How to extend my COVID visa in Australia?
Immigration News
The COVID-19 Pandemic event visa has been expanded to allow temporary visa holders to stay in Australia between 6 and 12 months to work in any sector of the Australian economy.
Temporary Activity (subclass 408) COVID-19 Pandemic event visa changes
On 2 March 2022, Minister Hawke announced changes to the subclass 408 Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) COVID-19 Pandemic event, which included expanding the visa beyond key sectors to allow work in all sectors.
Temporary visa holders with work rights will be able to access the Pandemic event visa for nil Visa Application Charge (VAC) for a period of 6 or 12 months if they work in any sector of the Australian economy.
The length of stay granted to applicants under the revised Pandemic event visa arrangements is based on meeting certain eligibility requirements. Applicants applying to work in:
- The Commonwealth Aged Care sector may be granted a visa of up to 12 months to remain and work in that sector.
- A key sector (aged care, agriculture, child care, disability care, food processing, health care and tourism and hospitality) may be granted a visa of up to 12 months to remain and work in any of those key sectors.
- Any other sector may be granted a visa of up to 6 months to remain and work in those sectors.
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; as well as
- 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.
Applicants will need to provide evidence at time of application that they are employed in Australia or have a job offer to work in Australia.
Applicants will only be eligible for this visa if they apply within 90 days of their substantive visa expiring, or if their last substantive visa has already expired, within 28 days after it expired.
Those who apply on or after 21 February 2022 will no longer be eligible for visa grant on the grounds of being unable to depart Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Information on these new arrangements will be published on the Pandemic event visa webpage as soon as they are finalised.
Australian Government endorsed events
Stay
- up to 12 months if you are working in the key sectors of agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care, child care, and tourism and hospitality
- up to 6 months if you are working in any other sector
If you applied before 21 February 2022, your visa application, including your stay period, will continue to be assessed under the arrangements in place at the time you lodged your application.
With this visa you can
- remain in Australia for 12 months if you are working or have a job offer to work in the following key sectors:
- agriculture
- food processing
- health care
- aged care
- disability care
- child care, and
- tourism and hospitality
- remain in Australia for 12 months if you are working for or have a job offer from a Commonwealth funded aged care service.
- remain in Australia for 6 months if you are working or have a job offer to work in any other sector in Australia.
- include members of the family unit in your application.
If you are a visitor to Australia with no work rights and cannot support yourself, you should make arrangements to return home.
If you apply on or after 21 February 2022, you will no longer be eligible for this visa on the grounds of being unable to depart Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
You must
- apply online
- be in Australia
- maintain adequate health insurance during your stay in Australia
At time of application you must:
- have evidence of your employment or an offer of employment
- hold a substantive visa with work rights that expires in 90 days or less, or that expired 28 days ago or less
If you arrive in Australia on or after 21 February 2022, you must hold a substantive visa with work rights to be eligible for a COVID-19 Pandemic event visa, unless you have a job offer from a Commonwealth funded aged care service.
Stay longer
You cannot stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
If you hold a COVID-19 Pandemic event visa that is about to expire you can apply for a new COVID-19 Pandemic event visa to remain in Australia if you meet the current eligibility requirements.
Include family
You can:
- include members of the family unit who are in Australia with you in your application when you apply, or
- make a subsequent entrant application in ImmiAccount to add family members who are in Australia. You can do this after you lodge your application.
Family members who apply with you must also meet our health and character requirements.
How can No Borders Migration help?
NB Migration highly recommend not waiting until the last minute to extend your visa as there may be certain conditions that can take up to 28 days to receive an outcome. If you are unsure if you would be eligible for extending your Visitor visa or how to fill out your application correctly, speak to a migration agent/ lawyer as soon as you are aware that you will need to extend your time in Australia. If you require assistance with requesting a waiver on your current visa or would like help with applying for a new visa, contact us today for a free, no-obligation assessment with our legal team.
NO BORDERS LAW GROUP: #1 TRUSTED MIGRATION LAWYERS
Email: service@noborders-group.com
Tel: +61 7 3876 4000
Consultation: https://www.noborders-group.com/form/free-consultation
We will help you by exploring visa options and securing application. As part of our services, we will assess the eligibility of the application for a partner visa and help you to get out of the abusive relationship and provide you with detailed advice on your chances of success. If you would like to discuss your visa options and evaluate the pathway to permanent residency, please make an enquiry or book a consultation to get expert advice with one of our knowledgeable and experienced Migration Agents/Lawyers on 07 3876 4000 or email: service@noborders-group.com.
Retrieved from: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-activity-408/australian-government-endorsed-events-covid-19
