Australia will only resume international travel when 80% of the population is fully vaccinated. The timeline depends on when Australians choose to get vaccinated, with the latest figure for doubly vaccinated Australians at 14%. This will delay the resumption of outbound medical travel from the country.
Australia has had some of the strictest restrictions and lockdowns in the world. Its borders have been completely shut since the pandemic began, but now the government has a new plan to resume international travel.
Up to 15,000 Australians normally travel overseas each year to undergo dental and cosmetic procedures. Inbound medical tourism is much smaller. They mainly go to India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. Dental treatment abroad, including flights and luxury hotel accommodation, is often cheaper than some dental treatments at home. In Australia, the government does not subsidise dental treatment, and 50% of Australians do not have dental insurance.
The new plan will allow for a gradual reopening of inward and outbound international travel with safe countries. The state will first lift all restrictions on outbound travel for vaccinated Australians.
There is a four-stage plan to greater freedom, including the gradual easing of travel restrictions based on vaccination rates. The country is currently in Phase A, with large parts of the country in and out of lockdowns.
When 70% of eligible adults have received two doses, vaccinated residents will have more freedom from domestic restrictions. At this time, Phase B, a limited number of international students and economic visa holders will be allowed to enter the country.
The border will be gradually reopened in Phase C of the plan when 80% of eligible adults have been fully vaccinated. At this point, vaccinated Australians will be allowed to travel to safe countries overseas and vaccinated travellers from safe countries will be allowed in. Borders will only reopen to citizens from safe countries who have received one of the vaccines approved by Australian regulators, and the mandatory two-week hotel quarantine requirements will be eased.
The only country Australians have been permitted to travel to is New Zealand, as the two countries formed a travel bubble. However, that was recently cancelled due to rising cases of the Delta variant in Australia.
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