Australia to Reopen its Borders Soon

Key Highlights:

• Overview
• Border Restrictions
• Vaccination Requirements

The Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, recently announced that the Oz government would be lifting the 18-month old border restrictions on Australians travelling abroad, one of the strictest bans globally.

Border Restrictions

The Prime Minister said that reopening the border for both citizens and permanent residents will be connected with the commencement of home quarantine measures in its states and territories.

 The first part of the plan will target its citizens and permanent residents being allowed to depart from the country while additional changes to be expected to allow international travellers.

During a televised media conference, the prime minister said that “It’s time to give Australians their lives back. We’ve saved lives, we’ve saved livelihoods, but we must work together to ensure that Australians can reclaim the lives that they once had in this country.”

The Land Down Under had shut its international border in March last year, just after the outbreak of Covid-19. Ever since, only a select few have been granted permission to leave the country, either for humanitarian or critical business reasons.

Vaccination Requirements

After the border restrictions are removed, Australian citizens and permanent residents will be furnished with a globally recognized proof of vaccination certificate to prove their vaccination status.

This proof will align with the standards set by the International Aviation Organization. The government has already started engaging with foreign governments and commercial airlines to ensure familiarity with the system.