← Australia · 2023

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Phased Closure and Restriction of the Subclass 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Event Visa Stream

Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix

CountryAustralia
Operative dateSeptember 2, 2023
CategoryTemporary work and activity visas
Policy toolLegislative instrument / visa closure and fee amendment
Affected groupSubclass 408 applicants and current pandemic event visa holders

Policy effect

The Australian Government closed the Subclass 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Event visa stream to new applicants, restricted eligibility to existing holders with 28 days or less remaining on their visa, shortened subsequent stay validity to up to 6 months, and introduced a Visa Application Charge of AUD 405. Phase scope: Initial restriction phase (closure to non-holders, application fee introduced, stay reduced to 6 months) leading to total program closure on 1 February 2024.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: The Australian Government closed the Subclass 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Event visa stream to new applicants, restricted eligibility to existing holders with 28 days or less remaining on their visa, shortened subsequent stay validity to up to 6 months, and introduced a Visa Application Charge of AUD 405.; Phase scope: Initial restriction phase (closure to non-holders, application fee introduced, stay reduced to 6 months) leading to total program closure on 1 February 2024.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) – referred to as the Pandemic Event visa. What this means From 2 September 2023, the Pandemic Event visa will only be open to applications from existing Pandemic Event visa holders. Pandemic Event visa holders will be able to apply for a subsequent Pandemic Event visa after 2 September 2023 until the visa is fully closed in February 2024. Applications for the Pandemic Event visa lodged before 2 September 2023, if granted, will be considered for a period of stay in Australia of up to 12 months (or 2 years for TGV holders). If you are a Pandemic Event visa holder Your Pandemic Event visa will remain valid until it expires, or you are granted another visa. You may eligible to apply for a subsequent Pandemic Event visa of up to 6 months on or after 2 September 2023 until the visa is closed on 1 February 2024. A subsequent Pandemic Event visa application requires a Visa Application Charge (VAC) of AUD405.00 and a VAC for each family member included in the application. You can only apply for a subsequent Pandemic Event visa if, at time of application, you have 28 days or less remaining on … your current Pandemic Event visa. From 1 February 2024, the Pandemic Event visa will be closed to all applicants. For all other visa holders If you hold any other type of visa, including a student, graduate or visitor visa, you are not able to apply for the Pandemic Event visa. Why the Pandemic Event visa is closing The Pandemic Event visa was introduced in April 2020 to allow temporary migrants, including international students, to stay in Australia while COVID-19 travel restrictions were in place. Now Australia’s borders are open, the Pandemic Event visa is no longer required. The announcement …
Study Australia / Department of Home Affairsstudyaustralia.gov.au, 'Closure of the Pandemic Event visa', 5 September 2023.Open official source
Retrieved from https://studyaustralia.gov.au/id/tools-and-resources/news/closure-of-the-pandemic-event-visa-

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Automated source validation is not independent human legal review. The finding should not be treated as legal advice. Record fcp5-603abf24f778ce7867b0. Something wrong? Flag this record.

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