Woohoo: International Borders Are Set to Reopen in November

Text your overseas pen pal!

In probably the best news you’ve heard all year, it’s looking like Australia’s international borders are set to reopen as early as November this year.

Yes, you read that correctly. With the government planning to start rolling out COVID-19 passports from Friday, the likelihood of international travel is just a few steps away.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, there are guesses that Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce a new international travel target for all states and territories this Friday.

And with NSW set to start reopening its state borders once they reach an 80 per cent fully vaccinated rate, we could soon start seeing international travellers come and go from Oz without needing a travel excemption, or potentially even do a stint of hotel quarantine.

Woo!

At the time of writing, NSW is projected to hit their 80 per cent double dose target by 21 October—right before the government plans to reopen the borders again.

Previously, the Australian Minister for Tourism Dan Tehan said that international borders will be up and running again “by Christmas at the latest”, so the new plans could see it happen even earlier.

On top of international borders being reopened with vax passports, the federal government is also considering negotiating more travel bubbles like the one we had (cry) with New Zealand.

As for other states around Australia, their borders are up to the discretion of the state governments and premiers. Some of which might take a little longer to open up as they would prefer to meet a 90 per cent fully vaxxed rate rather than 80 per cent.

As vaccine passports will likely be necessary to access international travel, your best option is to get jabbed ASAP.

To get vaxxed, check out the government’s resources on COVID-19 vaccines, chat with your GP, and book an appointment at your local vaccination clinic.

If you’re not sure about your eligibility just yet, you can find out and book in at a clinic here.

While the reopening of borders is super likely, it’s not set in stone just yet, but watch this space for more info.

Header Image: Lukas Souza via Unsplash