Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Event (PCER) 408 Visa

Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Event (PCER) 408 Visa

Update (October 2026)

The Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Event stream closed (applications had to be made by 30 June 2022), and the COVID-19 Pandemic event 408 visa closed in February 2024. See our 408 visa page for the streams that remain open.

On 27 February 2021, the government’s new instrument (LIN 21/008) introduced the Post COVID-19 economic recovery event for Subclass 408 visas (PCER). This introduced a new stream under the Subclass 408 visa. The aim of this new stream is to support and promote economic recovery post COVID-19.

To be eligible for this visa, the applicant must meet all the following:

Employed full time as an essential stuff member of an overseas business that
- Is relocating to Australia
- Will assist in Australia’s response to the COVID post-economic recovery
Will assist with the establishment of the business operating in Australia
Make the application between 27 February 2021 and 30 June 2022
Has not previously been granted a visa in accordance with this instrument.

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You must be endorsed by your employer in writing as a key staff member required to assist with the relocation of the business.

Your employer must have been approved for coordinated facilitation from the Australian Government’s Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce.

Applicants working in a critical sector must:

have evidence from an employer of your employment or an offer of employment and that an Australian citizen or permanent resident cannot fill the position
hold a substantive visa that expires in 90 days or less, or your last substantive visa expired 28 days or less ago

If you are applying for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa to remain in Australia to work in a critical sector, you must have 90 days or less remaining on your current visa or your last substantive visa expired less than 28 days ago

If you are applying for the visa to work or continue working in a critical sector (such as agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care or child care) you must provide evidence of your ongoing employment or offer of employment which:

confirms the dates of your employment
confirms which critical sector (such as agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care or child care) you are working in
provides evidence that an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident cannot fill the position
If a Global Talent visa applicant, to provide TRN details

Evidence could include payslips, a contract and/or a letter from your employer.

In addition, your employer must have been approved for coordinated facilitation from the Australian Government’s Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce.

This new stream is potentially more beneficial to overseas businesses because businesses can avoid the higher costs involved in sponsoring worker under a subclass 482 visa or a subclass 494 visa. With less stringent criteria, overseas applicants may also find it easier to apply under the new stream as opposed to an employer-sponsored visa.

Costs: from $310

Stay

For the duration of the event (up to 4 years)

Legislative Instrument

Training visa (subclass 407)
Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)
Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403)
Australia’s subclass 400 vs 482 TSS visa
Entertainers
Invited participant in an event
Religious worker
Special program
Sport
Researcher
Staff exchange
Superyacht crew
Domestic worker (executive)
Australian Government endorsed event- COVID-19 Pandemic event visa

What this means in 2026

The Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Event stream was a short term measure for key staff of businesses relocating to Australia, and it closed to new applications on 30 June 2022. If your business is moving to Australia or setting up here today, staff usually need one of the standard employer or business visas below.

Your situation	Visa to consider now
Key staff transferring to an Australian branch or a new Australian business	The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), with the business approved as a standard business sponsor
Short, highly specialised work of up to 3 or 6 months	The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)
Founders, investors or people with an exceptional record of achievement	The National Innovation visa (subclass 858), which is invitation only
Roles in regional Australia with a long term future	The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494)

Can a new overseas business sponsor workers in Australia?

Yes. An overseas business without an Australian operation can apply to be a sponsor to set up a branch, and a newly established Australian business can also be approved. Start-ups need to show they are lawfully operating and can meet their sponsorship obligations.

Is any COVID-19 408 visa still available?

No. The Pandemic event stream closed in February 2024 and the economic recovery stream in 2022. Other 408 streams, such as research, sporting and entertainment activities, are still open.

What does the 482 visa cost the business?

Besides the visa charge of AUD 4,015 per main applicant (from 1 July 2026), the employer pays a nomination fee of AUD 330 and the Skilling Australians Fund levy of AUD 1,200 or 1,800 per year of the visa, depending on business turnover.

Next steps: work out which roles are critical to your launch, check the occupations and income thresholds for each visa, and book a consultation to plan your sponsorship and visa applications.