Temporary Migrant visas update
On 18 January 2022, the Australian Government announced the return to Australia of a range of temporary workers to support our pandemic recovery in critical roles. This includes:
- 43,000 international students have arrived in Australia since the Government announced that fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can enter, including Skilled and Student cohorts, as well as Humanitarian, Working Holiday Maker (WHM) and certain family visa holders.
- More than 8,000 skilled workers have arrived in Australia, and 22,000 WHM visas have been granted since November 2021.
- Extending by 3 years Skilled Regional Provisional (subclass 489, 491 and 494) visas where the visa holder was impacted by COVID-19 international travel restrictions. This will assist around 10,000 skilled regional workers
- Changes to allow entry of current and former Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders from 18 February 2022, to allow them to re-enter Australia and apply for a further stay. Visas will be extended for graduates who were outside of Australia at any time between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021, while they held a valid Temporary Graduate visa.
For more information, visit the Department’s website.
Student and Working Holiday Maker visa holders
On 19 January 2022, the Australian Government announced a series of visa measures to provide an incentive for fully vaccinated Student and WHM visa holders to return to Australia as soon as possible to help address current workforce shortages caused by COVID-19. This includes:
- Any Student visa holder who is currently offshore and comes to Australia over the next 8 weeks, will be eligible for a refund of their Visa Application Charge.
- Due to current workforce shortages, the Government is temporarily removing the limit on Student visa holders’ working hours across all sectors of the economy, and will be reviewing in April 2022.
- WHM visa holders who are currently offshore and come to Australia during the next 12 weeks will be eligible for a refund of their Visa Application Charge.
- In 2022, there will be no limit on the length of time WHM can work for the same employer. This is to provide immediate assistance to Australian businesses that are currently facing critical workforce shortages
For more information, visit the Department’s Student website and WHM website.
Bridging visas
If you currently hold a Bridging visa A, B or C, this will allow you to stay in Australia while your existing visa application or review is being processed. If you are a Bridging visa A or C holder and you depart Australia, your Bridging visa A or C will cease. If you want to return to Australia in the future, you will need to apply for another visa to allow you to return. Bridging visa A holders may instead consider applying for a Bridging visa B, which must be granted before they leave Australia. However, Bridging visa B holders will be denied entry to Australia until travel restrictions are lifted, unless an exemption applies.
For more information, visit the Department’s website.
