How Australians can access Covid-19 vaccine passport for international travel
Some Australians will be able to download an international vaccine certificate ahead of borders reopening in November. See how it works.
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Australians looking to go overseas or return home will have access to an international Covid-19 certificate this week to prove their vaccination status before they board a plane.
From tomorrow, any Aussie who is fully vaccinated can access the documents allowing them to travel in and out of the country.
The new certificate is compatible with Covid-19 travel apps and based on a person‘s vaccination records.
In a joint ministerial statement, the federal government said the vaccine passport will enable fully vaccinated Australians to travel overseas.
“Australians have done the right thing by rolling up their sleeves and getting the jab, we have worked to ensure they can now get back out into the world safely through a secure proof of vaccination,” Employment Minister Stuart Robert said.
“Providing this new proof of vaccination is all about sticking to the national plan and giving Australians the tools they need to get their lives back.”
Premier Dominic Perrottet on Friday declared the end of the “hermit kingdom”, unilaterally ending all quarantine – hotel or at home – for fully vaccinated travellers arriving in NSW. Under Phase C of the national plan, returning Australians were expected to undergo seven days of home quarantine.
It prompted Qantas to bring forward its planned restart date – initially November 14.
From November 1 out of Sydney, the first international routes will include Los Angeles and London. Flights to Singapore, Fiji and Vancouver will come online from December 18.
WHEN CAN YOU ACCESS THE CERTIFICATE?
From Tuesday, citizens and visa holders with a valid passport, and who have received at least one jab, can obtain the internationally recognised certificate. The federal government requires people to have two doses to travel.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
To be eligible. you need to have proof of Covid-19 double vaccination and a valid passport.
The certificate will be scanned by border officials on arrival into a country if requested.
HOW CAN YOU APPLY?
The international certificate contains a unique vaccination certificate identifier, the holders’ name, date of birth, gender, passport number and vaccination history, and a QR code as well as signature information for authentication purposes.
The certificates will be able to be downloaded through Covid travel apps, such as International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass, and can be created through Medicare online and the Express Plus Medicare app.
Proof of vaccination will be in addition to domestic vaccine passports available through Services Australia.
The international certificate will be accepted by border control systems across the globe, providing an international certificate version number and a unique vaccination certificate identifier.
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