Australians who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to travel overseas from November, the government said.
The federal government on Tuesday night changed the Human Biosecurity Determination - a law created in March 2020 to restrict international travel during the coronavirus pandemic to remove the need for fully vaccinated Australians to ask for permission to leave the country, reports Xinhua news agency.
It means that from November 1, fully vaccinated Australians will be able to freely leave the country for the first time since March 2020.
Greg Hunt, Minister for Health and Aged Care, said it was the first stage in Australia's reopening to the world.
"Australian citizens and permanent residents who want to travel overseas will need to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated with a Therapeutic Goods Administration - approved or recognized vaccine, with the second dose occurring at least seven days prior to travel," he said on Wednesday in Canberra.
People who have not been vaccinated will still have to apply with the Department of Home Affairs to leave the country and face stricter quarantine protocols on their return.
On Wednesday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine for individuals 18 years and older, six months after their second dose.
Subject to the final advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), it is expected that a general population booster program will commence no later than November 8 with original priority groups, including people in aged care and disability care settings, to be offered the option to receive a booster as a priority, according to Hunt.
Related video: