After almost two years of a tight lockdown of the entire country, the ports of Australia will once again be open to all holders of visas who are fully vaccinated effective as of Monday, February 21, 2022 — meaning that tourists, business travelers, and other visitors are welcome to enter and enjoy all that it has to offer.
Yes, Australia Technically Reopens to International Travelers on February 21 2022 — But…
According to this official joint press release from Scott Morrison — who is the current prime minister of Australia — and the ministers for home affairs; health; and for trade, tourism, and investment:
These changes will ensure we protect the health of Australians, while we continue to secure our economic recovery.
Australia’s health system has demonstrated its resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including though the recent Omicron wave. With improving health conditions, including a recent 23 per cent decline in hospitalisations due to COVID, the National Security Committee of Cabinet today agreed Australia is ready to further progress the staged reopening of our international border.
Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia, and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements.
Today’s announcement will give certainty to our vital tourism industry, and allow them to start planning, hiring and preparing for our reopening. In 2018-19, tourism generated more than $60 billion for the Australian economy, with more than 660,000 jobs dependent on the industry.
Since the Morrison Government commenced Australia’s staged international border reopening on 1 November 2021 we have seen almost 580,000 arrivals come to Australia including to reunite with loved ones, work or study.
The Commonwealth continues to work with States and Territories on the safe resumption of the cruise industry and looks forward to further announcements on this in due course.
…Not So Fast…
Australia may once again be open to international visitors later this month; but each state and territory still has their own restrictions pertaining to visitors — some which are more restrictive than others.
Consider the official new protocols and policies from the state of Western Australia, which had implemented the strictest requirements during the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic but were relatively relaxed effective as of yesterday, Wednesday, February 9, 2022:
From tomorrow, new high caseload environment COVID-19 protocols will be introduced across WA.
The new settings will help to manage community transmission of COVID-19 and minimise disruption to the community and economy, including:
- New close contact definitions
- New testing and isolation guidelines
- Specific school and childcare close contact protocols
- Online registration of positive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) results
In addition, commencing Wednesday 9 February, the following will also be implemented:
- Reduction in quarantine for approved international and interstate travellers to 7 days
- Travellers must wear a mask in indoor and outdoor settings for the following 7 days
- Vaccinated direct international travellers permitted to self-quarantine at a suitable premises, if eligible
- International arrivals cap doubling to 530 travellers per week
- Unvaccinated international arrivals required to complete 14 days in hotel quarantine
- Mandatory use of G2G Now still required by all arrivals in self-quarantine.
Under the hard border settings, the following testing advice applies:
- Approved travellers undertake a PCR or RAT on Day 1, and then return a negative RAT on Day 7 to end their self-quarantine period
- Any household member will also be required to return a negative RAT on Day 7
- Any household member will be classified as a close contact, if the approved travellers tests positive during self-quarantine.
Any travellers, positive cases or asymptomatic close contacts currently in self-quarantine under the previous 14-day settings are able to leave quarantine once they have completed 7 days and have returned a negative RAT.
If symptomatic, people need to continue in isolation, until symptoms resolve.
Policies and Protocols for Each State and Territory in Australia
Here are links to the policies and protocols pertaining to the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic as per each state and territory in Australia:
- Australian Capital Territory — which includes Canberra
- Jervis Bay Territory — which includes Booderee National Park
- New South Wales — which includes Sydney and Norfolk Island
- Northern Territory — which includes Darwin, Alice Springs, and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
- Queensland — which includes Cairns and Brisbane
- South Australia — which includes Adelaide
- Tasmania — which includes Hobart, Australian Antarctic Territory, Heard Island, and McDonald Islands
- Victoria — which includes Melbourne
- Western Australia — which includes Perth, Christmas Island, and Cocos or Keeling Islands
Final Boarding Call
I enjoyed Australia immensely when I was there for two weeks before spending a third week in New Zealand — and those two countries still offer things to see and do which I personally have not yet experienced.
If you plan on going to Australia in the near future, ensure that you meet all of the protocols and requirements of the country itself and of each state and territory in which you intend to visit so that you do not encounter an unexpectedly unwelcome experience — as well as expect crowds from the demand for traveling there, which had been pent up and building over the past two years.
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