Entering Australia in 2022: Can you have a holiday in Australia?

Starting from 15 December 2021, some eligible Australia Visa holders can travel to Australia without travel exemption, meaning Australia international border reopen is in front of us.

The reopening of the Australia international border will give you a chance to reunite with your family in Australia for Christmas and New Year. Isn’t it great?

However, you must meet the requirements to travel to Australia without a travel exemption. And the other important thing is, you must have a suitable visa to travel to Australia.

Now, a question might pop up in your head; can you travel to Australia with a Visitor Visa (subclass 600) without a travel exemption?

Find the answer below.

List of Eligible Visas to Travel to Australia Without Exemption

As part of Australia international border reopening, holders of the below visa can travel to Australia without a travel exemption from 15 December 2021.

1. Subclass 200 – Refugee visa
2. Subclass 201 – In-country Special Humanitarian visa
3. Subclass 202 – Global Special Humanitarian visa
4. Subclass 203 – Emergency Rescue visa
5. Subclass 204 – Woman at Risk visa
6. Subclass 300 – Prospective Marriage visa
7. Subclass 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa
8. Subclass 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (other streams, including Australian Agriculture Visa stream)
9. Subclass 407 – Training visa
10. Subclass 408 – Temporary Activity visa
11. Subclass 417 – Working Holiday visa
12. Subclass 449 – Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa
13. Subclass 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled) visa
14. Subclass 461 – New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa
15. Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday visa
16. Subclass 476 – Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa
17. Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa
18. Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visa
19. Subclass 489 – Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visa
20. Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
21. Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
22. Subclass 500 – Student visa
23. Subclass 580 – Student Guardian visa (closed to new applicants)
24. Subclass 590 – Student Guardian visa
25. Subclass 785 – Temporary Protection visa
26. Subclass 790 – Safe Haven Enterprise visa
27. Subclass 870 – Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa
28. Subclass 988 – Maritime Crew visa

Holding one of those visas is not enough. You must also be fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines below if you want to travel to Australia in 2022:

• 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 years old travellers).
• Or one dose of:
  • Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag Covid Vaccine.

You must provide a Covid-19 vaccination certificate as evidence that you have been fully vaccinated. If you got your vaccination outside Australia, your Covid-19 vaccination certificate must meet the requirements outlined on the Australian Passport Office website.

Read more: Travel Exemption Australia Update: Eligible Visa Holders Now Can Enter Australia!

Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Application During Pandemic

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Visitor Visa (subclass 600) application is more complex. You cannot apply for the visa with simple documentation as how it was before the pandemic.

But does it mean you cannot travel to Australia with a Visitor Visa (subclass 600)?

The answer is no.

The Visitor Visa (subclass 600) application is surely more complex during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Still, it does not mean it’s impossible to get one!

Read more: UPDATE: New Arrangements for Onshore and Offshore Visitor (Class FA) Visa Application

Is it possible to enter Australia with a Tourist Visa?

As can be seen on the list above, Tourist Visa or Visitor Visa (subclass 600) is not included as an eligible Australia visa, meaning if you hold a Visitor Visa, you cannot enter Australia without a travel exemption despite the reopening of Australia international border. Additionally, you must be in one of these conditions if you want to travel to Australia with a Visitor Visa (subclass 600):

• Be the immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident

You are considered an Australian citizen or permanent residents’ immediate family member if you are their partner (spouse or de facto), parents, or dependent child.

• Having an urgent or compelling reason to travel to Australia

Some compelling reasons might include, but are not limited to, having a family member that requires your assistance due to health issues, funeral, etc.

You must strongly support your claim with strong documentation. You must show that you are a genuine visitor and have a genuine reason to visit Australia.

It is important to prepare your Visitor Visa (subclass 600) application well to avoid the possibility of getting a visa application refused.

Read more: New Face For Australia International Border: DPD (Digital Passenger Declaration) Will Come In Effect

ONE derland Consulting is ready to assist you!

We fully understand that applying for a visa to Australia is certainly very complicated. It is even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our visa specialists at ONEderland Consulting will help you assess your visa options. We have a 98% success rate and are one of Australia’s most highly recommended migration agents. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews.

Engage ONE derland Consulting to prepare your Australian visa application. We will assist you from the beginning to the end and make the process as easy as it should be, and perform the following:

1. Assess your eligibility for the Australian visa application. We will give you the advice and options whether you should spend your money and time on an Australian visa application or you have alternative options;
2. We will provide you with written agreements and quotes to process your application if you are eligible. The agreement will cover our obligations and duty as a migration agent;
3. Our agreement is transparent with no hidden fees. All the aspects of works are covered in the agreement;
4. We will provide you with a dedicated Case Manager as your one point of contact. The Case Manager will assist you with your Australian visa application and keep you informed with the progress of your case;
5. A tailored document checklist will be provided. We will provide you with a tailored document checklist to support your application which covers all of your circumstances and reasons for applying for a visa;
6. We will prepare all the supporting documents, including a specified submission based on your circumstances to make your application stronger;
7. Our migration agent will be your representative to communicate with the Department and also during your AAT process, so you do not need to worry about communicating with the relevant authorities;
8. Your application will be prepared by our Registered Migration Agent, who will go through your documents in more detail; anything missing will be identified and rectified;
9. All of our team are dedicated to serving our clients, and we should be able to get back to you within 24 hours or less for any enquiries you may have.

We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

Take the first step and get in touch with us. Our team members are professional, honest and speak various languages such as Mandarin/ Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, and Thai. Contact us through email at [email protected] or via phone on 1300 827 159. Alternatively, you may book your consultation online, and it is backed by our 100% Money Back Guarantee Program.