Australia to open up to eligible visa holders – 1st December, 2021

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Eligible vaccinated visa holders can travel to Australia without an exemption

The DHA have announced that certain visa holders will be able to travel to Australia without holding a travel exemption.

Travellers  will still need to comply with any quarantine arrangements in their arrival  state/territory. However those arriving in NSW, Victoria and the ACT will likely be able to avoid any hotel quarantine arrangements if they can provide evidence of accepted vaccinations.

Travellers should confirm what is needed prior to travel. State/territory border permits may be required. This includes those arriving in one state, but then intending to travel to another.

The DHA announcement is below – https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/vaccinated-travellers#toc-7

New arrangements for eligible visa holders

From 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can now travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. Eligible visa holders are people who hold the following visas:

Visa
Subclass 200 – Refugee visa
Subclass 201 – In-country Special Humanitarian visa
Subclass 202 – Global Special Humanitarian visa
Subclass 203 – Emergency Rescue visa
Subclass 204 – Woman at Risk visa
Subclass 300 – Prospective Marriage visa
Subclass 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa
Subclass 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (other streams, including Australian Agriculture Visa stream)
Subclass 407 – Training visa
Subclass 408 – Temporary Activity visa
Subclass 417 – Working Holiday visa
Subclass 449 – Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa
Subclass 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled) visa
Subclass 461 – New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa
Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday visa
Subclass 476 – Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa
Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa
Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visa
Subclass 489 – Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 500 – Student visa
Subclass 580 – Student Guardian visa (closed to new applicants)
Subclass 590 – Student Guardian visa
Subclass 785 – Temporary Protection visa
Subclass 790 – Safe Haven Enterprise visa
Subclass 870 – Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa
Subclass 988 – Maritime Crew visa

Note: Additional visa subclasses may be added over time. 

This is in addition to the exemptions outlined on: Travel restrictions and exemptions.

If you have any questions about a visa application and/or exemptions then please Contact Us.

Travel exemptions for Parents of adult Australian Citizens & Permanent Residents to open

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Australian travel exemptions for parents to open on 1st November, 2021

The DHA have announced that parents of Australian Citizens and Permanent residents will soon be able to apply for an exemption to travel to Australia.

This is great news for parents that want to reunite with their children and their families in Australia.

Immediate family exemptions

Who is a parent? 

The definition of parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents includes:

  • biological parents
  • legal (including adoptive) parents
  • step-parents
  • parents in-law.

Exemption & valid visa required 

Before you travel, you will need to have an approved travel exemption. To submit your exemption request you will need to provide evidence of:

  • your adult child’s Australian citizenship or permanent residency; and
  • your parental relationship to the Australian citizen or permanent resident.

You will also need to hold a valid visa.

Quarantine requirements  

Quarantine in Australia is managed by the states/territories. Travellers will  need to comply with the arrangements in the state/territory that they are arrive in. There may be also be requirements in the state/territory that travellers ultimately wish to travel too.

Some states, such as NSW & Victoria, are removing some quarantine requirements for eligible vaccinated travellers as of 1st November. Other states/territories will follow in due course so keep an eye on what’s needed at the time of travel. This could mean no quarantine, or more than one period of quarantine.

If you have any questions about a visa application and/or an exemption request then please Contact Us.

Changes to Australia’s entry and exit requirements from 1st November 2021

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Travelling to and from Australia

The Australian government has recently  announced changes to the policies it has had in place for the COVID pandemic since March 2020.

Vaccinated Australian Citizens & Permanent Residents

From 1 November 2021, fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will be eligible for international travel without seeking a travel exemption.Children under 12 and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons will also be able to travel overseas without an exemption.

Covid: Australia to end ban on citizens leaving country

Opening up post COVID

 

Unvaccinated Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents

Unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents wishing to travel overseas (apart from children under 12 and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons) are required to apply for an exemption to leave Australia. They can apply for an exemption but they must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • your travel is as part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid
  • your travel is for your business/employer
  • you are travelling to receive urgent medical treatment that is not available in Australia
  • you are travelling outside Australia for a compelling reason for three months or longer
  • you are travelling on compelling or compassionate grounds
  • your travel is in the national interest
  • you are ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia

Returning Australian citizens and Permanent Residents 

Australian citizens and permanent residents do not need an exemption to return to Australia.

Each state manages quarantine arrangements. You will need to check what these are depending on your state of arrival. NSW & Victoria have announced changes from 1st November. Other states have indicated they will be making changes in due course as well.

Temporary visa holders returning home

Temporary visa holders impacted by COVID-19 can make arrangements to return to their home country, if border restrictions in that country allow.

Temporary visa holders leaving Australia for a short trip overseas

Temporary visa holders in Australia can depart Australia at any time, however, they will generally not be permitted to return to Australia without an exemption.

It is expected that this will change in due course. 

In the interim temporary visa holders seeking to leave and then return to Australia, may apply for an inwards exemption before they leave, however applications will generally only be approved if:

  • the applicant meets the requirements for an individual exemption from Australia’s Inward Travel Restrictions, and
  • they have a strong compassionate or compelling reason to leave Australia supported by relevant documentary evidence, for example:
    • attending the funeral of a close family member overseas, visiting a close family member who is seriously or critically ill, or seeking necessary medical treatment not available in Australia, or
    • travel is essential for business purposes.

If you require assistance with an exemption to leave then please Contact Us.

 

GSM visas – State/Territory nomination update

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Update – Victorian business migration nomination

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Victorian government announcement – January 7th, 2019

“Victoria has temporarily closed applications for nomination of certain business and investor visas.

Victoria is currently experiencing a high volume of applications for nomination for select business and investor visas. To help manage this demand, and meet our service commitments to you, we are temporarily not accepting new applications for the following visa sub-classes:

• 188 – Business Innovation stream
• 188 – Significant Investor stream
• 188 – Investor stream
• 188 – Entrepreneur stream
• 132 – Business Talent (Permanent) – Significant Business History stream
• 132 – Business Talent (Permanent) –  Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream

We will continue to assess all nomination applications received prior to 5 January 2019, however please be advised delays may occur in providing outcomes for these applications.

Your interest in the Business Innovation & Investment Program is highly valued and we hope to reopen the program shortly. We cannot provide a specific date or timeframe at this point, however encourage you to visit the Live in Melbourne website regularly for program updates.”

If you have any questions regarding Victorian business migration, either now or in the future, please Contact Us.

Victorian skilled nomination changes – engineers and building occupations

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Changes to skilled applications for engineering and building occupations

Applications for engineering and building occupations on the Victorian Nomination List will not be accepted from 16 October 2017 to 12 January 2018 due to the large volume of applications received.

If you would like to discuss your options for a Victorian nominated visa – whether you would be eligible for the Subclass 190 or 489 visa, then please  Contact Us.

 

Victorian nomination for ICT applications re-open 1st July, 2017

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Victorian Skilled Migration – ICT occupations reopening on 1 July

On the 1st July 2017, the Victorian Skilled and Business Migration Program is reopening applications for ICT occupations. Applicants who are nominated by Victoria may be eligible for:

  1. Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa OR
  2. Skilled Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 489) Visa

Victorian migration

The ICT occupations for nomination are below. All applicants must meet Proficient English and have at least 3 years experience.

  • 1355112  ICT Project Manager
  • 261111  ICT Business Analyst
  • 261112  Analyst Programmer
  • 261312  Developer Programmer
  • 261312  Software Engineer
  • 261314 Software Tester
  • 271399 Software and Applications Programmers nec
  • 262111 Database Administrator
  • 262112  ICT Security Specialist
  • 263111  Computer Network and Systems Engineer

Applications in the following specialisations are not currently accepted:
– Web Designer
– Help Desk Operator
– Help Desk Manager

If you would like to discuss your options for Victoria, or anywhere else, please Contact Us.

Victoria – Temporary closure in skilled applications for ICT occupations

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November, 2016 – The Victorian government recently provided an update about their nomination program. The details are below. If you would like to discuss this, and how it applies to you, please get in touch.  

Victorian migration

Victorian migration

Temporary closure in skilled applications for ICT occupations

Due to a large volume of skilled visa nomination applications received, applications for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) occupations will not be accepted from 11 November 2016 to 6 March 2017.

The closure will be for a period of four months, however further updates will be provided should this be extended.

The occupations affected by the temporary closure are:

135112 ICT Project Manager
261111 ICT Business Analyst
261112 Systems Analyst
261311 Analyst Programmer
261312 Developer Programmer
261313 Software Engineer
261314 Software Tester
261399 Software and Applications Programmers nec
262111 Database Administrator
262112 ICT Security Specialist
263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer

This temporary closure will allow processing of all outstanding applications and reduce the risk of delay for future applicants.

All applications currently in process, and received prior to this date, will be assessed against current guidelines and an outcome will be provided in due course.

Applications for all other occupations eligible for Victorian Government visa nomination remain open.