Australia will reopen its borders to most tourists from February 21 after almost two years of closure due to strict Covid travel restrictions.
This is welcome news for Irish expats in Australia who have been separated from their families since March 2020.
Those who had been given an exemption to enter the country faced a two-week hotel quarantine which has now been scrapped in most territories.
But now all visitors entering Australia must be double-vaccinated and provide a pre-departure negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before their flight to skip quarantine.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement on Monday, saying: “The condition is you must be double-vaccinated to come to Australia. That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it.”
He added: "But if you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia and I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that.”
The decision was made to open the borders after Australia ditched their zero Covid strategy when the country was struck by a wave of Omicron cases, and the premier said that international travellers don't pose an extra risk.
However, western Australia, which includes Perth, a city with a large population of Irish expats, is still subject to its own territory travel restrictions and will remain closed to most non-residents.
