December 15, 2021
Eligible visa holders who are fully vaccinated no longer require a travel exemption from the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force to travel to Australia.
Agriculture Minister and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said this would benefit agricultural businesses who employ international agricultural workers.
“This change will support farmers to access the workers they need from a range of visa programs, many of which they have not been able to access easily during the pandemic when travel and international border restrictions were in place,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Eligible visas include Working Holiday Makers and many specific skilled visa subclasses used by the agriculture sector.
“The pandemic has raised many challenges for our agricultural industries and the opening of our international borders provides an uplift in optimism for our farmers going forward
“Farmers have been innovative in how they have dealt with worker shortages during COVID-19 but the return of visa holders will come as a welcome relief for many farmers and rural communities.
“Quarantine will continue to be a barrier for the arrival of visa holders in some States and Territories where quarantine requirements are still in place for fully vaccinated travellers.
“I encourage all States and Territories to open up consistent with the National COVID response plan.”
Eligible visa subclasses include:
- Subclass 417 – Working Holiday visa
- Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday visa
- Subclass 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (inc. the Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme streams and Australian Agriculture Visa stream)
- Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa
- Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
- Subclass 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa
Travellers to Australia must still comply with the quarantine requirements in the state or territory of their arrival and any other state or territory to which they plan to travel.
