The Covid-19 Vaccination program is regularly making headlines in Australia and around the world. How does being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 affect travel?
Depending on where you live in the world, being fully vaccinated can have different outcomes. For example, Canada will allow anyone who can prove they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter without the need for quarantine. At this point in Australia, regardless of your vaccination status, you are required to quarantine for 14 days.
How does being vaccinated affect your application for a travel exemption?
Being fully vaccinated won’t guarantee you a travel exemption to enter Australia but it may help your application. Given that there are concerns about transmission of Covid-19 in hotel quarantine, a fully vaccinated traveller would be considered more favourable when it comes to deciding who gets a travel exemption. Of course, regardless of whether a travel exemption applicant has been vaccinated or not, they must still meet the travel exemption eligibility criteria.
What is also really important is that you don’t lie on your application about being vaccinated. Given that being vaccinated doesn’t guarantee a travel exemption, there is no point in lying about whether you have received it or not and will only result in you being penalised.
What happens if you have a travel exemption to leave Australia and you are not vaccinated?
If you are traveling outbound and have a travel exemption you are automatically eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine regardless of your age. While it’s not essential to be vaccinated to obtain a travel exemption or to travel in general, it is possible going forward it may make travel easier. At some point, travel will pick up whether domestically or internationally and being vaccinated will give travellers a bit more freedom. There is already talk about a vaccination passport being a key to having crowds or large numbers at events such as sports or the theatre so it’s only natural that proof of vaccination may also be required for travel.
If you would like to learn more about migration contact the team at Visa Solutions on 1800 828 008.
Travel Exemptions
While Australian borders are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel exemptions may apply under the following circumstances:
– A traveller has a compassionate or compelling reason to visit Australia
– Overseas workers holding a Subclass 482 or 400 visa are required to undertake a job in Australia that cannot be filled by a local employee
Visa Solutions Australia has been successful in acquiring a broad range of exemptions, from critical workers to those needing to travel on compassionate grounds.
