As COVID-19 vaccination rates increase in Australia, international borders start to open up. This means that international students can start returning to Australia for study and while this may be exciting for some, it can also be a time of uncertainty and anxiety.
According to the latest update from the Australian government regarding the reopening of international travel to students, all visa holders who are fully vaccinated in accordance with Australia’s international border entry requirements are able to arrive in Australia without an approved travel exemption. This includes fully vaccinated international students, Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders and travellers on bridging visas who meets these entry requirements.
Australia recognises the following COVID-19 vaccines for use in Australia for incoming travellers:
Comirnaty (Pfizer)
Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
Spikevax or Takeda (Moderna)
COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen)
Nuvaxovid (Biocelect on behalf of Novavax)
The following COVID-19 vaccines are also recognised for the purpose of travelling to Australia:
Coronavac (Sinovac)
Covishield (AstraZeneca - Serum Institute of India)
BBIBP-CorV for people under 60 years of age on arrival in Australia (Sinopharm China)
Covaxin (Bharat Biotech)
Sputnik V (Gamaleya Research Institute)
All visa holders arriving in Australia need to comply with the quarantine and testing requirements in the state or territory of their arrival, and any other state or territories to which they plan to travel. Here are the entry and testing requirements for each Australian state and territory:
New South Wales
International students with valid visas who are fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine can enter NSW without needing a travel exemption and have returned an accepted negative COVID-19 test result within three days of arrival. Students will be required to take a rapid antigen test within the first 24 hours of arrival.
For more detailed information, head over to Study NSW.
South Australia
Fully vaccinated international students will be required to take a PCR COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival and quarantine until they have been tested. There is no longer a requirement to quarantine for 7 days upon arrival.
For more detailed information, head over to Study Adelaide.
Queensland
International students with valid visas who are fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine can enter Queensland with no quarantine required. Unvaccinated visa holders will still need a valid travel exception in order to enter Australia. Students will be required to take a rapid antigen test within the first 24 hours of arrival.
For more detailed information, head over to Study Queensland.
Australian Capital Territory
Fully vaccinated international students will be allowed into the ACT and will not be required to quarantine upon arrival before starting their studies. Arrivals must comply with the following requirements:
Undergo a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arriving in Australia. This can either be a rapid antigen test or PCR test.
Complete this online declaration form within 24 hours prior to arrival into the ACT.
Limit movement in the community for the first seven days of arriving into the ACT.
For more detailed information, head over to the official ACT Government website.
Victoria
International students with valid visas who are fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine can enter Victoria without needing a travel exemption and have returned an accepted negative COVID-19 test result within three days of arrival. Fully vaccinated eligible student visa holders are required to:
Immediately quarantine at home or other private accommodation upon arrival.
Get a rapid antigen test, or a PCR test within 24 hours of arriving in Australia and continue to quarantine until a negative result is returned.
For more detailed information, check out Victoria's International Student Arrivals Plan.
Tasmania
From Saturday February 26, 2022, there will be no entry requirements for travellers to Tasmania – regardless of vaccination status or where they have spent time prior to arrival. International arrivals who are fully vaccinated and met other Australian entry requirements are not subject to additional requirements to enter Tasmania.
For more detailed information, head over to Study Tasmania and the official Tasmanian government website.
Western Australia
From March 3, 2022, Western Australia will reopen its borders to interstate and overseas travellers. Arrivals will need to comply with the following vaccination and testing requirements:
Interstate travel into WA
Have a registered G2G Pass
Be triple dose vaccinated, if eligible
Undertake a rapid antigen test upon arrival within 12 hours and report any positive result.
International travel into WA
Meet Commonwealth Government requirements to enter Australia
Be fully vaccinated under the Commonwealth Government requirements, if eligible
Have a registered G2G Pass
Undertake a rapid antigen test upon arrival within 12 hours and report any positive result
Unvaccinated returning Australians will be required to complete hotel quarantine.
Prior to the March 3 border reopening date, returning international students will be allowed to enter Western Australia from other Australian states if they agree to self-quarantine in WA for seven days in suitable premises (with a PCR or rapid antigen test on day one with a negative test returned on day 7), be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine, and returned a negative rapid antigen test within 24 hours before departure.
For more detailed information, head over to the official Western Australia government website.
Stay up to date with international student arrival plans from the Australian Government here.
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Article originally published by: Insider Guides and Australian Government
Image credit: Marco López on Unsplash
All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice.