The Australian government is planning to welcome visa holders (Health Minister Confirms),
Worries over the covid-19 variant omicron had postponed the reopening date by two weeks, Affecting international students and skilled visa holders from coming to Australia.
Greg Hunt, Australian health minister, confirms that Australia’s international borders are planned to reopen on Wednesday.
To entitled visa holders, including skilled migrants and international students.
Mr Hunt informed the reporters that reopening was on course to proceed when questioned about the timeline.
“Yes, we are on track for that – that has been reconfirmed over the weekend,” He stated.
“That reopening is planned will be going in discussion with the prime minister the national cabinet discussion and the guidance from the chief medical officer”.
The plan to move forward with the reopening of international borders comes in the middle of the emergence of the omicron covid-19 variant.
On 29 November 2021, the federal government mentioned that the reopening for international students and skilled migrants would be pushed back two weeks from 1 December to 15 December in reply to concerns over the omicron variant.
The decision affected many visa holders who stuck out of Australia due to international border restrictions for approximately two years and faced further delays in coming to Australia.
From 15 December 2021, it is anticipated that Australian borders will be reopened to international skilled and student visa holders and humanitarian, working holiday, and provisional family visa holders.
The facilitation of limitation would mean fully vaccinated visa holders would no longer be obligated to obtain an exemption to travel into the country.
Call for Migration Agent
Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, has also approved the reopening would apply to passengers from Japan and South Korea.
He made the remarks as he faced the press conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during his diplomatic visit to Canberra.
“This is made possible because South Korea and Australia have both shared A Covid-19 experience,” He informed reporters.
“Korea has had exceptional accomplishments in controlling the virus.”
“While Australia’s international borders have been open science the begging of November 2021, only fully vaccinated nationals, permanent residents and their families have been able to travel to the country without quarantining.
Visa holders will be obligated to a vaccine authorized by the Australian therapeutic goods administration to enter the country.
They will also be obligated to present a negative covid-19 PCR test within three days of departure.
In addition to the university sector, business groups have also been waiting to reopen borders to bring in workers to fill critical skill shortages and restart studies for international students.
The planned reopening comes as health authorities assess the transmissibility and acuteness of the omicron variant.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-on-track-to-welcome-visa-holders-on-wednesday-health-minister-says/b3e42d9d-a474-4978-96d9-f647035eed2b
