Here Are All The Countries Aussies Can Travel To Again
Pack your bags, international travel is finally back!
After almost 2 years of being grounded, International borders are finally opening and you can travel just for the heck of it without needing a bloody permit/exemption!
How different is international travel going to look?
Firstly and most importantly, you have to be fully vaccinated to even consider travelling internationally again.
However, you need to educate yourself on Australia's exit and re-entry process and read up on the entry process for the country you intend to travel to simply because every country is scrambling and figuring their process to welcome back international tourists.
What are Australia’s exit and re-entry requirements?
When you leave Australia, you need to have a vaccination status by creating an International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) at check-in when departing Australia. You can create your ICVC on your myGov account. You will get a PDF that you can store electronically or print out a hard copy if you'd like. Next, you will need to take a PCR covid test 7 hours before and will be valid for the next 72-hours.
When you want to re-enter Australia, you will have to keep in check with the state you will be re-entering the country. For now, fully vaccinated Aussies will not have to quarantine in hotels or at home on arrival into NSW, Victoria and the ACT. Tassie's set to open its borders on 15th December, and South Australia will have less strict rules from the 23rd of November. Queensland still hasn't announced when they will lift the requirement of hotel quarantine - so Queenslanders you have our heartfelt sympathies!
The question of the hour - which countries can you travel to?
1. Fiji
Mark 1st of December on your calendars, because that's when you can plan your tropical getaway to Fiji! If you've been jabbed with Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen you will be able to travel quarantine-free to sunny Fiji.
However, on arrival, you will have to download careFIJI on your phone and head straight to your hotel, where they will spend their first two days. Although you will have to spend 2-days at your hotel, you can still use the hotel's amenities. Once you've had a negative rapid antigen (swab) test, taken after 48 hours, you can travel across Fiji freely!
2. United States Of America
USA's requirements are less complicated, all you need to do is be fully vaccinated 14 days before departure and produce a negative PCR test taken no earlier than 3 days before departure. Easy peasy.
3. Singapore
The talk of the hour, Singapore travel! They've created a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL). Similar to a visa, you will have to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass to enter as a short-term visitor. Additionally, you will also have to show your proof that you've been fully vaccinated 14-days before your intended travel date. You will also have to take a PCR test on arrival at Singapore airport and self-isolate till the test comes back negative. Finally, you will need to have travel insurance that covers Covid-19 medical treatment and hospital costs. If you're keen to Travel to Singapore, your only airline option is Singapore Airlines, since they are the only airline operating VTL (Vaccinated Travel Lane) flights.
4. United Kingdom
The UK is by far has the least stressful travel process out of the lot, they've recently scrapped their traffic light system and international travellers will no longer have to hotel quarantine. You also don't have to produce a negative covid test result, but you'll probably have to take one anyway because most airlines require a negative PCR test to allow you to fly. You will have to fill a contact locator form before arriving in the UK and prebook a Covid-19 test that you will have 48 hours after you arrive at the latest.
5. Thailand
Thailand is welcoming travellers but also the current advice on the Smart Traveller site is at Level 3 (“Reconsider your need to travel”) so depends on how much you enjoy living on the edge. If you want to travel to Thailand you'll have to show proof of vaccination 14-days before you travel, produce a negative PCR test taken no more than 72-hours prior to departure. You will also have to register your details on the Thailand Travel Pass website at least seven days before departure and purchase a minimum per person US$50,000 travel insurance to cover medical expenses, including Covid-19 treatment.
The fine print on the T&C's of travelling is that only permanent residents and Australian citizens are allowed to leave and enter the country freely, so if you're on a student visa or a temporary work visa you will have to wait a little longer.
Look, travelling is not going to be the same for the foreseeable future, but if you've had the travel itch for a while then do your research for your destination and pack your bags - just prepare yourself to accept that the experience will be different from what you know it to be!
In case you're done with the Aussie life and keen to move to Europe, this country is offering you $45,000 to move there, but if you want to travel domestically this territory is offering upto $1000 off on your trip there!