Following one of the world’s most extensive COVID-19 isolations, the Australian government will open its doors to all international students who have received a full COVID-19 vaccination.
According to Erudera.com, the decision will take effect on February 21 and will have an impact on over 500,000 international students currently enrolled in the country, as well as all other people who have temporarily suspended their duties due to the pandemic.
On February 21, 2022, all fully vaccinated visa holders will be able to travel to Australia without requiring a travel exemption. “Visa holders who have not been vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia,” according to the country’s Home Affairs Department.
Due to the government’s announcement that the country’s borders will be closed starting in March 2020, Australia has enforced the most stringent travel ban when compared to other countries. Another country that used a similar approach was the United States of America, which for nearly two years barred European citizens from travelling to the country.
“It has been about two years since we made the decision to close the borders with Australia. Following a meeting of the national security cabinet, Morrison stated that if a person has had two vaccinations, “we look forwards to welcoming them back to Australia.”
Following a 17 per cent decrease from last year’s similar time, the Department of Education estimates that Australia will have 568,746 overseas students during its January-November 2021 academic year period.
Chinese students (169,881) account for 28 per cent of all students enrolled in Australian universities in 2021, followed by Indians (99,523), who account for 17 per cent of all students, and Nepalese students (45,461), who account for eight per cent of all students enrolled in Australian universities in 2021 and represent a 13 per cent decrease from the previous year’s total.
Most recently, the neighbouring country of New Zealand declared that its initial reopening phases will begin just one week after Australia on February 27, which will be a week after the Australian reopening. Thus, around 5,000 international students will be permitted to enter the country beginning on April 12 and attend their classes in person.
People from New Zealand and other qualified countries travelling to Australia will be the first to be let into the nation, with the second phase allowing for the reopening of the country to people from other countries travelling on Working Holiday Scheme visas and those on skilled worker visas.
While Australia and New Zealand have made the decision to extend their borders to international students, Japan continues to place strict regulations on foreign students who wish to study there. The Asian country had declared that it would reopen to international students in stages, beginning with the admission of 87 students on January 30 and then 400 more students being granted permission to study there. The vast majority of 147,000 overseas students, who have been granted permission to study in Japan, are, however, left in their home countries after receiving their visas.
From February 21, all fully vaccinated international students are permitted to return to Australia.
