The Australian Government has decided to pause the lifting of border restrictions due to the evolving Covid-19 situation.
In a media statement Prime Minister Scott Morrison today said that Australia will delay plans to reopen to international skilled and student visa holders from 1 December until 15 December. The delay also includes humanitarian, working holiday maker and provisional family visa holders.
The reopening to travellers from Japan and the Republic of Korea will also be paused until 15 December.
According to the Government, the temporary pause will ensure Australia can gather the information needed to better understand the Omicron variant.
On Saturday, the Australian Government announced the following measures:
Effective immediately, anyone who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, or their immediate family including parents of citizens, and who have been in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi or Mozambique where the Omicron variant has been detected and spread – within the past 14 days – will not be able to enter Australia.
Australian citizens and permanent residents, immediate family members including parents arriving from these countries will need to go into immediate supervised quarantine for 14 days subject to jurisdictional arrangements.
Anyone who has already arrived in Australia and who has been in any of the eight countries within the past 14 days must immediately isolate themselves and get tested for COVID-19 and follow jurisdictional quarantine requirements which will include quarantine for 14 days from the time of departure from southern Africa.
These restrictions also apply to people, for instance international students and skilled migrants, arriving from the safe travel zones we have established with New Zealand and Singapore who have been in any of the eight countries within the past 14 days.
These measures will also be continued until 15 December.
Australian Border Force retains discretion to allow people in who are already in transit to enter, but these people will be subject to state based isolation requirements.
Under state public health requirements, New South Wales and Victoria have already initiated testing and 72 hours of isolation requirements for Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members entering the country. In other states, 14 days of managed quarantine is required, and traveller cap arrangements are in place.
For more information please Contact Us or email elan@ryshermigration.com.au
Elan Rysher is a Registered Migration Agent and Qualified Student Counsellor. He is the main Writer for ImmiUpdates and the founder of Rysher Migration. Elan has many years of experience working in immigration, finance and health. Being a former migrant himself, Elan is passionate about helping others fulfil their Australian dream.
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