New certificate every Australian traveller will need

AUSTRALIANS travelling overseas will be able to download an international Covid-19 certificate to prove their vaccination status before they board a plane.

Fully vaccinated travellers with a valid passport will be able access the certificate, which will be recognised internationally, from Tuesday through their MyGov account or Medicare.

International travel to and from Sydney will resume for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members from November 1 with no quarantine requirements for those who are fully vaccinated.

Though international tourists will not be permitted to enter the country, Health Minister Greg Hunt has said a plan for quarantine-free travel with Singapore, including for international residents, was in “rapid development”.

“We are in express discussions with Singapore,” he said.

Under “phase one” of reopening Australia’s international borders, the federal government is limiting travel to citizens and residents.

But Mr Hunt said the government was working with states on phase two of reopening, which included letting international students and priority workers into Australia.

“Phase three will be for fully vaccinated international travellers, and that would include tourists,” he said.

Australia’s chief health officer Paul Kelly also announced the paused green travel lane with New Zealand would be reopened for anyone coming from the South Island from midnight on Tuesday.

New Zealand’s North Island is battling a Covid-19 outbreak but the virus has not spread south.

“There is very good work being done to stop people from the North Island going to the South Island so that is not a risk,” Professor Kelly said of the NZ situation.