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

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

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