Ibrahim Gardner
Australia has had some of the strictest travel restrictions in the world, but after nearly two years, the Australian government lifted the travel ban for eligible passengers, including international students, from 1 December 2021. The country has approved the Covaxin and Covishield vaccines, and travellers must be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine and hold a valid visa. They must also provide proof of vaccination status and a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within three days of departure. Qantas has announced it will launch a new international route from Melbourne to Delhi from 22 December 2021, connecting Victoria to the Indian capital for the first time in the airline's history. The route will operate four times a week, with same-day connections from Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra. Victoria is expected to welcome back more than 120 international students and workers from 24 May onwards, under a state government plan to support its COVID-19 economic recovery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of opening international flights for students | 1 December 2021 |
| Airlines | Qantas |
| Route | Delhi to Sydney and Melbourne |
| Frequency | Four times a week |
| Eligible travellers | Fully vaccinated international students, skilled workers, working holidaymakers, provisional family visa holders, and humanitarian visa holders |
| Requirements | Proof of vaccination, a negative Covid-19 PCR test within three days of departure, and compliance with quarantine requirements in the state of arrival |
| States opening borders | New South Wales, Victoria |
| Arrival conditions | Victoria's international passenger limit of 1,000 arrivals per week |
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What You'll Learn
Australia opens borders to fully vaccinated international students
After nearly two years of stringent travel restrictions, the Australian Government finally lifted the travel ban for eligible passengers, including international students, from 1 December 2021. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that skilled migrants, international students, working holidaymakers, provisional family visa holders, and humanitarian visa holders who are fully vaccinated can enter Australia without exemption. This move is expected to further cement Australia's economic recovery, providing valuable workers and supporting the country's important education sector.
Requirements for Entry
To enter Australia, travellers must comply with the Covid-19 guidelines set by the Australian Government. They must be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine recognised by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and hold a valid visa for one of the eligible subclasses. Travellers must provide proof of their vaccination status and present a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within three days of departure. They must also comply with the quarantine requirements in the state or territory of their arrival and any other state or territory they plan to travel to.
Impact on International Students
The opening of Australia's borders is good news for the over 146,000 international students who have visas to enter the country but have been unable to do so. The majority of these students are in China, as flights from there were stopped early in 2020, and Chinese students have been more willing to begin their studies online. With the borders now open, we can expect to see a flurry of new students applying, particularly from India, as flights between the two countries resume.
State Responses
The reopening of borders to international students has been welcomed by various state governments, who recognise the economic benefits that international students bring. For example, Victoria is expected to welcome back more than 120 international students and workers from 24 May onwards, under a state government plan to support its COVID-19 economic recovery. Similarly, New South Wales is keen for inbound travel to resume for international students, and the state's Premier, Dominic Perrottet, announced that fully vaccinated travellers won't have to go into quarantine in NSW.
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Quarantine requirements for students
Australia has implemented specific requirements for students entering the country, which vary depending on their vaccination status and state of arrival. Here is a summary of the quarantine requirements for students:
Quarantine Requirements for Vaccinated Students:
- Fully vaccinated students are generally not required to quarantine upon arrival in Australia. However, they must comply with testing requirements and provide proof of their vaccination status.
- In Victoria, vaccinated students enrolled in universities and colleges do not need to quarantine. They must meet vaccination conditions and comply with testing requirements, including testing negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of arrival.
- In New South Wales (NSW), fully vaccinated travellers are required to self-isolate and get a COVID-19 rapid antigen test within 24 hours of arrival. They can stop self-isolating once they receive a negative result.
- In Queensland, fully vaccinated travellers must immediately quarantine at home upon arrival and get a rapid antigen or PCR test within 24 hours.
- In South Australia, vaccinated students must take a COVID-19 PCR test within 24 hours of arrival and quarantine until they receive a negative result.
Quarantine Requirements for Unvaccinated Students:
- Unvaccinated students may need to seek approval from their port of entry and are typically required to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
- In Queensland, unvaccinated individuals must arrive at Brisbane International Airport and quarantine for 14 days in government-nominated accommodation.
- In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), unvaccinated travellers must complete a 14-day quarantine at the port of entry and obtain a travel exemption from ACT Health. They must also undergo a COVID-19 rapid antigen or PCR test within 24 hours of arrival.
It is important to note that the requirements may vary across different states and territories in Australia, and students should refer to the official government websites for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding quarantine and travel requirements.
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Availability of international flights
Australia has implemented some of the world's most stringent travel restrictions since the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, the country has recently started allowing certain categories of fully vaccinated international travellers, including students, to enter the country.
On 1 December 2021, the Australian government lifted the travel ban for eligible passengers, including international students. This was after the country's Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, announced that skilled migrants, international students, working holidaymakers, provisional family visa holders, and humanitarian visa holders who are fully vaccinated could enter Australia without exemption from 1 December 2021. Travellers to Australia must comply with the quarantine requirements in the state or territory of their arrival and any other state or territory to which they plan to travel. They must also be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine, hold a valid visa for one of the eligible subclasses, provide proof of their vaccination status, and present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within three days of departure.
The availability of international flights for students will likely increase gradually. In anticipation of the increased demand for flights, Qantas has announced it will launch a new international route from Melbourne to Delhi from 22 December 2021, connecting Victoria to the Indian capital for the first time in the airline's history. This route will initially operate via Adelaide, while flights from Delhi to Melbourne will be non-stop. The new route will operate four times a week, year-round, and same-day connections will be available from Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra.
In addition to the new route, Qantas has also seen a surge in bookings for flights from Sydney to Delhi, which started in December 2021.
Victoria is also expected to welcome back more than 120 international students and workers from 24 May onwards, under a state government plan to support its COVID-19 economic recovery. However, people will only be allowed from selected countries with low COVID-19 case numbers.
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Students from selected countries with low COVID cases
Australia has implemented some of the world's strictest travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including for its international students. However, as of December 2021, the country has opened its borders to international students from selected countries with low COVID-19 cases.
On December 1, 2021, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that fully vaccinated eligible visa holders could enter the country without needing a travel exemption. Eligible visa holders include skilled workers, students, humanitarian visa holders, working holidaymakers, and provisional family visa holders.
To be considered fully vaccinated, travellers must have received a vaccine approved by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and hold a valid visa for one of the eligible subclasses. Before travelling, they must also provide proof of their vaccination status and present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within three days of departure.
International students travelling to Australia must also comply with the quarantine requirements in the state or territory of their arrival and any other state or territory they plan to travel to. Victoria, for example, has implemented a separate hotel quarantine facility for incoming international students, identical to the arrangements made for the Australian Open.
The availability of international flights remains a limiting factor for the number of returning international students. However, airlines such as Qantas have responded to the increased demand by launching new international routes connecting Melbourne to Delhi, India, for the first time in the airline's history.
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Students' arrival conditions for each Australian state
International students have been able to enter Australia since 1 December 2021, when the country opened its borders to fully vaccinated international travellers. However, there is no state-specific information on the arrival conditions for international students. Here is some general information regarding the arrival conditions for international students in Australia.
Arrival Conditions for International Students in Australia
- International students must obtain a valid student visa (subclass 500) before arriving in Australia.
- Students must submit the electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and a compulsory English language proficiency test score when applying for their visa.
- Each student visa applicant must prove they have the financial means to cover their tuition fees, books, and daily living expenses while studying in Australia.
- Students must comply with the quarantine requirements in their state or territory of arrival and any other state or territory they plan to travel to.
- International students are encouraged to study, work, and stay in regional areas of Australia.
As of 2023, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland are the states attracting the largest portion of international students. In 2023, there were 786,891 international students enrolled in educational programs in Australia, a 27% increase from the previous year.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia opened its borders to international students on 1 December 2021.
Students must be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine recognised by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and hold a valid visa for an eligible subclass. They must also provide proof of their vaccination status and a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within three days of departure.
India is one of the countries that has been approved for travel to Australia. Australia has approved both the made-in-India Covaxin and Covishield.
The return of skilled workers and international students is expected to boost Australia's economic recovery, providing valuable workers and supporting the education sector.
There may be concerns about the availability of international flights and the potential for quarantine requirements upon arrival, depending on the state or territory.
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