Starting next month, many Australians who were stranded abroad during the pandemic can finally return home.
”It is time to give Australians their lives back,” says Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Australia's borders to the outside world, which have been closed since March 2020 with few exceptions, are about to reopen. For some parts of the country, this will happen as early as November.
Initially, Australian citizens or permanent residents who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter the country, provided they complete a week of home quarantine. And there will no longer be any restrictions on how many people are allowed into the country.
Unvaccinated Australians will still be required to undergo quarantine in hotels or special facilities for 14 days.
The exact opening date varies from state to state, but New South Wales with the metropolitan area of Sydney is expected to be the first to open.
The opening also means that fully vaccinated Australians will soon be able to travel abroad without first seeking special permission. There are also plans to establish quarantine-free travel with other countries, such as New Zealand.
It is not yet known when the borders will open to non-Australians, but Morrison mentions that for example, students or those with work permits from certain countries, it could be early next year. The current border closure is in place until December 17.
