The Department of Home Affairs have released information under Freedom of Information request (FOI) providing number of inward travel exemptions approved by the Australian Border Force (ABF) between 01 August 2020 and 08 May 2021 categorised on the basis of the visa subclass of the traveller.
During this period, the ABF has approved a total of 33,176 request for inbound exemption to travel to Australia. The details of the visa subclass held by the travellers is provided below:
Visa Subclass | Number of Exemptions Granted |
Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) | 9,080 |
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400) | 4,989 |
Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) | 1,714 |
Student visa (subclass 500) | 1,699 |
Visitor visa (subclass 600) | 1,612 |
eVisitor visa (subclass 651) | 694 |
Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) | 486 |
Training visa (subclass 407) | 483 |
Medicial Treatment visa (subclass 602) | 448 |
Other visas | 3,488 |
Not recorded (secondary travellers or individuals who did not require, hold or applied for a visa) | 8,483 |
Total | 33,176 |
The Department has also released information that during this period, 430 inward travel requests were approved for Skilled Regional (Provisional) (subclass 489) visa holders and applicants. Further, the FOI provides a breakdown of the international movements between March 2020 and May 2021 and number of travellers based on the country of their citizenship.
To access the full FOI, click here.