A group of international university students arrived in Australia from Singapore after nearly a two-year pandemic absence, as a travel bubble between the two countries came into effect.

Fully vaccinated travellers from Singapore are now allowed into Melbourne or Sydney without the need to quarantine — part of Australia's gradual reopening of its borders that began this month.

Australia closed its international borders in March 2020 to curb the spread of Covid-19, Reuters reported.

Catriona Jackson, chief executive of Universities Australia, which represents 39 universities, said the flights from Singapore saw the first international students enter Australia since small numbers returned in November last year.