COVID 408 visa closure
- Migration -COVID-19 Pandemic event for Temporary Activity (subclass 408 visa) Repeal Instrument 2024 closes the COVID 408 visa to all applicants from February 2024. The COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be a specified event for the purposes of a temporary Visa at Reg 408.229(b) of Schedule 2 and subclause 9204(2) of Schedule 13 of the Migration Regulations.
- This instrument commences on 1 February 2024 and repeals LIN 22/046.
- The OMARA has also sent the following notification directly to all RMA:
- Dear Registered Migration Agent,
- This email has been sent on behalf of Employer Sponsored Policy, Department of Home Affairs.
- As you are aware, the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) visa (commonly referred to as the Pandemic Event visa) will close to all applicants from 1 February 2024.
- The Department of Home Affairs can confirm that a new instrument LIN 24/003 was registered as of 24 January 2024 on the Federal Register of Legislation to repeal LIN 22/046 and bring the Pandemic Event visa to a close.
- Please ensure that you assist clients to remain lawful if they wish to stay in Australia. Further information is provided on COVID-19 Pandemic event visa page.
State and Territory Update
New South Wales
- The NSW Government has opened its Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491 program under Pathway 1: applying directly to Investment NSW if the applicant has an established work history with a regional NSW-based employer.
- The stated aim of this pathway is to ‘bolster those applicants who area already making a significant contribution to regional NSW and have been working in regional NSW for 12 months.
- Pathway 1 has additional criteria to the alternate pathways, including:
- that the applicant is currently living and working in a designated regional area of NSW and have continuously done so for the past 12 months
- the qualifying skilled employment in the twelve months immediately before applying must be with a single regional NSW-based employer and In the nominated (or closely related) occupation
- the occupation must be deemed skilled by NSW
- the position must be paid at the minimum TSMIT of $70,000 (prorated if under 38 hours per week) by the qualifying employer.
- Further information is available on the Investment NSW website.