Temporary visa holders travelling to Australia have been advised not to fly through mainland China in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus. For those who do not follow the advice will have their visa cancelled, the Department of Home Affairs has said.
If you are scheduled to travel to Australia in the coming days and weeks, here are a few important points to keep in mind about Australia’s travel restrictions.
Australia has banned foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents of Australia) from entering the country if they have been in or transited through mainland China after February 1, 2020.
While Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family will still be able to enter Australia, any foreign national – who is on a temporary visa like the student visa, tourist visa or work visa, will not be allowed to enter Australia until 14 days after they have left or transited through mainland China.
As of this morning, 4 February 2020, 12 cases of 2019-nCoV have been confirmed in Australia: 4 in New South Wales, 4 in Victoria, 2 in South Australia, and 2 in Queensland.
Following this advice, education agents and universities have advised students expected to arrive for February intake, to not travel through China. And if they are in China, students have been advised to consider deferring their studies.
“We have informed all our student clients in India to not fly through China. Australia has strictly advised that temporary visa holders will not be allowed entry if they have transited through China,” Bina Shah, a Melbourne-based education consultant told SBS Hindi.
Ms Shah says February sees a huge influx of international students who arrive to commence or continue their studies.
“Many students from India travel through China and Chinese airlines so we have asked them to be cautious and keep up with the news to know the latest advisory,” she said.
“We have also received messages from Australian universities who have made alternative plans for students affected by these travel restrictions. They are being offered online and offshore delivery options as well as an option to defer their studies,” she said.
The same advice is also applicable to other temporary visa holders like those holding the tourist or temporary work visa, the Department of Home Affairs has said.
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Department to cancel visa if advice not heeded
The department has temporary visa holders who arrive in Australia but are ineligible for entry into Australia under these measures will have their visa cancelled and be placed in an alternative place of detention for a quarantine period.
Meanwhile, those planning to travel outside Australia have been advised to read the travel advice for the destination and speak to the doctor before travelling, if travelling with kids, a weak immune system or if pregnant.
The advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for travel to mainland China is ‘level 4 – do not travel’.
Australian citizens being brought home
The Australian government has flown a number of Australian citizens to Christmas Island on Tuesday morning.
‘An indefinite number of Australians, including dual nationals, remain in Wuhan or in Hubei Province.
‘The Australian and Chinese Governments are also working together on a possible second assisted departure from Wuhan to Australia for these people,’ the latest government advisory says.
The virus outbreak has infected over 17000 people and has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation.
