AUSTRALIA: Outbound Travel Restrictions Lifted for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

November 22, 2021


Effective 1 November 2021, fully-vaccinated and medically-exempt Australians will no longer require a travel exemption to depart Australia.

What’s Changed?

Departure Requirements

Upon departure from Australia, individuals will now be required to present one of the following as proof of their vaccination status (or acceptable medical exemption):

Requirements to be Considered Fully Vaccinated

In order to be considered fully vaccinated by Australian authorities, individuals must meet the following conditions:

  • Completed a course of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognized vaccine:
    • Two doses at least 14 days apart of:
      • AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
      • AstraZeneca Covishield
      • Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty
      • Moderna Spikevax
      • Sinovac Coronavac
      • Bharat Biotech Covaxin
      • Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for 18-60 year olds).
    • Or one dose of:
      • Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.
    • At least seven (7) days must have passed since the final dose of the applicable vaccine.
    • Mixed doses will be accepted as long as all vaccines are approved or recognized by the TGA.

Note that children under 12 years old will not be required to obtain a travel exemption as they are still medically unable to be vaccinated.

Unvaccinated Travelers

Unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated individuals over 12 years old seeking to depart Australia will still be required to apply for a travel exemption via the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) online application system. Applicants must meet at least one eligible reason for travel and provide sufficient evidence to support the application. Full details can be found on the DHA website.

Return to Australia

Upon return to Australia, international travelers will be subject to local quarantine restrictions and requirements.

Newland Chase Insights

The lifting of the outbound travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Australians is welcome news for multinational companies, individuals, and families alike. As the Australian vaccination rates continue to climb, Newland Chase looks forward to additional restrictions being eased and lifted in accordance with health authorities’ guidance.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Case for any case- or company-specific assessments.