Australia to pause international travel for international students

The excitement of Australian borders opening has not lasted long, with the Federal Government announcement of earlier today that the planned opening of borders for eligible visa holders inlcuding international student will be postponed until 15 December and will not happen on the 1st December as originally planned.

The government has also delayed the reopening of travel with Japan and the Republic of Korea until 15 December.

The reason for the postponement of the border opening for eligible students is the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The Australian government is gathering further information as to the efficacy of the vaccine, the symptoms, and the level of transmission in comparison to the Delata variant.

Australia's international border remain open to for fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family, as well as fully vaccinated "green lane" travellers from New Zealand and Singapore and limited exemptions.

The Commonwealth already banned from entering Australia by non-citizens from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique.

Australian citizens and permanent residents returning from overseas to New South Wales and Victoria are required to isolate for 72 hours. If returning to other states a mandatory 14 days of managed quarantine for all international arrivals in response to the new variant.

Contact Assent Migration Lawyers to help you navigate the dynamic changes in Australian visas and entry requirements