Ruqayyah Snyder
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the travel plans of many people, including those who had intended to visit Australia. In response, the Australian government has offered refunds and waivers of visa application charges (VACs) for certain visa holders. If you are seeking a VAC waiver, you must apply by 31 December 2022 and meet certain conditions. This paragraph will outline the eligibility criteria and process for applying for a VAC waiver when travelling to Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible for a VAC waiver? | Visa holders who have been affected by Australia's COVID-19 travel restrictions. |
| How to apply for a VAC waiver? | Use the COVID-19 travel restrictions VAC refund request form. |
| When to apply for a VAC waiver? | Before 31 December 2022. |
| Who is eligible for a VAC refund? | Visa holders who have been affected by Australia's COVID-19 travel restrictions. |
| How to apply for a VAC refund? | Use the COVID-19 travel restrictions VAC refund request form. |
| When to apply for a VAC refund? | Before 31 December 2022. |
| Any exceptions to the VAC waiver or refund? | If you are not listed on your original VAC receipt as the 'payer', you cannot request a refund. |
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What You'll Learn
Visitor Visa (subclass 600)
The Visitor Visa (subclass 600) allows you to bring family and friends to Australia or undertake business activities for a specified period. All subclass 600 Business Visitor visa applications must be submitted online, and all supporting documents attached to the application that are not in English must be accompanied by an English translation.
To apply for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600) with a VAC waiver, you must meet the following criteria:
- You are outside of Australia when you apply for the visa.
- You apply for the visa between 27 February 2021 and 31 December 2022.
- Before 21 March 2021, you were previously granted a subclass 600 visa while outside of Australia.
- The previous visa you held expired, or will expire between 20 March 2020 and 31 December 2021.
- The previous visa was either a multiple-entry visa or a single-entry visa that was not used to enter Australia.
If you meet these criteria, you can apply for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600) without paying the VAC. This waiver is available to those who were unable to travel to Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
To apply for the Visitor Visa (subclass 600), you must use ImmiAccount to lodge your application, make a payment, update your details or circumstances, upload documents, and track the progress of your application. You are encouraged to ensure that your application is complete and valid before submitting.
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Working Holiday Maker Visa
The Australian government introduced a Visa Application Charge (VAC) for Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visas in 2017. The VAC is a regulatory fee that applicants must pay at the time of application. The fee is currently set at AUD$440, although it was previously reduced to $390 in 2016. The WHM visa is a popular option for young people without dependents who wish to holiday in Australia for up to a year and supplement their funds through temporary work. Applicants must meet the standard health and character criteria and be under the age of 31.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government implemented several measures to support visa applicants affected by travel restrictions. WHM visa holders who were unable to enter Australia or who left the country early due to COVID-19 may be eligible for a VAC waiver or refund. To be eligible for a refund, WHM visa holders must have arrived in Australia between 19 January 2022 and 19 April 2022. Additionally, those who held a subclass 417 or subclass 462 visa on or before 20 March 2020 and were unable to travel due to COVID-19 may apply for a NIL VAC WHM visa, which allows them to stay in Australia for another 12 months without paying a visa application charge.
To apply for a NIL VAC WHM visa, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and submit their application online. The application period for the NIL VAC WHM visa started on 1 July 2021 and will end on 31 December 2022. Applicants must also meet the age requirement and satisfy the standard health and character criteria. It is important to note that the NIL VAC WHM visa does not require individuals to have completed seasonal work.
If you are no longer eligible for a WHM visa due to age restrictions, you can request a VAC refund using the COVID-19 travel restrictions VAC refund request form. The deadline for submitting VAC waiver applications and VAC refund requests is 31 December 2022.
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Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482)
The Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (TSS visa or subclass 482) is a work visa for skilled workers who want to work in Australia temporarily. It is a pathway to permanent residence in Australia. This visa was introduced in March 2018 to replace the Temporary Work (skilled) subclass 457 visa. However, as of December 7, 2024, the TSS visa has been replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) visa.
Application Process:
The application process for the subclass 482 visa involves three steps:
- Sponsorship application by the employer: The employer must be an approved sponsor or have applied to become a standard business sponsor. They must provide evidence of a genuine need to fill the position with an overseas worker.
- Nomination application for a skilled position: The employer nominates the applicant for a specific position. The applicant must be suitably skilled in a trade or career listed on the skills shortage list. The occupation should be one that the employer cannot find a suitably skilled Australian to fill. Depending on the occupation, a skill assessment may be required.
- Visa application by the proposed employee: The applicant must submit all necessary documents and information. This includes having health insurance for the entire period in Australia. The applicant must be truthful and honest in their application.
Streams:
The subclass 482 visa has three streams:
- Short-term stream: This stream allows the visa holder to work in Australia for up to two years, with a possibility of extension up to four years. The visa fee for this stream is AUD 1,290.
- Medium-term stream: The visa holder can stay and work in Australia for up to four years and may apply for permanent residence if eligible.
- Labour agreement stream: This stream is for applicants whose sponsors are part of labour agreements between Australian employers and the Australian government.
Costs:
The subclass 482 visa costs AUD 2,690. However, additional fees apply for each family member included in the application.
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Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300)
The Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) is a temporary visa that allows individuals in a genuine and committed relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to enter Australia and marry their prospective spouse. This visa is the first step towards obtaining permanent residency in Australia through the Partner Visa pathway. To be eligible for this visa, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be engaged to an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Your relationship must be genuine and intended to be for life.
- You and your prospective spouse must be legally able to marry under Australian law, including meeting the age requirement of being 18 years or older.
- You must demonstrate a genuine intention to marry within 9 to 15 months of the visa grant.
- You must have sponsorship from your prospective spouse and provide evidence of financial support from them.
- You and your family members included in the application must be outside Australia when applying for the visa.
- You must meet all legal requirements, including health and character checks, and have no outstanding debts to the Australian government.
The processing time for a subclass 300 visa can vary, but it typically takes around 9 to 15 months. Once the visa is granted, you will be able to enter Australia and travel in and out of the country as many times as you like within the validity period. You will also be able to work and study full-time in Australia during your stay. After marrying your prospective spouse, you can apply for a Partner Visa (subclass 820/801 for onshore applicants or subclass 309/100 for offshore applicants) to obtain permanent residency in Australia.
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Student Visa
The Australian Government has offered visa application charge (VAC) waivers and refunds to students impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions. If you held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and were unable to complete your course within the original visa validity due to COVID-19, you can apply for a VAC waiver for your next student visa. To request a fee waiver, you must apply for a Student Visa and attach a completed Form 1545 COVID-19 Impacted Student. This form must be completed by your education provider.
In addition, student visa holders who are outside Australia and travelled to the country between 19 January 2022 and 19 March 2022 are eligible for a VAC refund. You can apply for a refund until 31 December 2022. To apply, submit the COVID-19 travel restrictions VAC refund request form.
If you are applying for a Student Visa for any other reason, this measure does not apply. Other reasons include if you have failed a course or unit of study, deferred for personal reasons, or voluntarily reduced your study load.
Due to COVID-19, some visa processing times have been affected, and applications may take longer to finalise. Students are encouraged to provide the Department of Home Affairs with complete Student Visa applications.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian government has announced that certain visa holders affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible to apply for a waiver or refund of their VAC. This includes those who were unable to travel to Australia or had to leave the country early due to travel restrictions.
To apply for a VAC waiver, you must submit your application by 31 December 2022. You can apply online through ImmiAccount. If you are eligible for a VAC refund, you can use the COVID-19 travel restrictions VAC refund request form.
The eligibility criteria for a VAC waiver vary depending on the type of visa. For example, Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa holders who were unable to travel to Australia or had to depart early due to COVID-19 may be eligible for a VAC waiver or refund. Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) holders whose visas expired between March 2020 and December 2021 may also be eligible for a VAC waiver for a new visa.
