Australia will open its borders for skilled migrants and international students who have valid visas on December 1. Tens of thousands of Indians are expected to benefit from this change. According to official estimates, Indian students contributed $6.6 billion to the Australian economy in 2019-20.
Key Highlight:
- Australia will open its borders for skilled migrants and international students who have valid visas on December 1.
- Tens of thousands of Indians are expected to benefit from this change.
- According to official estimates, Indian students contributed $6.6 billion to the Australian economy in 2019-20.
- After China, India is the country that sends the most international students to study in Australia.
- The Therapeutic Goods Administration requires all travelers to be fully immunized before entering the country.
To ease the travel burden on hundreds of thousands of Indians, Australia announced on Monday that it would no longer require a travel exemption for skilled migrants and international students who are fully immunized and have valid visas to enter the country beginning December 1.
“Reuniting families and securing our economic recovery by opening our border to skilled and student visa holders” are the stated goals of Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Australian authorities have been under pressure from the Indian government to allow students from India to study in Australian universities and educational institutions. After China, India is the country that sends the most international students to study in Australia. In the 2019-20 academic year, Indian students in Australia made a total economic contribution of $6.6 billion.
Australia will no longer require a travel exemption for visa holders who have been fully vaccinated by December 1, 2021.” Minister Morrison said in a statement, “Skilled and student cohorts are eligible, as well as humanitarian, working holidaymaker and provisional family visa holders.”
He said that Australia’s economic recovery would be bolstered by returning skilled workers and international students to the country.
In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration requires all travelers to be fully immunized with a vaccine before entering the country (TGA). The two primary vaccines used in India’s immunization program, Covishield and Covaxin, are recognized by TGA.
If you have a valid visa for one of the five eligible subclasses, show proof of vaccination status, and present a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within three days of departure, you are eligible for visa waivers.
Vaccination certificates for vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian government are mutually accepted in 99 other countries.
Quarantine requirements vary from state to state within Australia, and it is the responsibility of the visiting state or territory to enforce them.
Those with a valid visa from Japan or South Korea can travel to Australia starting December 1 without going through quarantine.
Before the first semester in February-March, Australian officials had said that international students, including Indians, would be able to return to Australia towards the end of this year and the beginning of 2022.
PM @ScottMorrisonMP announced today, from 1 Dec:
— Barry O’Farrell AO (@AusHCIndia) November 22, 2021
1. skilled migrants
2. international students
3. working holidaymakers
4. provisional family visa holders
5. humanitarian visa holders
who are fully vaccinated can enter 🇦🇺 without exemption (1/2)
