Australian borders opening to fully-vaccinated tourist visa holders on 21st of February 2022
What can I say but……FINALLY!!!
As Registered Migration Agent and boss-man of Down Under Visa, I will say I’m personally very proud of our efforts to remain in business and to keep taking care of our Australian Filipina clients during this ordeal. I’m proud of the fact that Down Under Visa never closed our doors to our clients. Not even for one business day! And we did everything we could to make everything legally and practically possible for our clients who’ve depended on us.
And I’m just as proud of our clients who’ve shown that love truly does conquer all! Didn’t have a single one of you give up on your relationship because the waiting got too hard. You’ve waited for your partner visas and tourist visas to be granted, and you’ve applied for your partner visas and tourist visas for your sweethearts from Philippines despite everything! Yes, I know how much you’ve all suffered. You’ve told me, and I’ve listened. I hope that I made it easier for you all by remaining positive throughout it all, knowing and believing that this would end soon.
I SO look forward to a return to comparative normalcy!
What vaccinations are required?
MUST be double-vaxed! Must have had your two shots of an approved vaccine.
- Comirnaty (Pfizer)
- Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
- Spikevax or Takeda (Moderna)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen)
- Nuvaxovid (Biocelect on behalf of Novavax).
- Coronavac (Sinovac)
- Covishield (AstraZeneca – Serum Institute of India)
- BBIBP-CorV for people under 60 years of age on arrival in Australia (Sinopharm China)
- Covaxin (Bharat Biotech)
- Sputnik V (Gamaleya Research Institute)
That’s the list. Won’t be updating it if anything changes! Go to https://www.tga.gov.au/international-covid-19-vaccines-recognised-australia to double-check for changes.
Filipinos? Please go to https://www.vaxcert.doh.gov.ph for an up-to-date vaccination certificate!
What if you can’t or won’t be vaccinated?
- IF you have a medical reason not to be vaccinated, we will need to apply for a Travel Ban Exemption for you.
- If you have NO medical reason? At this point, sorry, can’t help you. Even if you’re a famous handsome tennis player, you won’t get in!
(And please don’t email or message me or comment about this. I don’t make the rules. I’m just a Registered Migration Agent!)
What about those who are waiting on Travel Ban Exemptions?
Well? As much as this has me shaking my OWN head in disbelief after all this time, it means won’t need them for tourist visas to Australia! There are no other restrictions other than:
- Visa
- Vaccination
That’s it!
I would expect those tourist visa applications that have been dangling in suspension waiting on a travel ban exemption will be granted fairly soon!
Travel to the Philippines – Borders opening 10 February 2022
You should already know about this, and if not please read the last BLOG post HERE.
Additional things to add
- Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months
- Have return tickets dated no more than 30 days from the date of entry! Sorry, but as far as further stays or longer stays go I have no idea! Suggest you contact the Philippines Embassy in Australia re longer stays, because I simply cannot advise you!
- Have TRAVEL INSURANCE with a coverage for COVID treatment of more than USD$35,000.00. And no, I did NOT say insurance would cost you $35K. It just needs to cover COVID treatment to that extent. I believe this company https://www.tickinsurance.com.au/travel-insurance/covid-19-travel-insurance/ can help you, and they tell me it’s not too expensive.
Also, be aware that there may be parts of the Philippines still with some restrictions. Just make sure you have your vaccination certificate with you at all times, and for goodness sakes still follow the mask and sanitizing protocols!
Oh, and they tell me that return flights to the Philippines at the moment are around AD$1,800.00, so not exorbitant. In time this will most likely come down.
So? I guess many of you now have stuff to do! I won’t keep you!
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My wife Avie was able to come to Australia last week , she is double vax’d, but she was able to come because she is my wife. A fiancé would not get in, but a wife does. So we got married online and now my beautiful wife is here with me. On a tourist visa only, but we have a partner application in too.