Joyful Scenes as Australia Reopens International Travel After Nearly 20 Months

After nearly 20 months of strict border controls, Australia finally reopened its international borders on Monday, sparking emotional reunions at Sydney and Melbourne airports as families and friends embraced.

At Sydney Airport, travelers arriving from Singapore and Los Angeles were welcomed with heartfelt embraces, tears, and joy.

Partners, some with flowers in hand, others carrying signs, were tearfully reunited. In Sydney, a woman sobbed as she hugged her daughter for the first time in months after returning from Los Angeles, whispering, 'I love you so much.'

Australia was among the first nations to close its borders in March 2020 in response to the pandemic. Only citizens and permanent residents were permitted entry, and strict quarantine and a daily cap on arrivals limited travel until now.

With Australia's rapid vaccination campaign in September and October, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents could now travel internationally and return home from Monday, with restrictions on arrivals lifted.

To date, the highly vaccinated states of New South Wales and Victoria, including Australia’s major cities Sydney and Melbourne, have eased restrictions on international arrivals. Over 80% of the adult population in these states is now fully vaccinated.

While many travelers reunited joyfully on Monday, some carried the emotional weight of the pandemic’s travel bans. Nick Costello, arriving from Los Angeles, shared that he returned for his father’s funeral but never had the chance to say goodbye before his passing.

I've been trying to return for months to see my father,” he explained. “It feels like there's been a tremendous human cost for many Australians living abroad or traveling overseas.”

The border restrictions have sparked growing controversy over the past year, leaving tens of thousands of Australians stranded overseas, unable to return due to the shortage of quarantine spots and limited international flights.

The Australian government has stated that additional border restrictions will be lifted as more regions of the country reach their 80% vaccination targets.

For the time being, some international arrivals continue to face challenges returning home. Michael Jung, a pilot who just landed in Sydney from Singapore, shared that local restrictions still prevent him from traveling to his home in Queensland.

He mentioned that he would be staying with his in-laws in Lismore, New South Wales until the border opens and he can finally return to Brisbane.

I understand Australia is doing its best to manage Covid, and I think they've handled it quite well so far,” he said. “I just hope everyone gets vaccinated so we can reach those targets and finally return.”