Hello everyone!
Wow, it’s been almost 3 months since the latest edition of our newsletter. Not much had happened in the immigration universe since then, but the wait was worth it: Australia is finally fully open to the world (as long as you’re vaccinated).
Borders open
While some visa holders were already being permitted to enter the country (for example international student and skilled workers), others still needed to have a travel exemption approved if planning to travel to Australia (visitor or bridging visa holders). Well, from 21 February this will change: Australia will reopen to all fully vaccinated visa holders, welcoming the return of tourists, business travellers, and other visitors.
Please remember that, to be considered fully vaccinated, you must have had:
- one dose of Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine
Or two doses of of of these others TGA-approved vaccines:
- AstraZeneca Vaxzevria, AstraZeneca Covishield,
- Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty,
- Moderna Spikevax,
- Sinovac Coronavac,
- Bharat Biotech Covaxin,
- Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV,
- Gamaleya Research Institute Sputnik V,
- Novavax/Biocelect Nuvaxovid.
If you won’t take the vaccine or if you have been vaccinated with a non-TGA-approved vaccine, you may still enter the country as long as you have had a travel exemption approved and you comply with quarantine arrangements for the state or territory you are travelling to. Good luck!!
Borders closed
Just to ensure he is different, the Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, is still requiring quarantine for everyone travelling to his state. So if WA is your destination you can still come, but be prepared to request authorisation through the G2G pass and make arrangements for a suitable accommodation to quarantine. On the bright side, the quarantine requirement has decreased from 2 weeks to only 7 days. For us here in Perth, this is already the best news ever!
State nomination program closed
Another thing that closed in WA is the state nomination program. Migration WA has announced that the state has met their quota of places for the State nomination program for 2021-22. The state has requested additional 5,000 places back in August 2021, but so far this has not been made available. If not additional migration places are provided, the program is set to be resumed in the new financial year, from July 2022.
State nomination program open
South Australia on the other hand has announced they will open Registrations of Interest (RoIs) to applicants currently residing outside of Australia for a further 259 occupations!!! The occupations and requirements will be updated on the South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List from 2pm, ACST, Wednesday 16 February 2022.
Unlimited hours (and length)
And while you make your plans to come to Australia (or stay longer, if you’re already here), as an international student or working holiday maker you can now take advantage of the temporary unlimited work restrictions! You can work as many hours as you physically can and, if you’re a WHV holder, now you don’t need to change employers every 6 months. Enjoy while it lasts!!
See you next time!