Australia’s international borders are set to reopen as planned on Wednesday to eligible visa holders, including international students and skilled migrants, Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed on Monday.
Mr Hunt told reporters on Monday the reopening was on track to proceed when questioned about the timeline.
“Yes, we are on track for that - that’s been reconfirmed over the weekend,” he said.
“That reopening is scheduled - will be going ahead in consultation with the prime minister, the National Cabinet discussion and the advice from the chief medical officer.”
The plan to forge ahead with reopening international borders comes amid the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
The federal government had announced on 29 November the reopening for international students and skilled migrants would be pushed back two weeks from 1 December to 15 December, in response to concerns over the Omicron variant.
The decision meant many visa holders who have been locked out of Australia because of international border restrictions for nearly two years faced further delays on entering the country.
From 15 December, it’s expected the borders will be reopened to international skilled and student visa holders, as well as humanitarian, working holiday and provisional family visa holders.
The easing of restrictions would mean fully vaccinated visa holders would no longer be required to secure an exemption to travel into the country.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also confirmed the reopening would apply to travellers from Japan and South Korea.
He made the comments as he fronted a press conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-In during his diplomatic visit to Canberra.
“This is made possible because [South] Korea and Australia have both shared a COVID-19 experience,” he told reporters.
"Korea has had an extraordinary set of achievements in managing the virus."
While Australia's international borders have been open since the beginning of November, only fully vaccinated citizens, permanent residents and their families have been able to travel to the country without quarantining.
Visa holders will be required to a vaccine approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration to enter the country.
They will also be required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test within three days of departure.
Business groups as well as the university sector have also been awaiting the reopening of borders to bring in workers to fill critical skill shortages and recommence studies for international students.
The scheduled reopening comes as health authorities continue to assess the transmissibility and severity of the Omicron variant.
