Australia Reopens to Skilled Workers and International Students

Early December, Australia took back its ease in border restrictions due to the new COVID-19 Omicron variant. That meant that they would temporarily stop accepting international students, skilled workers, humanitarian, and provisional family visa holders from abroad, whom they had just opened to at that time. 

But as small findings about the Omicron variant emerged, Australia reopens by once again easing its border restrictions. According to the Australian Government Department of Health, the following travellers will be allowed to enter the country: fully vaccinated travellers from Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, as well as international skilled and student cohorts, humanitarian, working holiday makers and provisional family visa holders.

Arrivals are required to submit a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test (nose and throat) within three days of travel and the Australian travel declaration forms. 

Image credit: Photoholgic 

Australian Government Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly also expressed how Australia is one of the most prepared countries to face the Omicron variant. “Australia is well placed to deal with COVID-19 and its emerging challenges like the Omicron variant. Our high COVID-19 vaccination rates and boosters have put us in a very good place. We are one of the first countries to roll out population-wide boosters. We are well prepared. Australia’s health system and processes built to manage this virus can be relied on to keep us safe,” he said in a statement. 

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As of writing, the World Health Organization is still waiting for further studies before they can say with certainty how transmissible the Omicron variant is. However, early reports have indicated that the variant may bring about mild diseases to the younger population. Current vaccines are still effective regardless. 

Aside from this, Australia currently shares VTLs with Singapore and South Korea, which are still active. As Australia gradually reopens to more foreigners, do you plan on travelling down under as soon as it’s ready?

Featured image credit: Dan Freeman | Unsplash