Coronavirus: Australia to lift travel ban for citizens; Cambodia reopening to vaccinated tourists

After nearly 600 days under some of the world’s toughest border restrictions, fully vaccinated Australians will no longer need permission to leave the country

Elsewhere, Cambodia will start to reopen to vaccinated tourists from next month, and New Zealand’s vaccine mandate is being expanded to more workers

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Australia’s adult double-dose vaccination rate is edging closer to 80 per cent. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:37am, 27 Oct 2021Updated: 9:20pm, 27 Oct 2021

Australia will lift a ban on citizens travelling overseas without permission, the government announced on Wednesday, with the country’s border set to open to skilled workers and international students by the end of the year.

More than 18 months after Australia shut its international borders, fully inoculated citizens will no longer have to seek an exemption to leave the country, a joint statement from the health and home affairs ministries said.

It comes as the country’s adult double-dose vaccination rate edges closer to an 80 per cent target.

Australian Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews. Photo: AAP

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said while Australian citizens were currently being prioritised, more travel restrictions – including for some non-citizens – would be eased as vaccination rates increased.

“Before the end of the year, we anticipate welcoming fully vaccinated skilled workers and international students,” she said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who foreshadowed the changes earlier this month, said Australia was now “very close” to announcing a reciprocal travel bubble with Singapore, which announced late Tuesday that Australians no longer had to quarantine on arrival.