WA to relax entry requirements from this weekend

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By Alexandra Coulton

Western Australia will relax entry requirements slightly from Saturday, allowing returning residents with “strong recent connections” to return and expanding compassionate grounds criteria.

The state government will introduce new measures for both domestic and international arrivals on 5 February as part of the state’s new hard border settings, the same date the state was previously scheduled to reopen its borders.

For domestic arrivals, the exemption criteria have been expanded to include returning Western Australians with “strong recent connections or direct legitimate family connections with WA”, and compassionate grounds including funeral, palliative care or terminally ill visitation.

Those needing urgent and essential medical treatment will also be able to apply for an exemption from the state’s hard border closure, as well as family members of an approved traveller, those with specialist skills not available in WA and commonwealth and state officials, members of parliament and diplomats.

Approved travellers will still need to be triple vaccinated, provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test within 24 hours of departure, undergo a PCR rest within 48 hours of arrival and on day 12, use the state’s G2G pass and self-quarantine in suitable premises for 14-days.

International arrivals travelling directly to WA will need to undergo 7-days in hotel quarantine, however, those arriving through another Australian state can follow the same self-isolation rules as domestic travellers.

International arrivals will also have to use the G2G pass, be fully vaccinated, follow commonwealth pre-departure requirements and undergo PCR testing on days one, six, nine and 12.

Image source: iStock/bgblue

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domestic arrivals entry requirements exemption hard border closure Western Australia