply the following information when checking in for your flight according to immigration lawyer :
- A negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or other Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) performed within three days of your flight’s scheduled departure is required.
- A medical certificate as proof of a negative Rapid Antigen Test performed under medical supervision within 24 hours of your scheduled flight departure to Australia.
In Case of Delays
Even if your flight is delayed, you will be considered to have completed the required pre-departure testing. There will be no need for a new test.
If your flight is rescheduled or canceled, you must show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or NAAT test performed within three days of the rescheduled flight or a Rapid Antigen Test performed under medical supervision within 24 hours of the rescheduled flight.
You are responsible for confirming the airline, departure, testing, and evidence of vaccination requirements in any countries you transit in if you are transiting.
Australia Travel Declaration (ATD)
At least 72 hours before departure, visitors visiting Australia should fill out an Australia Travel Declaration (ATD). Declarations that are considered vital health information are included in the ATD. Before boarding the plane, you must be able to show proof that you made this claim.
This is a legally binding necessity. A civil penalty (fine) of 30 penalty units (currently $6,660 AUD) may be imposed on anyone who fails to comply with the requirement. Section 46 of the Biosecurity Act of 2015 specifies this.
Those who do not declare their intentions before boarding their trip will be delayed when they arrive in Australia. If any issues arise, get assistance from the best migration lawyers.
ATD Guidelines
You’ll need to do the following when filling out the ATD:
- Please include your contact information, including a phone number in Australia.
- Make a legally enforceable declaration about your vaccination status.
- Declare your trip history for the previous 14 days.
- Declare that you are aware of the quarantine and testing regulations that apply while entering Australia and in the state or territory where you will be landing, as well as the penalty for non-compliance.
Giving inaccurate or misleading information will result in penalties, including the possibility of criminal prosecution. Section 137.1 of the Criminal Code Act of 1995 specifies this.
Conditions for Vaccination
If you have finished a vaccination course approved or recognized by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, you are considered fully immunized for travel to and from Australia (TGA). This includes a variety of doses.
To be considered fully vaccinated. At least seven days must have passed after the last dose of vaccine in the course of immunization. As long as all vaccinations are allowed or recognized by the TGA, mixed doses count toward fully vaccinated.
You do not fulfill Australia’s definition of “completely vaccinated”. If you have not been vaccinated with the recommended doses or schedule. This covers situations where your country of origin has a different dose schedule or vaccine eligibility.
Certification
If you were vaccinated outside of the United States and did not have an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate. You must obtain one from the country where you were vaccinated.
Keep a printed copy or an electronic copy of your immunization certificate with you when you travel. When you check-in for your flight, the airline will check this.
You’d need to show your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate to airline workers if you were vaccinated in Australia (ICVC). The ICVC will be supplied to you in PDF format, which you can print or save to your phone.
Suppose you were vaccinated outside of Australia and did not have an ICVC. In that case, you must show airline employees a foreign vaccination certificate that fits all of the standards listed on the Australian Passport Office website.
You will not be considered a fully vaccinated traveler if you cannot meet the evidence of vaccination criteria.
Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
You can display an Australian COVID-19 digital certificate to airline personnel if you are traveling to Australia and cannot get vaccinated due to medical reasons and have a medical contraindication documented in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Otherwise, there’s an option to offer a statement on your immunization history.
If your medical contraindication is not recorded in the AIR. You will need to provide airline workers with a medical certificate. This must declare that due to a medical condition, you are unable to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
In Conclusion
On November 1, Australia’s border was reopened for permanent residents and their immediate family members after months of severe pandemic restrictions. On March 20, last year, Australia introduced some of the world’s strictest border controls in response to the coronavirus epidemic.
Immigration legislation is always changing. Australia, for example, added 22 new occupations to its priority migration list in June 2021. As a result, it’s critical to keep an eye on the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ website for any changes that may affect you. Keep an eye on the official website for updates on the status of your application and get help from a visa lawyer.