Did you know that the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa has enabled many overseas workers to legally stay and work in Australia during the pandemic? The 408 visa allows these workers to support the recovery of businesses across the Australian economy. Importantly, the Australian Government Endorsed Events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) stream of the 408 visa can save an applicant when they have run out of other visa options.
What are some key criteria of the 408 visa?
You must be in Australia and must be working or in receipt of an offer to work in Australia. There is no longer a limitation for you to work in key sectors (i.e. agriculture, food processing, tourism and hospitality, health care, aged care, disability care and child care) and you can work in any industry. However, work in these key areas can result in the grant of a visa with a longer duration of 12 months as opposed to 6 months.
Sounds good! Can I keep applying for this visa?
The name of the visa is telling – it is a temporary visa. You cannot use this visa program to stay indefinitely in Australia and the genuine temporary entrant requirement applies. Policy dictates that you cannot remain in Australia on multiple grants of the 408 visa for an extended period of time. If the grant of a 408 visa means that you exceed 4 years of stay in Australia on temporary visas, the period of stay granted should usually only allow you enough time to finalise your job in Australia and depart or make a visa application under the provisions of a pending Labour Agreement.
I understand, so how can I fulfill my dream of staying in Australia?
We will be more than happy to assist you! Just get in touch with our friendly team via our website. Once you do that, sit back and relax as we guide you through the entire process of applying for the relevant visas!
Some of the key eligibility criteria discussed above are contained in Migration (COVID-19 Pandemic event for Temporary Activity (Subclass 408) visa) Instrument (LIN 22/046) 2022 (F2022L00316).