For international medical specialists waiting to travel to Australia, the good news is that after 18 months their international borders are finally open. As Australia takes steps to gradually lift restrictions, doctors due to start in a medical specialist or AON position can enter the country and start their new jobs.
In addition, fully vaccinated (see approved list here) medical specialists from New Zealand plus Singapore citizens can now enter Australia without the need for a travel exemption. They must test negative in pre-departure Covid tests and can skip quarantine in New South Wales (including Sydney), the Australian Capital Territory (including Canberra) and Victoria (including Melbourne). The remaining states and territories may still have quarantine requirements.
New South Wales
For the lowdown on updated international arrival and quarantine requirements in NSW with the new Omicron variant, doctors can visit this website or contact us for more information.
ACT
If you’re a fully vaccinated medical specialist arriving from overseas and heading to ACT you must get a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival in the ACT and get a second COVID-19 test between days 5 and 6 after arrival. If you’re starting a job as a physician in a high risk facility, you may be required to get an exemption from your employer. Check out the full information about arriving in ACT here
Victoria
If you are a fully vaccinated doctor from overseas entering Victoria with a vaccine approved or recognised by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) you no longer need to spend 14 days in hotel quarantine. See more information about entering Victoria here
In addition, Australian airline Qantas has resumed its international operations with flights between Sydney and London and Los Angeles; Australian citizens and permanent residents can now leave the country without needing an exemption. From December 1st, Fiji opens its borders and welcomes travellers from Australia so doctors can again enjoy a Pacific Island holiday.
Australia has had one of the world’s most restrictive coronavirus border policies where only citizens and permanent residents were allowed to enter and had to go through two weeks of mandatory quarantine. The reopening of Australia’s borders, and the lifting of quarantine for some states and travel exemptions for some countries, means that international medical specialists can again pursue their career dreams in Australia.
For more information about roles available in Australia or to get in touch, contact us here