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ߣߣÊÓÆµ scraps special permissions for international students to enter and increases post-study work visa rights

After two years of an entirely closed border, ߣߣÊÓÆµ is slowly introducing measures to allow international students to enter and is increasing post-study work visa timelines

Seeta Bhardwa's avatar

Seeta Bhardwa

Editor, THE Student

Published on December 15 2021

Last updated June 20 2024

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From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated students will be able to enter ߣߣÊÓÆµ without a special permit.

This is a welcome announcement for international students who have been campaigning to return to ߣߣÊÓÆµ to resume their studies in-person for the past 18 months.

To be eligible, students must have tested negative for Covid-19 in the three days prior to travelling and must be fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines that have been approved by ߣߣÊÓÆµâ€™s Therapeutic Goods Administration. Students must also self-isolate for three days upon arrival. 

Despite this change, however, students must also ensure that they check quarantine and testing requirements for the state in which they will arrive because these still vary across the country. These measures are only in place in the states of New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and ߣߣÊÓÆµn Capital Territory while other states such as Queensland, Tasmania and Western ߣߣÊÓÆµ are beginning to relax rules on travelling across states. 


Covid-19 travel updates for international students for the UK, the US, Canada and ߣߣÊÓÆµ
Small number of international students to be allowed into ߣߣÊÓÆµ this year
Vaccine passport and travel rules for international students in the US, the UK, Canada and ߣߣÊÓÆµ
South ߣߣÊÓÆµ to allow small group of international students to fly in


Students flying into South ߣߣÊÓÆµ will have to quarantine for a week until the population has reached the 90 per cent vaccination threshold, which is expected be by January.

ߣߣÊÓÆµ had one of the strictest border closures in the world during the Covid-19 pandemic, remaining to shut to almost everyone except for ߣߣÊÓÆµn citizens with special exemptions.

Now, in an effort to attract more international students, the ߣߣÊÓÆµn government has announced that taught master’s students will be able to stay in the country for three years after graduation to work. The limit for the post-study work visa was previously two years.

The government will also allow students who had obtained post-study work visas but were unable to use them because of border closures to apply for a replacement visa.

These measures come as part of a range of changes introduced by the ߣߣÊÓÆµn government to boost its attractiveness as an international study abroad destination.

New Zealand has also announced that it will introduce a phased approach to reopening its borders in 2022, first opening up to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents in ߣߣÊÓÆµ from 16 January 2022.

All other international travellers will be allowed into the country from 30 April 2022, on the condition that they are fully vaccinated, must self-isolate for seven days on arrival and take a Covid-19 test. More information on this plan will be available in the next four to six weeks.

Many New Zealand universities such as the University of Otago will introduce mandatory vaccination for staff and students for entry onto campus or participation of face-to-face activities. This will be enforced from 31 January 2022. 


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