International students to return to Australia
Prior to the prime minister’s announcement, only small numbers of students had been able to apply for a travel exemption to enter the country. They included research students with Australian government funding, medical, dental, nursing or allied health students who would undertake work placements, and secondary school students in years 11 and 12.
This announcement is a major change from less than a month ago when it was still unclear how and when the over 145,000 international student visa holders would be able to enter Australia.
But there will still be some variation by Australian state, depending on where the students are intending to study.
Both NSW and Victoria had already scrapped their quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated arrivals. But international students entering other states may still face a range of restrictions. In the case of Queensland this includes having to pay for a mandatory two-week stay in an isolated quarantine facility.
Entering Western Australia may be impossible altogether, given the state’s plan to ease border controls only once a 90% two-dose vaccination target is achieved.
Under the new arrangements to begin from December 1, travellers must:
- depart from their home country
- be fully vaccinated with a completed dosage of a vaccine approved or recognised by the TGA
- hold a valid Australian visa
- provide proof of their vaccination status
- present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within three days of departure
Eligible visa holders include skilled and student cohorts, as well as humanitarian, working holidaymaker and provisional family visa holders.
School students are more likely to be interested in coming early in the next year anyway. But international tertiary students could be interested in arriving soon to work here over the summer, given Australia’s skill shortages in industries that commonly employ them – such as hospitality.
The big question now is how long it will take airlines to ramp up to full capacity. In pre-COVID times, this would have been a walk in the park. There were 21.3 million international arrivals in Australia in 2019, or around 1.8 million inbound passengers per month.
In October, the International Air Transport Association estimated international air travel is at only 40% of pre-COVID levels in 2021. It may take a long time to reach pre-COVID levels again, but at least we’re on our way.
To access the new provisions, travellers will need to be fully vaccinated, and present a negative PCR test within three days prior to departure.
Fully vaccinated means having had two full doses at least 14 days apart (or one dose for the single vaccines), and must have completed their course of vaccination at least seven days before arriving in Australia.
As of 17 November, the vaccines approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) are:
- Comirnaty (Pfizer)
- Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
- Covishield (AstraZeneca)
- Spikevax (Moderna)
- Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson)
- Coronavac (Sinovac)
- BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) (for 18-60 years old)
- Covaxin (Bharat Biotech)
International Student arrival details by Australian state:
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra
Returning students will be need to follow all Australian government vaccination and testing requirements but will not be required to quarantine.
New South Wales
Sydney
Vaccinated students will be allowed to return to the state without having to quarantine.
Queensland
Brisbane
All incoming students will be required to complete a two-week quarantine at a designated facility.
The first phase of the Queensland Arrivals Plan will see continuing students from universities in the state to return to complete their studies. The plan prioritises those studying medical, medical research, and allied health disciplines. The state anticipates a phased approach with eligibility criteria for education providers and students, and the number of places, expanding at each phase.
South Australia
Adelaide
The South Australian government has announced that South Australia will welcome fully vaccinated international students with no quarantine requirement once 90% of South Australians (aged 12+) are fully vaccinated. It is expected that the 90% target will be reached in December 2021.
Tasmania
Hobart
Tasmania has also announced its roadmap to reopen, with all vaccinated international travellers able to enter without quarantining from 15 December. All arriving travellers must provide a negative COVID-19 test.
Victoria
Melbourne
Vaccinated students will be allowed to return to the state without having to quarantine.
Western Australia
Perth
The state government has announced that Western Australia (WA) will welcome back fully vaccinated international students in time for the start of the new academic year in February 2022.
The official reopening date will be set once Western Australia reaches an 80% double vaccination rate, which is expected to occur in December 2021.
Northern Territory
Darwin
International Education Minister Nicole Manison announced this month that the territory is preparing a plan for approval by the national government. If confirmed, the plan will see chartered flights landing returning students in the territory in January 2022.
Excerpt from The Conversation Nov 23rd