Over Coming Traveling Restrictions During COVID-19 in Australia
On 27 March 2020, the Australia government announced new quarantine measures requiring travellers entering Australia to undertake a mandatory 14 day self-isolation at designated facilities.
Broadly, incoming travel bans carries immediate detrimental consequences to travellers outside Australia, for example (but not limited to):
Temporary visas holders re-enter Australia;
Breaches to visa conditions, such as employment obligations under work visa programs or visa conditions requiring holders to enter Australia before a certain date;
Bridging visa B (BVB) holders stuck outside of Australia without avenues to extend the permitted travel facility granted; and
Ineligibility to appeal a decision to refuse or cancel a visa if they are not physically in Australia.
Travel Restrictions and Bans Remain in Place for Australia
Travel restrictions and bans remain in place with exemptions available for:
New Zealand citizens who are usually resident in Australia;
immediate family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents; and
transiting travellers.
In addition, the Commissioner of Australian Border Force may grant exemptions for:
foreign nationals traveling at the invitation of the Australian Government for the purpose of assisting with the COVID-19 response or whose entry is in the national interest;
critical medial services, including air ambulance and delivery of supplies that regularly arrive into Australia from international ports;
people with critical skills – e.g., medical specialists, engineers, marine pilots and crews by exception;
diplomats accredited to Australia and currently resident in Australia and their immediate family; and
case-by-case exceptions may also be granted for humanitarian or compassionate reasons.
In most cases, travel exemptions are not automatic and must be granted to visa holders before traveling to Australia.
Case Study: Business Traveller and Travel Restrictions
In certain cases, the Commissioner of Australian Border Force may grant exemptions even if a traveller does not meet the above listed. As there is no prescribed requirement, a strong case would be justifying the entry to Australia. An example, our firm is currently working on seeking endorsement by several authorities, including the State’s to make an endorsement for that the travel restrictions be lifted for a business entrepreneur. Part of the evidence building required us to address the preventative health measures our client will take, including minimizing the State’s costs to quarantine inbound travellers in the city they arrive for 14 days. These costs average at around $2,500 per person and up to $5,000 for a family of 2 or more people sharing the accommodation. These costs cover accommodation, food, medical support, policing and security.
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