TRAVEL IS BACK ON THE AGENDA

AUSTRALIA’S border is open and fully vaccinated travellers no longer need an exemption to travel out of the country. But, with Omicron sweeping the globe and case numbers shattering pandemic records, there are still several hurdles international travellers need to jump through before and after takeoff. Some countries and airlines require a negative pre-departure test result. Many nations also require travellers to isolate or quarantine upon arrival.

Departing Australian travellers must show proof of vaccination – unless medically exempt or a child aged under 11 – and wear a mask at airport terminals and for the duration of their flight. Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. Being allowed to exit Australia won’t guarantee you entry at your destination.

Using Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) information – and country-specific equivalents –

MEGAN PALIN looks at the requirements for travel to some of our favourite overseas destinations.

1. ENGLAND

England has ditched its requirement for pre-departure PCR tests for inbound travellers and quarantine on arrival until they have tested negative. From today, a rule change allows fully vaccinated passengers, plus those under 18, to enter without producing a negative Covid test. Within two days of arriving, travellers are required to take and submit a negative test, but this no longer needs to be a PCR. They do not need to quarantine while they wait for the result. If the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) returns a positive result, the infected person will need to self-isolate and take a free confirmatory PCR test. The tests must be booked prior to travel. The new arrival rules also apply to people who are unable to have a vaccination due to medical reasons.

NATIONAL VACCINATION RATE: 71 per cent fully vaccinated, 50 per cent boosted NATIONAL AVERAGE DAILY CASES: 105,000 with new cases being reported daily.