Australia is Ending the COVID-19 concession period for All Visa Subclasses

Employer Sponsored visas

From November 25, 2023, fresh nominations for specific visa streams will mandate Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) holders to have a work history of two out of the preceding 3 years. This involves working either in a position with their sponsoring employer or within the occupation, especially for medical practitioners and certain executives.

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
• Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.

The following COVID-19 concessions will become redundant and will end:

• Periods of reduced work due to COVID-19 will not count towards meeting the work experience requirements for new ENS/RSMS TRT stream nomination applications.
• The COVID-19 concession to the age exemption for high income earning applicants will not apply for new ENS/RSMS visa applications.

Legacy 457 workers in Australia who got the advantage of the age exemption for a 12-month period during the pandemic, spanning from February 1, 2020, to December 14, 2021, will have this exemption applicable to ENS visa applications submitted before July 1, 2024.

Skilled Regional Visa subclass 887

• The temporary allowances provided to holders of eligible skilled provisional visas applying for the subclass 887 visa are customized to coincide with the COVID-19 concession period.
• These concessions allowed eligible prospective subclass 887 visa applicants to submit their applications from either within or outside Australia throughout the concession period. Additionally, applicants were granted access to reduced periods of employment and regional residence requirements.

To benefit from the employment requirement concession, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Possess an eligible skilled provisional visa during the concession period.
• Submit a valid application within three months of Monday, February 26, 2024.

The conclusion of the concession period signifies the conclusion of any other concessions for the subclass 887 visa. As of November 25, 2023, eligible skilled provisional visa holders applying for a subclass 887 visa must be present in Australia, though not in immigration clearance, during the application process.

Family visas

• The COVID-19 concessions lifted restrictions on the 'location at the time of visa grant' requirement for specific Family program visa applicants.
• Those who applied for certain Partner and Child visas before November 26, 2023, and were present in Australia at any point during the concession period will uphold eligibility for visa grants in Australia after the conclusion of the concession period, provided they meet all other visa criteria.
• It's important to note that the COVID-19 concession arrangements do not extend to Partner and Child applicants who were not in Australia during any part of the COVID-19 concession period.
• Furthermore, the COVID-19 concessions for specific Parent visa applicants only applied during the COVID-19 concession period, spanning from February 1, 2020, to November 25, 2023.

Business Innovation and Investment Program visas

COVID-19 concessions were implemented for the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) across the:

• Provisional Subclass 188 Visa - Business Innovation Extension Stream
• Permanent Subclass 888 Visa under all streams.

Applicants within the BIIP framework, who meet the criteria for utilizing COVID-19 concessions, can submit valid applications within 3 months following the conclusion of the concession period. All applications must be submitted before the conclusion of Monday, February 26, 2024.

Safe Haven Enterprise Visa

The conclusion of the COVID-19 concession is expected to have limited effects on the Safe Haven Enterprise visa pathway program. The Australian Government has introduced a permanent visa pathway alternative for Safe Haven Enterprise visa holders, facilitated through the Resolution of Status (Subclass 851) (RoS) visa.

Temporary Graduate visa

Starting November 25, 2023, applications for all streams of the Temporary Graduate Visa (TGV) program are required to be submitted within Australia. However, subsequent entrant applications can still be submitted either within or outside of Australia. The authority to process applications for individuals inside or outside Australia (excluding those in immigration clearance) will persist.

Also read-

India Restarts E-Visa Services for Canadian Nationals

Relish Work-Travel Harmony in 2024 – Apply for Canada Digital Nomad Visa Now

US Unveils 250,000 Visa Slots in India- Delhi Wait Time Now a Month Post-Pandemic

Seize the Entrepreneurial Success in 2024: Apply for Canada Start-Up Visa

Australia's 2024–25 permanent Migration Program- DHA is inviting Public Submissions

For an assessment of your eligibility and to initiate the application process for immigration to Australia this year, feel free to contact a reputable Australian Immigration Advisor and Expert at Visas Avenue on Toll-Free. No. 78-18-000-777 or drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar