Last Updated 30 July 2020 Quickly and easily check visas for staff members here. (02) 8203 5433 PLEASE NOTE: We are a software company and do NOT offer migration advice on visas beyond the results provided by our system. The Immigration Minister released information this morning that special changes to the working holiday visas would mean that those who are currently in Australia will have their working conditions eased if they work in the critical sectors of health, aged and disability care, agriculture and food processing and child care. I work in a non-critical sector for COVID-19. Already have a visa. Easy-to-use checklist for employers when hiring temporary visa holders. Passengers prepare to check-in at the Virgin Australia counter at Brisbane domestic airport on April 21, 2020. Among them is a special temporary visa for those who cannot leave Australia before their visa expires. “The extension of Seasonal Worker Program and Working Holiday Maker visas is a much-needed short-term solution to what will become a larger problem as … The Department Of Home Affairs has introduced extensions to the sub-class 408 “temporary activity visa” to specifically cover arrangements for the COVID-19 Pandemic. Besides essential workers, holidaymakers working in critical sectors who cannot extend their holiday visas may qualify for this pandemic visa. "Those who are applying for a third working holiday visa have to work six months on a rural farm and if denied that then that's a huge loss for Australia too, that's a … Australia has announced passengers from New Zealand can travel to Australia, quarantine-free, from Friday 16 October, if they have not been in an area designated a COVID-19 hotspot in New Zealand in the preceding 14 days. Due to the unforeseeable pandemic of Covid-19, hundreds of working holiday visa holders cannot enter Australia before the expiry of their entry date. These people have dreamt of coming to Australia for years and they’ve changed their lives to do so. ABN 16 159 321 178. Under the standard 8104/8105 work conditions, international students are able to work up to 40 hours per fortnight. Back in April, the Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs  Alan Tudge, announced a series of temporary Australian visa extension and options in response to COVID-19. For more details visa: The Department of Home Affairs website. The visa for Australia can in many cases no longer be used, though a number of exceptions do apply. This is owed to the numerous travel bans in effect all over the world, which complicates travel for those outside their home country — international students included. See what you must do if you have to stay longer due to COVID19. Over 13,000 people have signed a petition seeking an extension to Working Holiday Visas. Employers should consider providing sponsored staff with Leave Without Pay due the exceptional circumstances of the Coronavirus, rather than layoffs that would normally trigger the cancellation of the sponsored visa. For more information, see ​ l​atest news. This may include international student nurses and medical students who stayed back in Australia to serve on pandemic frontlines. Working Holiday Maker visas cannot be extended. Employees will need to formally request the leave without pay from their employer and both have to agree by signing such a request. As of January 7, 2021, air travellers 5 years of age or older will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result to the airline prior to boarding international flights bound for Canada. Find out how to apply, how to extend, and how to have an amazing time on your working holiday in Australia. ‘Instantly supportive’: How one Australian institute is helping international students, International student in NSW, Australia facing hardship? If you’re still unsure, check the frequently-asked questions or reach out to DOHA online. COVID-19 & Visitor Visa Extensions. We suggest contacting an Immigration Consultant to advise you on your options moving forward. Before, travellers on this visa (also known as a 417 visa) had to put in 88 days of labour (usually in agriculture or specialist industries) to be eligible for a second or third-year visa. The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) released the COVID-19 Pandemic Temporary Activity Visa as a stream of the subclass 408 visa. Further information is available here . However, if you have completed three or six months of work in Australia in specified work conditions, you may be able to apply for a second or third Working Holiday Maker visa. The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program allows young adults to live and work in Australia for up to three years. There are so many incredible opportunities for working, volunteering, and having the adventure of a lifetime Down Under. Source: William West/AFP. Among the critical sectors are agriculture and food processing; disability and aged care; childcare; and healthcare. Temporary visa holders who have departed Australia and wish to access their superannuation can request voluntary cancellation of their visa and a 'Departing Australia Superannuation Payment'. There are about 118,000 people in Australia on a working holiday visa - or backpacker visa - which will be given some flexibility for the next six months. COVID-19 and the border. This visa will allow working holiday makers to remain lawfully in Australia, and continue working, if they wish to do so, until they can return to their home country. Right To Work checks – key compliance obligation in Australia, Coronavirus / COVID-19 – Visa Arrangements, Automated Visa Checks for Business – vSure Features. If you need to change employer, the new employer will need to have a new nomination approved before you can start working with them. With much speculation and confusion around about the arrangements for visa holders during the Coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve tried to distill the key facts for you below: The Department Of Home Affairs has introduced extensions to the sub-class 408 “temporary activity visa” to specifically cover arrangements for the COVID-19 Pandemic. There are 2.17 million people presently in … You can soon apply for crisis housing, COVID-19 Pandemic Temporary Activity Visa, Either unable to depart Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, or required to stay in Australia to assist in critical sectors, Have 28 days or less remaining on current visa, or had your visa expire within the last 28 days. Australia has also implemented strict measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19). If your profession and employment is within the criteria, you can apply for the so-called “Covid-19” visa (subclass 408). Updated to include visa extension for healthcare workers whose visa expires between 1 October 2020 and 31 March 2021. To qualify for the COVID-19 Pandemic Temporary Activity Visa, you must: Already be in Australia; Either unable to depart Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, or required to stay in Australia to assist in critical sectors; Have 28 days or less remaining on current visa, or had your visa expire within the last 28 days; Have no other visa options available; Meet all the Australian visa requirements as stated here This special visa class may allow non-residents to:– remain in Australia if they have no other visa options and are unable to depart Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.– remain in Australia to assist in critical sectors including healthcare, disability and aged care, childcare and agriculture during the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing 417 or 462 visa holders working in critical sectors who are unable to meet the 3 or 6 months specified work for a second or third year working holiday maker, and who are not able to return to their home country can apply for a special Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa (as above) to allow them to stay and work temporarily. 19 November 2020. Subclass 500 student visa holders working in the major supermarkets had also had these hours extended to help get stock on shelves during the high demand. To qualify for the COVID-19 Pandemic Temporary Activity Visa, you must: Check your eligibility with this official checklist. Copyright © 2013-21 vSure Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Hi all, As I'm sure many other travellers are, I'm in Australia currently on a Working Holiday Visa (417, first year). This is generally taken to be a maximum period of 3 months but due to the exceptional circumstances, please seek clarification at the time if this can be extended for another 3 months. 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