Latest COVID-19 concessions for Australian visas

Since the COVID-19 crisis the government has announced changes to policy and concessions for some visas. Among those are working hours for some student visa holders employed in critical sectors and 457 and 482 Temporary Visa Holders in Australia who are stood down and not laid off by their employer, access to superannuation for temporary visa holders, introduction of new COVID-19 stream – subclass 408 Temporary Activity Visa and waiver of some conditions imposed on certain visas. Here is a list of the latest of the latest updates.

The 870 temporary visa lets a parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years. There is no balance of family test for this visa.

The visa allows parents to stay in Australia temporarily for a period of up to five years at a time. Normally, a parent must be outside Australia for at least 90 days before being eligible to apply for a further Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa.

One of the criteria for submitting a 870 visa is to be outside Australia. Due to the COVID-19 crisis and travel restrictions, for parents who would like to extend their stay in Australia (for up to 5 years) they may be able to submit their 870 visa without leaving Australia subject to the Parent Processing Centre approval, which has been lenient with these waiver requests during COVID-19 period.

To be granted permission the parent cannot currently hold an onshore visa with a condition 8503 or 8543. The condition must be waived before applying.

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Sponsored Temporary Parent visa - permission to lodge onshore

Condition 8558 (must not stay in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period)

If you hold a Visitor visa with condition 8558 you should depart Australia before the date on which you will have stayed in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period.

If you are unable to depart Australia before this time for reasons beyond your control however, the Department do not expect you to apply for a further visa unless you are unable to depart before your visa expiry date.

The ‘No Further Stay’ 8503 waiver request will therefore be prioritised according to the visa expiry date, and not the date on which you will have stayed in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period.

COVID-19 and visitor visas- Condition 8558

Immigration Matter	COVID-19 Concessions	Further information
482 TSS visa	Ok if stood down and as before if laid off (60 days to find another employer)	https://visaenvoy.com/tss-visa-holders-affected-by-coronavirus/
186 visa	should a stood down 4-year TSS visa holder be re-employed after the coronavirus pandemic, their time already spent in Australia will count towards their permanent residency skilled work experience requirements	https://visaenvoy.com/tss-visa-holders-affected-by-coronavirus/

Immigration Matter	COVID-19 Concessions	Further information
S48 bar	Cannot be waived	https://visaenvoy.com/coronavirus-update-tss-student-and-485-visa-holders/
8503 condition (No Further Stay Condition)	Department being lenient with waivers	https://visaenvoy.com/coronavirus-and-australian-visas/
8543 condition (No Further Stay” condition placed on student visas)	Department being lenient with waivers	https://visaenvoy.com/coronavirus-and-australian-visas/

Immigration Matter	COVID-19 Concessions	Further information
Student visa holders offshore	Travel restrictions in place. We will update once we have a reopening date for International Students.	https://go8.edu.au/in-the-media-universities-propose-secure-corridor-rules-for-international-students
Student visa holder onshore	Flexible if not attended classes, extra hours for students working in certain industries. Access to superannuation.	https://visaenvoy.com/coronavirus-and-australian-visas/

408 visa

New COVID-19 stream

Nil visa application fee and work rights are available in some circumstances

https://visaenvoy.com/408-visa-covid-19/

Working Holiday Makers (WHM) in Australia	Working holiday makers who are working in some critical sectors will be exempt from the six month work limitation with the one employer and eligible for a further visa to keep working in these critical sectors if their current visa is due to expire in the next six months.	https://visaenvoy.com/visa-flexibility-for-working-holiday-makers-supporting-critical-sectors/
Working Holiday Visas who have not activated their visa	As before, must arrive within 12 months of grant and have 12 months validity from the time you arrive in Australia.

Citizenship eligibility	No exemptions for residence requirements	https://visaenvoy.com/exemptions-to-citizenship-residence-requirements-and-covid-19/
Citizenship Ceremonies	Online invitations have commenced	https://visaenvoy.com/online-citizenship-ceremonies-being-trialled-during-coronavirus-crisis/