Australians might be able to travel outbound in November; the UK will be the first route
Australia travel restriction on Australian citizens and permanent residents might be lifted in November 2021, as the number of vaccinated and permanent residents increases.
There will surely be some conditions to lift the Australia travel restriction in November 2021.
Find more details below.
Current Australia travel restriction on Australian citizens and permanent residents
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Australia’s Federal Government has been implementing travel restriction to their citizens and permanent residents. The travel restrictions only allow Australian citizens and permanent residents to travel overseas for one of these reasons:
- The travel is part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid;
- The travel is for the citizens or permanent residents’ business/employer;
- The travel is to receive urgent medical treatment that is not available in Australia;
- The travel is for a compelling reason for three months or longer;
- The travel is on compelling or compassionate grounds;
- The travel is in the national interest;
- The citizens or permanent residents are ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia.
Due to the restrictions, Australian citizens and permanent residents must get an exemption to travel overseas.
Read more: Leaving Australia Exemption Update for Australian citizen and PR
Conditions to lift Australia travel restriction
The Australian Federal Government mentioned that the travel restrictions would be lifted as soon as the country’s vaccination rate hits 80 per cent of people aged 16 and over. Currently, only 39 per cent of the eligible population are fully vaccinated. In New South Wales, more than 40 per cent of its residents are fully vaccinated, and 70 per cent have received the first vaccine dose.
Once the 80 per cent is reached, the Australia travel restrictions will be lifted, and overseas flights will make a welcome return.
Read more: COVID-19 UPDATE: Changes on Travel Exemptions Outbound
Predicted travel route for Australian citizens and permanent residents
The CEO of Flight Centre, Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner, predicted that the UK would be the first open route for New South Wales residents. Since Australia is part of the UK “green list”, Australians are not required to enter quarantine as long as they have been Covid-tested in the three days before arriving and again on day two in the country.
Mr Turner also predicted that the travel route to the US, Canada, Singapore and Fiji might all happen before Christmas. Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, also predicted the UK, the US, Singapore, Japan, and New Zealand would be the first overseas travels available for Australians. Meanwhile, places like Bali and Thailand will likely be the last on the list.
Read more: Australia and Singapore Travel Bubble May be Available in a Couple of Months
The use of vaccine passports for international travel
Australian citizens and permanent residents are required to use the “vaccine passport” to travel overseas. However, one of the most significant hurdles that the vaccine passport will face is distinguishing which vaccines will be recognized by Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). At the moment, TGA has approved AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
Chief Executive of Tourism and Transport Forum, Margy Osmond, also stated there were still “major issues” that should be sorted out first before commencing the international vaccine passports.
Read more: Experts’ Discussion on Australia International Travel in 2021
Get your vaccine and prepare yourself to welcome back overseas travel!
We are sure that you are excited about the lift of Australia travel restriction, so let’s work together to reach 80 per cent!
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