Western Australia to relax border restrictions

The state government of Western Australia (WA) has announced plans to reopen its borders to interstate and international travellers from 3 March.

Visitors must have received three doses of a coronavirus vaccine, and will be required to take a lateral flow test within 12 hours of arrival. International arrivals must also apply for an online G2G Pass declaration form.

WA is the last Australian state to ease restrictions on travellers crossing its borders. The decision comes ahead of plans by the Australian federal government to remove its own restrictions on international visitors from Monday 21 February for the first time in almost two years. Nationwide, travellers will still be required to prove that they are fully vaccinated ahead of arrival.

WA State Premier Mark McGowan stated: “We held back Omicron as much as we could, and this time bought us the best chance to vaccinate our children and bring the third dose rate up as high as we can. The third dose rate has jumped from 25 per cent when we announced the border delay and is now on track to reach 70 per cent when the full border opening is implemented.”