Australia Expands Border Easing, Ready To Accept Foreign Visa Holders From 1 December

JAKARTA - Australia will allow foreign visa holders to enter the country from early December, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Monday, as the decision to take further steps to restart international travel supports the economy.

Australia closed its international borders in May 2020, allowing only a limited number of citizens and permanent residents to enter, in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Rules were relaxed in recent weeks to allow family members of foreigners to enter. PM Morrison said this would be increased from December 1 to allow vaccinated students, business visa holders and refugees to arrive.

"The return of skilled workers and students to Australia is a major milestone on our return path," PM Morrison told reporters in Canberra, citing Reuters on November 22.

Australia will also allow vaccinated tourists from South Korea and Japan from December 1, he said.

The return of foreign students, who are worth around A$35 billion or the equivalent of US$25 billion per year to the Australian economy, will be a major boost to the education sector.

Many Australian universities rely on foreign students and border closures have caused many higher education facilities to lay off hundreds of staff.

To note, a group of international students arrived in Australia from Singapore on Sunday after the travel bubble between the two countries took effect.

Australia's biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, opened their borders to international travelers from November 1, although easing entry rules only benefited returnees and permanent residents.

Border rules, rapid lockdowns and tough social distancing rules are helping Australia keep its coronavirus toll much lower than many other comparable countries, with around 200,000 cases and 1,948 deaths.

Most of the new infections were reported in the State of Victoria, which recorded 1,029 cases as of Monday. New South Wales, home to Sydney, reported 180 cases. Other states and territories are COVID-free or have very few cases.