Australia will reopen its international border from November, giving long-awaited freedoms to vaccinated citizens and their relatives.
Since March 2020, Australia has had some of the world's strictest border rules - even banning its own people from leaving the country.
The policy has been praised for helping to suppress Covid, but it has also controversially separated families.
"It's time to give Australians their lives back," PM Scott Morrison said.
People would be eligible to travel when their state's vaccination rate hit 80%, he told a press briefing on Friday.
Travel would not immediately be open to foreigners, but the government said it was working "towards welcoming tourists back to our shores".
At present, people can leave Australia only for exceptional reasons such as essential work or visiting a dying relative.
Entry is permitted for citizens and others with exemptions, but there are tight caps on arrival numbers. This has left tens of thousands stranded overseas.
On Friday, Mr Morrison said Australia's mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine - which costs each traveller A$3,000 ($1,600; $2,100) - would be phased out.
It will be replaced by seven days of home quarantine for vaccinated travellers. When unvaccinated travellers are later given permission to enter, they must do 14 days.
Demand for flights is expected to be high and airlines have already warned of delays in resuming services.
Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra are currently in lockdown due to outbreaks of the virus.
That has helped prompt a surge in the vaccine uptake in recent months.
New South Wales - which includes Sydney - is on track to be first state to cross the 80% threshold, in a few weeks. Victoria - containing Melbourne - is not far behind.
But states such as Queensland and Western Australia have threatened to keep their borders closed until vaccine rates are even higher.
These states have managed to maintain Covid rates at or near zero, after shutting their borders to states with infections.
Latest Stories
-
NDC’s Dr Tanko-Computer alleges 2020 election was rigged
2 minutes -
Tema and Takoradi Ports to become 24-hour hubs soon – Mahama
7 minutes -
Traders at Ho Central Market raise concerns over decongestion exercise
9 minutes -
Ken Ashigbey vows to sustain anti-galamsey fight despite new role at Chamber of Mines
14 minutes -
GFA to hold Ordinary Congress on August 12 in Prampram
39 minutes -
2025 Ghana-West Africa Business Excellence Awards celebrates outstanding companies and individuals
41 minutes -
NDC’s Rashid Tanko explains how his nickname, “Computer” became a legal identity
52 minutes -
Ghana’s economy is recovering based on quarter one GDP estimates – GSS Boss
1 hour -
Kumasi Prisons ventures into production of sachet and bottled water
1 hour -
Africa must trade with itself to grow – Gabriel Edgal
1 hour -
SML condemns OSP raid, warns of national revenue risks
2 hours -
Watch NDC’s Rashid Tanko-Computer defend his PhD amid public scrutiny
2 hours -
Undefeated and unmatched: Union Ghana’s dominance in UG Corporate Football League
2 hours -
Supreme Court overturns contempt conviction of Akwatia MP Ernest Kumi
2 hours -
Kumasi Central Prisons presents five inmates to participate in 2025 BECE
2 hours