With the beginning of the new year, Australia has announced a few changes for the temporary visa holders, which will let them stay and work for an extended period. As the pandemic continues affecting a lot of migrants regarding visa and stay policies, through this announcement, the government is going to put into effect some good changes.

Skilled Regional Provisional visas (subclass 489, 491, 494) are getting extended by three years. This will help over 10,000 skilled regional workers adequately. The immigration Minister Alex Hawk said that this change is going to offer sufficient additional time for all current and former Skilled Regional Provisional visa holders to make travel arrangements so they can start or resume their stay and work in regional Australia.

Temporary Graduate Visa Flexibility

The Australian government will allow the entry of present and former Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) Visa holders from February 18, 2022. They can come back to the country and apply for an extra stay. The extension also includes the family members that were granted in the original Temporary Graduate Visa.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has further mentioned a COVID-19 Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) replacement stream visa which will start accepting applications from July 1, 2022. Through this, the students affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions can be granted the same length of stay as was mentioned in their original visa.

Furthermore, visas are going to be extended for graduates who were outside Australia at any time period between February 1, 2020, and December 14, 2021, while having a valid Temporary Graduate Visa.

This extension will come into effect on February 18, 2022. The Department of Home Affairs will directly notify the visa holders about their visa extensions. Mr Hawk highly believes that these policies will immensely support the re-entry of temporary graduates back to Australia. Also, further changes have been planned for July 2022 which may provide additional visa extension options to former graduates.

Over 60K of Family Members Enter post-November 2021

Since the announcement about fully vaccinated eligible visa holders’ entry to Australia was put into effect, more than 43,000 international students have arrived along with Skilled and Student Cohorts and Humanitarian, Working Holiday Maker, and family visa holders.

Reportedly, over 150,000 international students with valid visas are currently staying overseas. Also, after the government announced changes in November 2021, more than 8000 skilled workers have arrived in Australia. In addition, over 22,000 Working Holiday Maker Visas have been approved.

The DHA further reported that demand for Working Holiday Visas is constantly increasing. The nation has already welcomed over 60,000 visiting family members of residents since November 2021.

Rebate in Visa Fees

Prime Minister Scott Morrison offered an announcement regarding the changes in visa policies. He mentioned a rebate in visa fees for the students as well as the holidaymakers who are to arrive in Australia from January 19, 2022.

The government is hoping these changes will ease the workforce shortages the country faced because of the latest COVID variant Omicron.

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