Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed today, Monday, following a meeting with National Cabinet that the country’s international borders will reopen to fully vaccinated tourists and visa-holders from 21 February.
Morrison said, “It’s almost two years since we took the decision to close the borders to Australia”, adding, “The national cabinet has decided today Australia will reopen our borders to all remaining visa holders on February 21 of this year,” and “We have been progressively opening our borders since November of last year”, adding, “Those programs have proceeded very successfully.”
Morrison said, “Whether it was the programs we had in place with New Zealand or Singapore, and then with Japan and South Korea, opening up to international students and backpackers and economic migrants who are coming to Australia, that will now be extended to international visitors who will be able to return.”
He added that it will remain a requirement to be fully vaccinated before entering the country, however, he clarified that the federal definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ will continue to only include two doses.
No mention was made of the lifting of the ban on cruising, which it was anticipated would be at the same time as the lifting of the international travel ban with the Minister for Health having said previously that the resumption of cruising would be consistent with the resumption of international travel. but it does not appear to be the case.
Edited by John Alwyn-Jones
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