Western Australia allows enrolled international students despite closed borders

The state of Western Australia (WA) announced to open its borders after nearly 2 long years on Tuesday. WA has now reversed its decision to hold strict border controls and has announced to reopen a new pathway for already-enrolled international students and triple vaccinated visitors starting 3^rd March this year.

The state previously sealed its borders from other Australian states in April 2020 in the wake of its climbing Covid curve while the international borders of Australia remained tightly shut by the federal government since March 2020. As other states of Australia are effectively relaxing restrictions for international students, WA has offered a new pathway to welcome international students from across the globe.

The new pathway announced on late Tuesday allows all enrolled international students from WA primary schools, secondary schools, universities, colleges, and technical colleges, among others, to enter the state. According to the announcement, up to 6,000 international students would be allowed to return to the state under the new pathway. International students can now either fly directly into the state (within the arrival cap set by the Australian government) or can indirectly enter by transiting through another Australian state or territory.

Requirements for International Students Entering Western Australia

Given below are some precautionary requirements for already enrolled international students returning to WA:

International students are mandated to carry negative RAT or Rapid Antigen Test reports no later than 24 hours upon arrival.
All arriving students must be vaccinated with a minimum of 2 doses or booster doses, whichever is available in their home countries.
Students are also required to isolate for 7 days at a WA Police or WA Department of Health approved premise after arrival.
A mandatory PCR test on day 6 or a RAT on day 7 of the self-quarantine in Australia.

In slightly comforting news, returning international students are eligible to receive a remittance of AUD 2,000 (1 lakh in INR) to cover their costs of self-quarantine.