Important Announcement – Australian Govt. Lifted Work Limitations On Student Visa Holders

To overcome the skills shortage causing major issues across Australia’s hospitality and tourism sectors, the Morrison Government has decided to enhance visa flexibility to signify its support. The Australian Government will remove existing work hour caps for Student Visa holders working in tourism and hospitality that were previously set at 40-hours per fortnight. Added to that, the temporary visa holders can access 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Event Visa for 12 months, if they are employed in the tourism and hospitality sector.

It will bring the tourism and hospitality sector to the same scale as other critical sectors such as food processing, health care, agriculture, aged care, disability care and child care providing similar benefits. Individuals holding Temporary visa holders working or looking forward to working in tourism and hospitality can apply for the 408 COVID-19 Visa up to 90 days before their existing visa expiry and can remain for up to 12 additional months.

Highlighting the perks and advantages of this new visa modification, Alex Hawke, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, stated that all the changes are introduced to support Australia’s COVID-19 economic recovery keeping in mind the welfare of States, Territories and industry. He further continued that all these new changes will benefit the Tourism and hospitality industry responsible for employing half a million Australians.

As per the new positive change in the visa policy, veterinarians will be going to be included in the Priority Skilled Migration Occupation List (PMSOL) to support the country’s economic recovery caused by the pandemic. Further announcements on temporary visa flexibility measures and priority skills will be based on suggestions and feedback provided by a range of sectors.

For the latest updates and news, get in touch with the Registered Migration Agent at ISA Migrations so that you don’t miss any current update!