Travel Exemption and Travel Bubble Updates | Interstaff Insights
With the rapid pace of international travel news, it can be hard to know what’s changed and how it may impact you. Here’s the latest travel exemption and travel bubble updates. Read on to find out about:
- The Biosecurity Emergency Period and Outbound Travel Restrictions
- Outbound Travel Exemptions | How long do they last? Are they for multiple use?
- India-Australia Travel Exemptions
- COVID-19 Vaccinations for people with Travel Exemptions
- Outbound Travel | Government to trial overseas travel for vaccinated Australians
- Travel Bubble Updates | Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Pacific Islands, UK and US
- COVID-19 Disaster Payments for Australians and Some Visa Holders
Biosecurity Emergency Period Extended | Travel restrictions continue
Australia’s Biosecurity Emergency Period has been extended until 17 September 2021. These emergency periods can only be extended for three months at a time and it’s likely it will continue to be extended until at least mid 2022 when the border is planned to reopen.
The Declaration gives the Government powers to take necessary measures to prevent and control COVID-19. It extends existing emergency determinations including:
- Mandatory pre-departure testing and mask wearing for international flights
- Restrictions on the entry of cruise vessels within the Australian territory
- Restrictions on outbound international travel for Australians
Outbound Travel Exemptions | How long do they last? Are they for multiple use?
We now have greater clarity over the way in which the Department of Home Affairs are managing Outbound Travel Exemptions:
- A Travel Exemption is valid for one outwards movement only, unless it is a stipulated multiple use exemption
- Travel Exemptions lodged before 9 February 2021 do not have a validity period and remain valid if the reason for travel remains the same
- Travel Exemptions lodged on 9 February 2021 onwards have a three month travel validity from date of approval and remain valid for one outwards movement during this period
India-Australia Travel Exemptions
The eligible Travel Exemption categories to fly from India have slightly broadened this month.
A Travel Exemption to travel from India may be approved for the following limited circumstances:
- Critical workers providing assistance to Australia’s COVID-19 response – this should be clearly evident in the nature of work
- People travelling in Australia’s national interest
- People travelling due to the death or funeral of a close family member in Australia
- People visiting a close family member who is critically ill
- People escorting an Australian citizen or permanent resident minor back to Australia, where the parents of the child are currently in Australia. The escort must be an eligible family member. Further conditions apply.
Supporting evidence is required.
A Travel Exemption to travel to India may be approved for the following limited circumstances:
- Critical workers providing assistance to India’s COVID-19 response
- People travelling in Australia’s national interest
- People seeking urgent medical treatment for a critical illness that cannot be treated in Australia
- People travelling due to the death or funeral of a close family member
- People visiting a close family member who is critically ill
- People seeking to travel to India to escort an Australian citizen or permanent resident minor back to Australia.
COVID-19 Vaccinations for People with Travel Exemptions
In Australia, it is not mandatory to be vaccinated from COVID-19 before travel. However, the guidelines have recently changed to allow access to COVID-19 vaccinations for some travellers.
It means Australians under 50, with valid outbound travel exemptions, are now able to receive vaccines regardless of their phase in the vaccine rollout, and many Temporary Visa holders can also access the vaccine.
Australian citizens and permanent residents under 50 years of age with an approved outbound Travel Exemption for an eligible category can now access COVID-19 vaccinations.
- If you have a travel exemption granted for eligible reasons on or after 20 May 2021 and have not left Australia, you can submit a new travel exemption and request to be eligible for vaccination before travelling
- You will not be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination if your Outbound Travel Exemption is granted for ‘compelling reasons for at least 3 months’
Temporary visa holders under 50 years of age who are in Australia and have an approved Inbound Travel Exemption for return travel to Australia are eligible to access COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Your Inbound Travel Exemption must be granted on or after 8 June 2021
- If you have an Inbound Travel Exemption to return to Australia granted before 8 June 2021, and have not left Australia, you can submit a new travel exemption and request to be eligible for vaccination before travelling
On Friday 2 July 2021, the Government announced a vaccination target would be in place as part of its Four-Phase Plan to reopen to international travel and emerge from the pandemic – find out more here.
Outbound Travel | Government to trial overseas travel for vaccinated Australians
In a meeting with the Coalition party this month, Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt announced a pilot program would be rolled out by the Federal government to trial overseas travel for vaccinated Australians.
Starting from August 2021, the scheme would be used to promote the benefits of getting vaccinated. Under the pilot program:
- Australians who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may be allowed to travel to selected countries (low-risk destinations) and return without needing to quarantine if they show a negative COVID-19 test on arrival.
- Australians stranded overseas could also come to Australia if they were vaccinated in countries where ‘vaccination status can be reliably verified – such as the UK, US, Canada and Singapore.
The trial could be rolled out with the introduction of an ‘amber’ grading for less risky countries. Currently, the current ‘green’ category applies only to New Zealand and the Government classifies the rest of the world as ‘red’. Travellers from ‘amber’ countries would face less stringent quarantine rules.
The Government will also trial a 7 day quarantine period with a small number of vaccinated travellers, instead of the current 14 days.
Travel Bubble Updates | Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Pacific Islands, UK and US
A few months ago, the leading candidates for the next Travel Bubble with Australia were Taiwan, Singapore, the Pacific Islands and South Korea, however new waves of COVID-19 in some of these regions have delayed Travel Bubble plans.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said it may be ‘some time’ before the next travel bubble is opened, but made it clear he wants Singapore to be next on the list. This month he met with Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong and said priority would be given to the return of Singaporean students to Australia. The travel bubble would require most people in both countries to be vaccinated.
Mr Morrison also met with NZ Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern to discuss possible plans to extend the Trans-Tasman Travel Bubble to the Pacific Islands, including New Caledonia, Tahiti and the Cook Islands.
In a shared statement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NZ Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern noted the opportunity to offer quarantine free travel to the Pacific “when it is safe to do so”. They did not state which specific countries or timelines.
With infections decreasing in the UK and United States, there is speculation that Travel Bubbles with these regions could follow in the future. However, this could take some time as cases of infection are still at a few thousand cases a day.
Other updates | COVID-19 Disaster Payments for Australians and Some Visa Holders
A one-off and time-limited COVID-19 Disaster Payment is available to Australian citizens, Permanent Residents and Temporary Visa holders with work rights and who have had their hours of income significantly affected by COVID-19 restrictions. Further criteria applies.
Recent legislative amendments have relaxed the claim requirements. Further information can be found on the ServicesAustralia website and on GrantConnect.
Interstaff | Travel Exemptions and Travel Bubbles Australia
We hope this is helpful – you may also be interested in other articles:
Australia’s Border Could Re-Open in 2022
Leaving Australia | Outbound Travel Exemptions
Critical Work and Compassionate Travel Exemptions to Come to Australia
Applying for a Partner Visa in the COVID-19 Era
Should you require advice on your visa or travel exemption options, we encourage you to get in touch with Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents to arrange a consultation so we can consider your circumstances.
Source:
Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents
The Department of Home Affairs
ABC News
Migration Institute of Australia
7 News
Sydney Morning Herald
News.com.au
ABC News
The Guardian
