Covid-19 Pandemic Visa Concession is Officially Ended
On 23 November 2023, the Australian Government announced the ending of the Covid-19 visa concession period for all affected visas. The cessation will take place on 25 November 2023. Some visa concessions will remain for certain visa applications lodged on specific dates.
See below how the changes affect each Australian visa.
Employer-Sponsored Visas
The following COVID-19 concession will be phased out:
- Periods of reduced work due to COVID-19 will not count towards meeting the work experience requirements for new ENZ/RMS TRT stream nomination applications.
- COVID-19 concession to the age exemption for applicants with high income will not apply to new ENS/RMS visa applications.
The age exemption for legacy 257 workers in Australia for a period of 12 months during the pandemic, from 1 February 2020 to 14 December 2021, will apply to ENS visa applications submitted before 1 July 2024.
Hence, from 25 November 2023, new nominations for the 186 Visa, 494 Visa, and all temporary residence transition streams under employer-sponsored visas will require the 482 visa holders to have worked in a position with their sponsoring employer. Otherwise, have worked in the occupation for medical practitioners and certain executives, for 2 out of the previous 3 years.
Skilled Regional Visa
The concession previously applied to subclass 887, and the following will apply since 25 November 2023:
- All eligible subclass 887 visa applicants must be in Australia but not in immigration clearance when applying
- Access to shorter periods of employment and regional residence requirements will be dismissed
The applicants can only access the employment requirement concession under the following:
- Held an eligible skilled provisional visa during the concession period; and
- Make a valid application within 3 months of Monday, 26 February 2024
Family visas
COVID-19 concession will no longer apply to certain Partner and Child visa applicants who were not in Australia during the COVID-19 concession period. Note that the Covid-19 concession period starts from 1 February 2020 to 25 November 2023.
However, all Partner and Child visa applicants who applied before 26 November 2023, and were in Australia at any time during the concession period, will continue to be eligible for the COVID-19 concession.
Business Innovation and Investment Program Visas
COVID-19 concessions will remain applicable to 188 Visa – Business Innovation Extension stream and 888 visas under all streams, which are lodged before the end of Monday, 26 February 2024.
Safe Haven Enterprise Visa
There is minimal impact on the Safe Haven Enterprise visa program. The Australian Government has provided Safe Haven Enterprise visa holders a permanent residency pathway through the Resolution of Status (subclass 851) visa.
Temporary Graduate Visa
The closure of the COVID-19 concession requires all applications for any stream of the Temporary Graduate visa to be lodged onshore from 25 November 2023. Meanwhile, subsequent entrant applications can be made in or outside Australia.
Granting the applications to applicants in or outside Australia will continue.
So, what to do after the closure of the Covid-19 visa concession?
Ensure you’re updated with the closure of the COVID-19 concession, as it will directly affect your visa application and migration plan.
If you find the closure of the COVID-19 concession highly impacts your visa application, consider talking with the Registered Migration Agent and arranging your migration plan with no concerns.
