This paper examines the perspectives of educators on whether internationalisation at a distance (IaD) democratises student mobility in higher education. Adopting a collaborative autoethnographic approach, the analysis focuses on the perspectives of educators involved in virtual mobility practices in relation to three prompts: (1) IaD's capacity for democratisation, (2) IaD practices and the achievement of more equitable, accessible and inclusive education and (3) tensions that emerge from implementing IaD practices in institutional contexts. Applying a three-dimensional theory of justice that supports parity of participation in social life ("Scales of Justice," 2009), this paper explores educators' perceptions of IaD's potential to democratise student mobility. The findings demonstrate beliefs that IaD can only democratise student mobility to a certain extent. As educators embrace IaD as a set of inclusive and equitable practices, they also question the unequal availability of material, social and cultural resources that could realise the potential of IaD for students. Situated within IaD discourses in the Asia-Pacific region, which have received little attention in the broader research field of virtual mobility, this paper reinforces the emerging recognition of the fundamental yet often overlooked tensions between internationalisation and democratisation.