From 2 September 2023, Australia’s Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) will be closed. The Pandemic Event Visa was introduced in April 2020 to allow temporary visa holders to remain in Australia legally during the border closure.
From 2 September 2023, the Pandemic Event Visa will only be available to people who already hold a Pandemic Event Visa. These visa holders will be able to apply for a subsequent visa until the visa closes to all applications on 1 February 2024, the Australian Government has announced.
The extension to the full closure will give employers time to find new workers and will also allow visa holders to consider their options – applying for other visas if they are eligible, or making arrangements to leave before their current visa expires.
The Australian Government introduced the Pandemic Event Visa in April 2020 to allow temporary visa holders to remain in Australia legally during the border closure. It also addressed labour shortages in critical sectors of the local economy.
Now that Australia’s borders are open and the number of temporary visa holders in Australia has returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, the Pandemic Event visa is no longer required, the Government has announced.
Existing Pandemic Event Visa holders
The announcement does not change the expiry date of existing Pandemic Event visa holders. Pandemic Event visa holders will be able to apply for a subsequent visa for up to 6 months after 2 September 2023.
From 2 September 2023, Pandemic Event Visa holders will only be eligible for a subsequent visa if, at the time of application, their current visa expires within 28 days or less and they have a job or job offer in Australia. From 2 September 2023, applications will include a Visa Application Charge (VAC) of $405. There is also a visa fee for each family member included on the application.
Pandemic Event Visa holders whose visa expires after February 2024 will not be eligible for another Pandemic Event Visa. This cohort should consider other visa options if they wish to remain in Australia or make arrangements to leave before their visa expires.
Other temporary visa holders Temporary visa holders who applied for a Pandemic Event visa before 2 September 2023 will have their applications assessed under the arrangements in place at the time of their visa application. This includes their time in Australia.
Canada makes biometrics mandatory for PR applicants
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made it mandatory for applicants for Canadian Permanent Residence (PR) to submit biometric data as part of the application process. All individuals applying for Canada PR will be required to submit biometric data, regardless of whether they have already submitted it for a temporary residence permit.
The new decision announced by the IRCC is part of Canada’s ongoing efforts to modernise its immigration system, improve immigration screening and strengthen border security.
The new policy marks a return to pre-pandemic procedures for Canadian PR applications. During the Covid-19 pandemic, IRCC implemented a policy in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) that exempted Canada PR applicants from having to resubmit their biometrics if they had submitted them with a temporary resident application within the previous 10 years.
