Are you ready to hear the best update EVER? 👀 Fully vaccinated visa holders and international students will be allowed to enter Australia from 1 December 2021 without seeking an exemption!
This is one of the biggest changes to Australia’s border policies since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and puts Australia one step closer to pre-Covid normality.🙌
What’s the Deal?
On Monday 22 November 2022, Australia’s Prime Minister updated the nation on the federal governments Covid Border Policy. After Australia’s double-dose vaccination rates finally reached 85 per cent for adults aged over 16, Scott Morrison formally announced the further easing of international border restrictions by allowing fully vaccinated visa holders and international students to enter Australia from 1 December 2021 without seeking an exemption.
Eligible Visa Holders
A full list of Eligible visa holders can be found on the Australian Immigration website, but include people who hold the following visas:
- Working Holiday Visa (417) and (462)
- Student Visa (500)
What are the Entry Requirements?
- A Valid visa to enter Australia (as above)
- Proof of vaccination
- Australia Travel Declaration
- Pre-departure COVID-19 test (within 72 hours of travel)
Vaccinations
Travel to Australia is only permitted to travellers fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Australia considers you to be fully vaccinated if you have completed a course of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognised vaccine. This includes mixed doses. Current vaccines and dosages accepted for the purposes of travel are:
- AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
- AstraZeneca Covishield
- Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty
- Moderna Spikevax
- Sinovac Coronavac
- Bharat Biotech Covaxin
- Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for 18-60 year olds).
- Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.
You must be able to show proof of your fully vaccinated status and will be required to present a foreign vaccination certificate that meets all of the requirements outlined on the Australian Passport Office website.
Do you need to quarantine on arrival?
Students and Working Holiday Visa holders can enter Australia via NSW, Victoria and the ACT without quarantining. If you wish to travel on to another state or territory you may not be allowed to enter or may be subject to a quarantine period.
The best airport to fly into for quarantine free entry is Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD
Applying for a Visa and Processing Times
There has never been this much demand to enter Australia via a Working Holiday Visa and processing times are expected to be up to 120 days. We do expect Visas to be approved at a fast pace but do encourage you to plan accordingly and to apply now!
Eligible Countries: Belgium Canada Republic of Cyprus Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders) Republic of Ireland Italy Japan Republic of Korea Malta Netherlands Norway Sweden Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Eligible Countries: Argentina Austria Chile China, People’s Republic of Czech Republic Ecuador Greece Hungary Indonesia Israel Luxembourg Malaysia Peru Poland Portugal San Marino Singapore Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Thailand Turkey Uruguay United States of America Vietnam
What life is currently like in Australia?
Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Australians have lived with ongoing restrictions to protect Australians and ease any strain on our free health system. As of November 2021, Australia is out of lockdown. There are ongoing restrictions for travelling between certain states, but they are expected to ease by early 2022. Life in Sydney and Melbourne is relatively normal. Wearing a mask on public transport and in some indoor settings is still required and ‘checking in’ to venues is a condition of entry in most places to assist our Health departments in their contact tracing efforts.
Going to work, visiting the pub, swimming at the beach and hanging out with mates is still our way of life!
Where do I start?
Been waiting for this latest news? So have we! This is how you start your 2022 Working Holiday
- Apply for your Visa
- Lock in UltimateOz Sydney or Melbourne and we will make your arrival into Australia as easy as possible. We will sort out your bank account, set you up for tax, help you find somewhere to live and help you find work! You will also meet plenty of other travellers who have been stinging to get down under!
- Book your Flights and Travel Insurance
When can I book UltimateOz and Ultimate Melbourne?
UltimateOz resumes: Monday 10th January 2022.
Ultimate Melbourne resumes: Monday 4th April 2022.
You can secure a spot on our arrival weeks with a $49AUD deposit which is fully flexible and transferrable. Are you ready for your ULTIMATE adventure in 2022? We are!
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