Australia: Australian government decided on cancelling the Pandemic Visa that was initiated in 2020, during the Covid-19 epidemic. This was allotted to international students and workers in Australia who were not able to travel outside the country. Therefore, this visa allowed them to stay in the country for an additional 12 months in case their visa expired. Moreover, they were allowed to travel in and out of the country during this period. Students and workers on temporary visas were able to extend their stay and over 65,000 individuals used the Pandemic Visa between June 2022 and March 2023.
What is Pandemic Visa
Although made to provide relief to international students and workers during unfortunate times, The visa is deemed to have been misused among many. This gave unlimited working hours to students and work exemptions to many workers. Along with this, many were using the visa, even after the end of the Covid 19 pandemic to extend their stays. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said “The Pandemic Event visa was an important part of Australia’s visa system during the pandemic. Many people on temporary visas helped Australia during this period. We’re providing an opportunity for people who hold a Pandemic Event visa to explore another visa option, or plan to leave Australia,”
Australia discontinues new application for Pandemic visa
The Pandemic Visa, also called Subclass 408 was started in 2020. However, the government has decided to end the pandemic visa in February 2024. Moreover, from 2nd September onwards, only the existing applicants will be tended to, therefore, no more applications are going to be accepted. Apart from this, the new applicants will get a 6-month stay with an application charge. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil announced that ” “From February 2024, the visa will be closed to all applicants. This will provide certainty to our visa system now that the circumstances that drove the operation of the visa no longer exist,”
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