On 22 November, Australia announced that holders of common visa subclasses including the 485, 489, 491, and 500 would be permitted to re-enter the country from 1 December. The overall requirements are clearly set out, but in practice many people have detailed questions. Here we address some of the most common ones.

Before we begin — a few honest notes from our team

Approved Vaccines

1. How can vaccines administered in China be verified with an Australian-recognised vaccination certificate?

The most straightforward method:Generate one via the WeChat Mini Programme:International Travel Health Certificate, no additional translation is required,it displays the specific vaccine brand,Steps are as follows:

1) Open the WeChat Mini Programme, search for the “International Travel Health Code” mini-program, and open it.

2) Once open, tap “View and present International Travel Health Certificate”.

3) Select “View my International Travel Health Certificate”.

4) Enter your name and ID number to complete facial recognition.

5) Once verified, enter your passport number to retrieve your domestic vaccination record.

6) Once the bilingual (Chinese/English) vaccination record is generated, tap the top-right corner to export it as an image or PDF.

A recent sample is shown below; further version updates may follow.

2. How do Iconfirm that my vaccine is an approved one?

Sinovac is fully accepted,Sinopharm is somewhat confusing because the Chinese and English names differ (some call it Sinopharm, others ‘Biotech’), and domestic vaccines are produced and assembled at many different facilities — particularly Sinopharm, which comes from Beijing, Chengdu, Lanzhou, and elsewhere.The simplest approach is to check the brand name on your vaccination certificate and look for BIBP. Note that for Sinopharm, only those aged 18–60 are covered.

The two doses must be at least 14 days apart, and the second approved dose must have been administered more than 7 days before arrival.

3. Can vaccines be mixed?

Yes.Australia accepts mixed vaccination, but there are several scenarios to consider:

A. Both doses are approved vaccines but from different brands — acceptable.

B. One approved dose and one non-approved dose — not acceptable.

C.One approved dose, one non-approved dose, plus one more approved dose — acceptable (any order).

D. All three doses are approved vaccines but from different brands (if you genuinely need to ask, yes) — acceptable.

Some people in scenario B have asked whether they can go and get an additional approved dose —, from a policy standpoint, yes. But from a health perspective: re-entry is important, but your life is worth more — please put your health first. Also note that if fewer than six months have passed since your second dose, you will not be permitted to receive another.

Quarantine

4. If an adult does not have two doses of an approved vaccine, can they return and quarantine in a hotel?

According to the current Department of Home Affairs website, being fully vaccinated, holding an eligible visa, and travelling without a travel exemption are all three required conditions. If you do not have two doses of an approved vaccine,the first thing to address is not quarantine but rather applying for a travel exemption separately —the same path that has been in place for nearly two years now…

5. If a child does not have two doses of an approved vaccine, can they return and quarantine in a hotel?

Another common scenario involves visa holders travelling with children who received Sinopharm but fall outside the 18–60 age range, or who are not vaccinated at all.

First,children under 12are automatically considered fully vaccinated by Australia (simply show a passport indicating age). Children aged 12–17 must provide proof of vaccination.

Ifa child aged 12–17 cannot provide proof of vaccination,the Australian Federal Government’s rule is that they may return to Australia with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian(travel with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian),but specific quarantine requirements upon arrival are determined by individual state governments. Taking New South Wales as an example —

a reduced quarantine arrangement,not counted against the international arrival quarantine cap. Specifically: a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival, 7 days of home isolation, and a further PCR test on day 5 or 6 of the isolation period.Victoria also requires 7 days of home isolation, and other states can be looked up online — the information is clearly set out.

We also recommend checking with your airline regarding boarding requirements for minors before purchasing tickets.

6. If transiting through an overseas city, do I need to apply for an exemption?

No,it does not affect whether an exemption is required. The same principle applies to state quarantine requirements.

Travel Declaration

7. Where do I complete the Travel Declaration?

Between 3 and 7 days before departure (72–168 hours)complete the Travel Declaration. This applies to all visa holders, as well as PRs and citizens travelling by air. Once completed, a QR code document is generated, which must be scanned when departing China (printed or digital version accepted). Application link:

https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/australia-travel-declaration

PCR Testing

8. Where should I get a PCR test that will be recognised?

We are unable to provide city-specific details for every location, but here are a few general recommendations:

a. Based on what we have seen,Class 3A hospitalsare the most commonly used.

b. Get your PCR test within 72 hours before departure. Note: if your flight is delayed, the test may still be accepted even if it exceeds the 72-hour window; however, if your flight is rescheduled you will need to retest,That said, the later you get tested the better.

c. Standard PCR test results typically take 24 hours; express results may be available within 4 hours (at additional cost).We recommend using a testing centre that can include your passport number on the PCR report.Keep both the testing QR code and the test report — they will be checked when departing China (printed or digital versions accepted).

For any remaining questions, please check directly with your local medical provider.

9. If I am transiting, does the 72-hour PCR window count from my original departure or from my transit flight?

From your original departure,and note that if your flight is delayed(delayed) causing the PCR result to exceed its validity period, retesting is not required,but if your flight is cancelled and rescheduled (Reschedule), you will need to retest based on the new departure time.

Visa Questions

This article will not go into detail on visa planning — we are addressing general questions only.

10. If I am overseas waiting for a PR or near-PR visa to be granted and do not yet hold a substantive visa, what visa can I use to enter in the meantime?

Our recommendation is to wait patiently,as returning on a visitor visa or student visaboth involve the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement. Visitor visas cannot currently be used to enter (except for parents of PR holders or citizens) — applications will not be approved. The student visa route involves considerable cost and risk.

11. I am overseas waiting for my visa to be granted and currently hold a Bridging Visa B. Can I enter?

Bridging visas are currently not amongthe eligible visa subclasses that permit exemption-free entry. The Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) has already raised the question with the Department of Home Affairs; we will share any updates as soon as they become available.

12. Is there a minimum remaining visa validity required at the time of entry?

No — the visa simply needs to be valid at the time of entry, though we recommend against cutting it too close. For example,arriving the day before your visa expires is the kind of situation best avoided if at all possible.

13. Will offshore visa processing be expedited?

The Department of Home Affairs’ system currently has a notice acknowledging past processing delays, as it will prioritise applications for visa subclasses that are now eligible for entry. And now thatcommon subclasses such as the 500, 190, 491, 482, and 489 are also about to become eligible for entry, processing speeds should in theory improve.That said, the number of people waiting offshore is very large, new visa applications will increase as borders reopen, and the Christmas and New Year holiday period is approaching. We suggest remaining optimistic and waiting patiently.

For more specific visa application and planning questions:

– My offshore Subclass 485 has expired — what visa can I apply for to study and return to Australia to continue my migration pathway?

– Do I need to re-apply for my student visa, or extend it?

– How do I align my school enrolment, Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), and visa?

– How do I apply for a visa that allows part-time study and work? What programmes are available?

– I want to apply for a visa and enter Australia as soon as possible.

For visa application enquiries, please contact our local team based on your study destination or location:

Visa Concessions

14. Will the time spent offshore on visas such as the Subclass 489 or 485 be refunded?

It has been months since the Minister for Immigration last said that 485-related concessions would be announced within weeks, and there is still no news. In the interim, the Greens have put forward a bolder proposal that all offshore temporary visa holders should have their time reimbursed.

Given the range of exemptions and concessions introduced during the pandemic, it would not be difficult for the Department of Home Affairs to make changes — the ongoing discussions are likely about the scope and method.

In our view, this is a reasonable and hopeful outcome — a little more patience, and we will see what comes.

State and Territory Entry

Each state’s entry rules are closely tied to the state government’s overall approach and its vaccination rate. There are two parts to this:

15. State requirements for international arrivals

What is currently confirmed is thatNew South Wales, Victoria, and Canberra (ACT)offer quarantine-free entry for international arrivals.

South Australiarequires non-PR/non-citizen international arrivals (from 23 November) to provide a negative PCR result from within 72 hours before arrival, then 7 days of home isolation using the HealthCheck SA app, a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival, and further tests on days 6 and 14.

These are currently the most straightforward quarantine requirements. For other states, check the relevant state health department website — each has a detailed list of quarantine and testing requirements.

Australia also advises that if you are transiting through another city, you should first verify the PCR or vaccination requirements applicable at that transit point.

16. Interstate quarantine requirements (travelling from one state or territory to another)

Given that this information is updated in real time, we are providing links to each state’s official website — please check ahead of time and monitor for the latest policies.

Entering NSW

https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/travel-restrictions/interstate-travel-rules

Entering VIC

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/travel-updates

Entering ACT

https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/travel/entering-the-act

Entering SA

https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/travel/interstate-travel

Entering QLD

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/travelling-to-queensland

Entering WA

https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-wa

Entering TAS

https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/coming-to-tasmania/travel-alert

Entering NT

https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/quarantine

If you are transiting directly, the rules may differ slightly, but this information can be found on the same state government websites under a different section.

We wish everyone a smooth return to Australia — we look forward to seeing you here soon!

The return-to-Australia information group is already set up.

Those who would like to join

can add our team’s contact and note: Return to Australia