Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia has imposed a number of travel bans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country was one of the first to adopt a hardline approach to tackling the outbreak, with border controls imposed on visitors from countries with high infection rates. Travel restrictions have been placed on both incoming and outgoing travel, with exemptions made for certain individuals and circumstances. The Australian government has stated that these measures are necessary to protect Australians from the risk of infection and slow the spread of the virus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | June 2021 |
| Countries banned | China, Iran, South Korea, India |
| Exemptions | Diplomats, airline crew, maritime crew, seasonal workers, people with critical skills, medical students, aid workers, those travelling on compassionate grounds |
| Review | Weekly |
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What You'll Learn
Exemptions for incoming travel to Australia
Australia implemented a travel ban in March 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has been extended and adjusted several times. The ban applies to both Australian citizens and permanent residents leaving the country, as well as foreign nationals entering the country. However, there are certain exemptions for incoming travel to Australia.
Firstly, visa holders with partner visas (subclasses 100, 309, 801, 820) and child visas (subclasses 101, 102, 445) can enter Australia without requesting an exemption. Prospective Marriage Visa holders (subclass 300) need to apply for an exemption, and their chances of approval increase with a longer and more substantial relationship. Student and visitor visa holders married to Australian citizens or residents can apply for an exemption under family status. All travellers granted exemptions must still quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
Secondly, individuals with a compelling or compassionate reason for travel may be granted an exemption. This includes immediate family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents, as well as partners of Australian citizens or residents who are foreign nationals and have applied for a visa. An average of 907 exemptions per month were granted on these grounds between October 2020 and January 2021.
Thirdly, exemptions may be granted for critical skills, national interest, or medical treatment reasons. This includes engineers, ship crews, specialized medical professionals, and individuals receiving urgent medical treatment unavailable in Australia. Between October 2020 and January 2021, there were 10,838 grants and 11,252 refusals for these categories.
Finally, exemptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons. Diplomats accredited to Australia and their immediate families are typically exempt. The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant exemptions even if travellers do not meet the above criteria, provided they present a strong case justifying their entry.
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Bans on outgoing travel from Australia
Australia has had a complex and ever-changing set of border restrictions since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bans on outgoing travel from Australia have been implemented to varying degrees, with the federal government using biosecurity powers to prevent citizens from travelling overseas.
In March 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a ban on outgoing travel from Australia, stating that Australians should not be travelling overseas for leisure. Morrison emphasised that those who chose to return to Australia after travelling abroad would put other Australians at risk. This ban included exceptions for aid workers, those travelling on compassionate grounds, and individuals with essential work travel.
In June 2021, Australia's border closure continued to be a dynamic situation with travel bans in place. Individuals could enter Australia without obtaining an individual exemption if they met certain criteria. These included having spent the previous 14 days in Australia or New Zealand, being accredited diplomatic staff or their immediate family members, transiting through Australia for 72 hours or less, or being part of an airline or maritime crew.
Other exemptions included individuals recruited under the Government-approved Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific Labour Scheme, those holding a Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188) visa, and students in their final two years of specific health-related degree programmes with confirmed placements in Australia. Temporary visa holders in Australia were allowed to depart at any time but generally could not return.
Travel exemptions for individuals travelling from Australia to India were also limited to critical workers providing COVID-19 assistance, those travelling in Australia's national interest, and people seeking urgent medical treatment for critical illnesses that could not be treated in Australia.
The Australian government's approach to border control and travel restrictions has been criticised for potentially hampering coronavirus research. Peter Sheehan, a research director at Victoria University, suggested that the government should consider gradually easing bans on travel from countries where the virus was being contained, such as China.
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Exemptions for outgoing travel from Australia
Australian citizens and permanent residents are currently not allowed to leave the country without a travel ban exemption. To be granted an exemption, they must meet at least one of the following criteria and be able to provide supporting documentation:
- Compassionate or compelling reasons
- Travel is in the national interest
- Urgent and/or unavoidable personal business
- Receiving urgent medical treatment unavailable in Australia
- Part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid
- Travel is for business or employment reasons
- Ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia
- Leaving Australia for three months or longer
Dual citizens are being granted the same outbound exemption options as Australian permanent residents and citizens.
The Department of Home Affairs assesses the exemptions individually. Applicants must apply for an exemption online and provide sufficient evidence to support their claims. The Australian Border Force grants exemptions to those offering critical or specialist medical services, working in a critical sector or possessing critical skills, invited by the Australian government, or sponsored by an employer to fill an occupation on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List.
The current ban has been extended until 17 December 2021, with individuals aiming to travel to or from Australia only able to do so if granted an exemption.
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Travel bans and their impact on research
Australia has imposed strict travel restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. These restrictions have been in place since March 2020 and have been constantly evolving. Initially, Australia banned the arrival of foreigners from countries with large outbreaks of the coronavirus, such as China, Iran, and South Korea. Australian nationals and residents returning from these countries were required to self-isolate for two weeks. As the pandemic progressed, Australia extended its travel bans to include other countries and tightened its border controls.
The impact of these travel bans on research has been significant. The exclusion of non-nationals has resulted in a loss of vital expertise and hindered the exchange of knowledge. According to Professor Peter Sheehan, research director at Victoria University's Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, travel bans on countries that have successfully contained the virus, such as China, impede the flow of information and learning. Professor Sheehan argues that China has a vast reservoir of knowledge about the disease and how to handle it, which could benefit other countries.
Furthermore, travel bans have disrupted the supply of drugs and medical equipment. Professor Grant Guilford, vice-chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington, criticized the travel bans, stating that they choke the supply chain of critical resources by reducing the number of aircraft available for transportation. The bans also limited the movement of researchers and students, hindering their ability to conduct fieldwork, attend conferences, and collaborate with international peers.
However, some commentators argue that the impact of travel bans on research is nuanced. While they recognize the importance of international collaboration and knowledge exchange, they emphasize that the primary focus of the travel bans is to protect public health and slow the spread of the virus. Additionally, the development of remote collaboration tools and virtual conferences during the pandemic has partially mitigated the impact of travel restrictions on research activities.
As the pandemic situation evolves, Australia continues to review and adjust its travel restrictions. The government has granted exemptions to certain individuals, such as critical workers, students in specific fields, and those with compelling reasons, recognizing the importance of facilitating essential travel while prioritizing the health and safety of its citizens.
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Travel bans for foreign nationals
Australia has implemented travel bans for foreign nationals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other health and security concerns. As of March 20, 2020, the Australian government imposed a travel ban on foreign nationals, preventing them from entering the country unless they were exempt. This ban was part of Australia's unprecedented control measures over the mobility of its citizens and non-citizens during the pandemic.
Prior to this, in February 2020, Australia had already banned foreign nationals from mainland China from entering the country, citing the need to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. This ban was criticised by China's ambassador to Australia, who requested that Australia ease the restrictions as the number of cases in Australia had remained steady.
The COVID-19-related travel ban included exemptions for Australian citizens and permanent residents, who could still enter Australia without further permission. Direct family members of Australian citizens and permanent residents, such as spouses, dependents, and legal guardians, could also enter but had to apply for a visa and provide evidence of their relationship.
There was no established timeframe for the travel ban, but the Prime Minister mentioned a period of six months as an estimated timeframe for normalisation. The ban was to be reviewed regularly, and temporary visa holders in Australia were required to maintain their lawful status and apply for new visas if necessary.
In addition to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, Australia has also sought exemptions from the Trump administration's Muslim travel ban, which affected dual nationals and legal permanent residents of Australia. Australian officials have negotiated with their US counterparts for clarity and potential exemptions for Australian travellers affected by the ban.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has implemented a number of travel bans and restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation is complex and constantly changing, so travellers should refer to the latest government advice. As of June 2021, travel bans were in place for foreigners, with only exempt categories and those with individual exemptions allowed entry.
Those who are automatically exempt from the travel restrictions and can enter Australia without obtaining an individual exemption include:
- Australian and New Zealand citizens who have been in either country for 14 days or more immediately prior to arrival in Australia.
- Diplomats accredited to Australia, including their immediate family members.
- Airline and maritime crew, including marine pilots.
- People recruited under the Government-approved Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific Labour Scheme.
- People who hold a Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188) visa.
Individual exemptions may be granted to foreign nationals in the following cases:
- Travelling at the invitation of the Australian government or a state/territory government authority to assist in the COVID-19 response.
- Providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations, and delivering critical medical supplies.
- A foreign national with critical skills or working in a critical sector in Australia.
- Students in their final two years of study of a medical, dental, nursing, or allied health profession university degree with evidence of a confirmed placement in an Australian hospital or medical practice beginning within the next two months.
- Travelling for compassionate and compelling reasons.
