Travel Exemptions Removed for Fully Vaccinated Workers

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)

Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has announced that Travel Exemption requirements will be removed for fully vaccinated travellers to come to Australia from 15 December 2021 – including for some Skilled Visa and Student Visa holders. The change will allow eligible travellers with a valid visa to come to Australia without having to request Travel Exemption permission from the Government.

Which Visa Holders Can Come to Australia Without a Travel Exemption?

From 15 December 2021, the below fully vaccinated visa holders will not need a Travel Exemption for travel to Australia:

Skilled and Other Temporary Holders

• Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa
• Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage Visa
• Subclass 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa
• Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
• Subclass 489 – Skilled – Regional (Provisional) Visa
• Subclass 408 – Temporary Activity Visa
• Subclass 407 – Training Visa
• Subclass 988 – Maritime Crew Visa
• Subclass 417 – Working Holiday Visa
• Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday Visa
• Subclass 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (other streams, including Australian Agriculture Visa stream)

Student and Graduate Visa Holders

• Subclass 500 – Student Visa
• Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate Visa
• Subclass 476 – Skilled – Recognised Graduate Visa
• Subclass 580 – Student Guardian visa (closed to new applicants)
• Subclass 590 – Student Guardian Visa

Family Visa Holders

• Subclass 300 – Prospective Marriage Visa
• Subclass 870 – Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa
• Subclass 461 – New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa

Humanitarian Visa Holders

• 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 449 – Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) Visa
• Subclass 785 – Temporary Protection Visa
• Subclass 790 – Safe Haven Enterprise Visa

Additional visa subclasses may be added in the future. The above is in addition to current travel restrictions and exemptions to enter Australia.

You also need to be aware that States and Territories have the discretion to set dates for opening the international border in their jurisdiction and you may not be able to enter specific States and Territories.

Will You Need to Undertake Quarantine?

Quarantine requirements are determined by State/Territory regulations therefore you should check these requirements at the time of travel. You will need to comply with the quarantine rules in the State/Territory of your arrival as well as any other States/Territories you plan to travel to. Restrictions may also apply that prevent travellers from entering from particular States/Territories without an exemption.

Currently, fully vaccinated travellers returning to Australia can only enter and travel between NSW, Victoria and the ACT without quarantine. Travellers to or between other States/Territories may need to quarantine.

How does the Government determine a person is ‘fully vaccinated’? Are there any exceptions?

The Australian Government considers the below travellers who have had the below dosages of Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved/recognised vaccines to be ‘fully vaccinated’:

• Two doses at least 14 days apart of:
  • AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
  • AstraZeneca Covishield
  • Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty
  • Moderna Spikevax
  • Sinovac Coronavac
  • Bharat Biotech Covaxin
  • Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for 18-60 year olds)
• Or one dose of:
  • Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.

At least 7 days must have passed since the final dose of the vaccine. Mixed doses may count towards being fully vaccinated.

Exceptions apply for the below:

• Travellers with proof they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons
• Children under 12

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged 12-17 years may be able to travel with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian. Quarantine and caps on international arrivals may apply. Travellers will need to show a vaccination certificate as proof of vaccination to enter Australia and other requirements for Australia Travel Declarations and pre-flight COVID testing will continue.