Australia announced today that it would open its borders from next month to vaccinated foreign students, skilled workers, and holiday-work visa holders, easing some of the most stringent restrictive measures in the world.
Twenty months after Australia closed its borders, some visa holders, as well as Japanese and South Korean nationals, will be allowed to enter its territory from 1 December.
“Australia is reopening to the world,” said Home Secretary Karen Andrews, announcing the news, adding that it was “a new step forward for Australia”.
Australians, visa holders and Japanese, South Koreans, and Singaporeans will now be able to enter the country with only one negative coronavirus test prior to departure if they have been vaccinated against COVID. 19. However, some states still quarantine when they are entering their territory.
The government of Scott Morrison lifted restrictions on travel abroad for Australians last month, sparking bookings for the southern hemisphere summer.
However, the Australian Government has refused to ease restrictions on non-Australian citizens, a decision that barred some 1.4 million certified visa holders from entering Australia, banning them from returning if they decide to leave the country.
Groups of professionals and the university industry have been pushing for visa-holders who have been vaccinated to return to the country as they struggle to fill positions and prepare for the third year of restrictions.
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