The Minister for Immigration, The Hon Alex Hawke MP announced on 2 March 2022 further temporary changes to some visas in Australia’s temporary visa program:
Skilled-Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476) visa holders
The Skilled-Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476) allows recent engineering graduates to live, work or study in Australia. Eligible 476 visa holders who lost time in Australia as a result of COVID-19 international border restrictions will have their visas extended for a period of 24 months.
The extension is expected to take effect in April 2022, and eligible visa holders will be notified directly by the Department of Home Affairs of the extension of their visa and may arrive in Australia after this occurs. It will also apply to people whose visas have already expired, providing they were unable to use the full length of their original visa due to COVID-19 international travel restrictions.
Training (Subclass 407) visa holders
The Government is temporarily removing the limit on secondary Training (subclass 407) visa holders’ working hours across all sectors of the economy.
This change takes effect immediately for existing and new secondary Training visa holders and will be reviewed in April 2022.
Access to COVID-19 Pandemic Event (Subclass 408) visas
Temporary visa holders with work rights will be able to access the COVID-19 Pandemic Event (Subclass 408) visa incurring no Visa Application Charge if they work in any sector of the Australian economy for a period of 6 or 12 months.
Temporary visa holders working in, or intending to work in, any sector of the Australian economy will be able to apply for the Pandemic Event visa up to 90 days before their existing visa expires. They will be able to remain in Australia for:
- up to 12 additional months if working or intending to work in a key sector (including agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care, child care, and tourism and hospitality); or
- 6 months if working or intending to work in any other sector.
The new arrangements will only be available for Pandemic Event visa applications made on or after 21 February 2022 by:
- Temporary visa holders who were in Australia prior to 21 February 2022; and
- Temporary visa holders who arrive in Australia after 21 February 2022 and have work rights or a job offer from a Commonwealth funded aged care service at time of application.
For more information, please contact your Ajuria Lawyers solicitor.
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