Australia is closing the Pandemic Event visa Subclass 408

Australian Government is closing the Pandemic Event visa Subclass 408. With effect from 1 February 2024, this particular visa will be closed to all applicants. This will give conviction to Australian visa system now that the conditions that drove the operation of the visa doesn’t exist anymore.

In order to support Australia’s COVID-19 economic recovery, government of Australia have temporarily implemented a less restrictive policy on visa condition 8107 - work limitation for COVID-19 Pandemic event visa applicants (and holders), which allows them to work unrestricted.

Pandemic Event visa will only be open to existing visa holders

With effect from September 2, 2023, the eligibility for the Pandemic Event visa will be limited to existing Pandemic Event visa holders. The people with other types of visas will no longer qualify for the Pandemic Event visa. This measure is a temporary and aimed at protecting the integrity of the visa system. Those who hold a valid Pandemic Event visa will maintain their legal status until their current visa expires.

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The gradual phasing out of this visa is another step taken to make certain that the visa system aligns with the requirements of the Australian population. The Labour government inherited a migration system loaded with backlogs, delays, and wide waitlists, left behind by the earlier Liberal Government. The Albanese Government has been proactive in fixing this situation.

Recently, the Albanese Government ended a series of pandemic-related measures, including the elimination of unlimited work hours for international students and work exemptions for Working Holiday visa holders. These combined actions will apply downward pressure on Net Overseas Migration, which has been recovering since the pandemic, and will assist in re-establishing population growth levels to pre-pandemic levels.

From September 2, 2023, new applicants will get a six-month visa, and a Visa Application Charge of $405 AUD will be introduced. These adjustments are proposed to make certain that the visa is entirely utilized by individuals who genuinely need it to contribute to Australia.

People presently holding a Pandemic Event visa who want to apply for a different visa will be required to fulfil the precise criteria for that alternative visa. Those who do not have any feasible options for alternative visa applications are expected to depart from Australia when their existing visa expires.

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To know more and apply for relevant Australian visa this year, you may contact Visas Avenue trusted Australia Migration Expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar