New Changes to Travel Exemption

Great news for Australian citizens and permanent residents who have been longing to be reunited with their parents.

The Department of Home Affairs recently announced that from 1 November 2021, the definition of “immediate family member” will include the parents of adult Australian citizens and permanent residents. The definition of parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents includes biological parents, legal (including adoptive) parents, step-parents, and parents-in-law. In other words, parents of Australian citizens or PRs will be able to apply for travel exemption and come to Australia to visit their loved ones.

I am a parent of an Australian citizen or PR, can I book my plane tickets straightaway?

Even though you are a parent of an Australian citizen or permanent resident, it doesn’t mean you can enter Australia automatically. You will need to apply for a travel exemption and receive the grant first before booking your plane tickets. You will also need a suitable visa before you can enter Australia.

What do I have to do to apply for travel exemption?

When you apply for the travel exemption, you will need to provide the following evidence:

• • Proof of your adult child is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, such as an Australian passport, Australian citizenship certificate, Australian birth certificate, or evidence of permanent residence in Australia.
  • Proof of your parental relationship with your child, such as birth certificate, adoption certificate, marriage certificate or family status certificate, or family book if officially issued and maintained.

What are the visa options for parents?

Once your travel exemption is granted, you will need to apply and obtain a suitable visa in order for you to come to Australia. The most common type of visa is a Visitor Visa. Other than the visitor visa, there is also subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa, which will allow the parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years. However, the downside for subclass 870 visa is that the fee is a lot more expensive. Not sure which visa you should apply for? Worry not! Book a consultation with us today and we will analyze which visa is the most suitable for you.

If the parents already have a visitor visa, do they need to apply for another one?

If the visitor visa is still valid and hasn’t expired yet, they can still use the current one and won’t need to apply for a new one. However, applying for a travel exemption is a MUST.

I heard it is free to reapply for a visitor visa. Is this true?

The Department of Home Affairs announced that visitor visa applicants outside Australia whose previous Visitor (subclass 600) visa expired, or will expire, between 20 March 2020 and 31 December 2021 may be able to receive a VAC (visa application charge) waiver for a future Visitor visa. Please keep in mind that applications for a future Visitor visa with a VAC waiver must be lodged by 31 December 2022.

Will the parents need to be vaccinated to come to Australia? Do they need to go through hotel quarantine?

Based on the current situation, if the parents are fully vaccinated and their destination of arrival is NSW, then they will be able to enter Australia and will not need to go through hotel quarantine. However, there is still a possibility that they will need to go through home quarantine. If the parents aren’t fully vaccinated, they will need to go through 14 days of hotel quarantine after they arrive in Australia, regardless to which state or territory they are travelling.

Which vaccinations are recognized by Australia?

Therapeutic Goods Administration, which is the medicine and therapeutic regulatory agency of the Australian Government, recognizes 6 brands of vaccination. They are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Janssen, Sinovac and Covishield.

If the parents are fully vaccinated, will they still need to obtain PCR?

The answer is yes. International travelers must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR rest taken 72 hours or less before the scheduled departure.

Too busy with daily life and don’t have time for paperwork?

Worry not! Our team is here to help you. We have vast experience in helping clients apply for travel exemptions and Visitor & Parents Visas. Our package service, which includes travel exemption and visa application, will save you all the trouble and time. Book a consultation with Ausdirect Migration today. We look forward to helping you reunite with your family again.