Australia:Budget impact on 417, 600, 500 and 485 visas

While the 2020-21 Migration Planning level remains the same (160,000), there has been a significant one-off increase for Family Stream places which has increased from 47,732 to 77,300. The majority of these places are for Partner visas (72,300 of the 77,300).

417 Working Holiday Visa Holders

• Changes to Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Visas to to allow construction work, paid and volunteer disaster recovery work in a Local Government Area with a declared natural disaster to be recognised as “specified work”.
• WHM visa holders who are engaged in disaster recovery work are able to work for the same employer for up to 12 months;
• WHM visa holders who are working in food processing or the agricultural sector will be eligible for a further WHM visa and will be exempt from the six-month work limitation with one employer; and
• WHM visa holders will be eligible to have the Visa Application Charge for a subsequent visa application waived (or refunded) to allow them to return to Australia once borders fully re-open.

Student and Graduate Visa Holders

• The Visa Application Charge for Student visa (subclass 500) holders who are required to lodge a further Student visa application to complete their studies or to remain in Australia as a result of travel restrictions will be waived;
• International students and recent graduates who are eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and unable to travel to Australia will be allowed to apply while outside of Australia;
• Student Visas holders working in aged care (with an Approved Provider or Commonwealth-funded aged care service provider) or disability care (with a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme provider) will not be limited to the 40 hour per fortnight work limit;
• Student Visa holders studying relevant medical courses are also exempt from the 40 hour per fortnight work limit if they are supporting COVID-19 health efforts at the direction of the relevant health authority.

Tourists

• Visitor visa holders will be eligible to have their Visa Application Charge for a subsequent visa application waived, to allow them to return to Australia once the travel restrictions are lifted.

If you are impacted by any of these changes or would like any further information, please contact us via the Enquiry form.