Passenger Cap – The New Arrangements on Australia’s International Travel
“Passenger Cap” is a new arrangement to Australia’s International travel introduced by the Australian Government. The new arrangement is called the “passenger cap” limiting international arrivals coming into Australia via commercial flights. The new arrangement is considered the harshest since the travel restrictions were introduced.
How does the passenger cap work? And how will it affect your travel to Australia?
How Passenger Cap Works
The Australian Government put a limit on the number of international arrivals in Australia with the passenger cap. The cap reduces weekly state and territory intake from the previous cap of 6,370, with an extra 300 spots for vulnerable people to return to Brisbane, to 3,035. It means there will be a reduction in international arrivals. The major airport will take individual caps as follow:
- Sydney – 1,505
- Perth – 265
- Adelaide – 265
- Melbourne – 500
- Brisbane – 500 (plus 150 surge capacity)
The Australian Government will review the reduction by 31 August 2021. However, Scott Morrison, the Minister of Australia, indicated the passenger cap would be in place until at least the end of the year.
Scott Morrison also stated that the Government planned to offset the passenger cap by increasing repatriation flights partly. The repatriation flights will be in addition to the above cap numbers, which the Federal Government offers to Australian citizens. The citizens will have quarantine likely to take place at Howard Springs in the Northern Territory.
Read more: Experts’ Discussion on Australia International Travel in 2021
Effect of Passenger Cap on International Travel
The reduced number of international arrivals is likely to affect the flights to Australia. Flights to Australia may become more difficult to obtain, and as a result, will be more expensive.
It is crucial for Australian citizens, permanent residents or temporary visa holders residing in Australia to reconsider their plans to fly outside Australia. They may face difficulties in returning to Australia due to the passenger cap being applied on 14 July 2021.
Read more: COVID-19 UPDATE: Changes on Travel Exemptions Outbound
What does it mean for you?
If you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or temporary visa holder residing in Australia, it would be best for you to stay in Australia at this moment. If you have to travel outside Australia, you should reconsider it as you might face difficulties travelling back to Australia.
The “passenger cap” seems like an additional restriction which you must be aware of besides the travel exemption. As we know, you would need to get a Travel Exemption to travel to Australia if you are not in the exempt category, and it isn’t easy to meet the criteria for travel exemption.
Hence, travel to Australia seems impossible at this moment for those of you who are not exempted in travel exemption, and the passenger cap seems to impede your plan to travel to Australia.
If you wish to check your eligibility, please contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone on 1300 827 159.
Still not sure how it will affect you? Please speak to us!
Don’t let the passenger cap bury your dream to travel to Australia! We’re here to help you!
We understand that applying for a visa to Australia is certainly very complicated. It is even more challenging during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our visa specialists at ONE derland Consulting will help you assess your visa options. We have a 98% success rate and are one of the most highly recommended migration agents in Australia. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews.
We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Take the first leap and get in touch with us. Our migration agents and our team are professional, honest and our team members are able to speak various languages such as Mandarin/ Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, Polish, German and Russian. Contact us through email at [email protected] or via phone at 1300 827 159. Alternatively, you may book your consultation online, and it is 100% refundable if you become our client.
