• Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who have been unable to travel to Australia as a result of COVID-19 international border restrictions will be able to apply for a replacement visa. This will allow current and former Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders whose visas expired on or after 1 February 2020 to re-apply for a new subclass 485 visa of the same duration as their original visa.
• Additionally, the Morrison Government will increase the length of stay on the Temporary Graduate visa from two to three years for Masters by coursework graduates, matching that of Masters by research graduates. Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector graduates will also receive a two year Temporary Graduate visa.
• The new visa settings will also extend existing measures for students and temporary graduates to recognize time spent offshore studying online to count towards qualifying for a temporary graduate visa.
• Special concession recognizing those highly skilled migrant workers who chose to stay in Australia throughout the pandemic, while continuing to address Australia’s acute shortages.
• Existing Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa holders in the short-term stream working in Health and Hospitality
• Legacy Temporary Work Skilled (subclass 457) visa holders who no longer meet the age requirement but continue working in skilled occupations
• About 20,000 primary Temporary Skill Shortage and 457 visa holders in Australia who may benefit from these arrangements.
• Most of these workers are employed in the highest-skilled occupations and the largest cohorts of workers benefiting from these changes include those currently employed in the health and hospitality industries, including many workers in regional Australia,
• Extensions for visas for skilled regional (provisional visa) holders (subclass 489, 491, and 494) in recognition that this cohort has been adversely affected by COVID-19 related travel restrictions.
• Around 9,000 skilled regional provisional visa holders overseas in these subclasses will benefit from these.
• Government will also extend by a further six-month Visa Application Charge waivers for new Visitor visa applicants overseas where their visa expired or will expire, between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2022.
Further information on how the changes will be legislated and implemented would be announced by the Department of Home affairs soon.
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