News about the Covid Visa Subclass 408 in Australia: Be the first to hear about it
Everything you need to know about the Covid Visa 408 and how to extend your stay in Australia, in the following article!
The Department of Home Affairs officially published that the Covid Visa will be closed to all applicants as of February 2024. But don’t worry! We will provide you with all the details on how to continue your experience and extend your stay in Australia!
Now, what is this Visa all about? Here are all the details!
The COVID Subclass 408 Visa (COVID-19 Pandemic Event) is a visa that allows you to work and stay in Australia for up to 12 months as long as you are already working in the country or have an offer of employment in any sector of the economy. This visa was established during the height of the pandemic in 2020 to fill labor shortages and support international students who were unable to leave Australia.
However, Australian Immigration Minister Andrew Giles shared that as of February 2024, the visa will be closed to all applicants. This measure is intended to bring greater certainty to the Australian visa system, now that the circumstances that prompted the operation of the visa no longer exist.
But rest assured, it is possible to extend your stay in Australia! We invite you to read on to find out all the details!
What are the requirements to apply for the COVID visa in Australia?
- Be in Australia at the time of application.
- Be working or have a letter/offer from your future employer in Australia showing that you are going to start working.
- At the time of applying for this visa you must have 90 days or less remaining on your current visa. In case it has already expired, it must have been less than 28 days ago.
- Be able to support yourself during the period of validity of the visa.
- Comply with the character requirement that is, not having a criminal record during your stay in Australia.
- Have health insurance .
- Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application rejected.
IMPORTANT: Closing of Visa COVID
As we shared earlier, while the COVID Subclass 408 (COVID-19 Pandemic Event) Visa was established with the aim of covering labor shortages and supporting international students who were unable to leave Australia during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, recently the Department of Home Affairs announced that from February 2024 this visa will no longer be available.
Based on this measure, it is important to take into account the following established conditions:
- As of September 2, 2023, the visa will continue to be available only to those who already have a valid COVID visa.
- Those who apply between September 2, 2023 and January 31, 2024 will be approved for a maximum of 6 months.
- As of February 2024, it will no longer be possible to apply for the COVID Visa as it will close for all applicants.
- Applications will cost AUD 405.
In addition, Covid Visa holders whose visa expires after February 2024 will not be eligible for another visa for pandemic events. They should seek to explore other visa options to remain in Australia.
This decision taken by the Department of Home Affairs is due to the fact that the number of temporary visa holders in Australia has returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, therefore, the Australian Government considers that it is no longer necessary.
To keep in mind:
What should you know if you currently have a Covid Visa?
Anyone with a valid Covid Visa will remain legal until their current visa expires. If you already have this visa, from September 2, 2023 to January 31, 2024 you can apply for a renewal. However, please note that it will only last for 6 months, and you will have to pay an application fee of AUD 405.
What if you have never held a Covid Visa?
You will no longer be able to apply for this Visa, but you will be able to travel or renew your visa, for example, with a Student Visa! At ACE Australia we advise you to meet all the requirements and we also take care of the paperwork and all the management!
Now, is it possible to apply for a Student Visa if I applied for a Covid Visa before?
The answer is YES. As long as you meet the requirements established for the Student Visa you can apply without any problem!
If you are interested in learning more about how to apply for a Student Visa, contact us and we will gladly advise you!
Explore other alternatives: Student Visa
Following the recent announcement, if you are on a Covid Visa, considering how to continue your experience in Australia, and want to take a step forward in your professional and career development, the Student Visa may be the perfect option for you!
As the name suggests, this Visa will allow you to undertake academic-professional studies in Australia’s great education system, while pursuing your professional career. The Student Visa allows you to work in Australia from the moment you start your academic Qualification.
At ACE Australia we specialize in the management of Student Visas. This is one of the visas that opens the most doors and opportunities to the country, since it allows you to undertake academic programs from 16 weeks of duration (e.g., English studies) and others of higher academic hierarchy such as Vocational Studies (VET), a Bachelor Degree, a Master or a PhD. Once the academic plan is completed, this Visa allows you to stay in Australia for 1 to 3.5 months more, practicing your profession, traveling around the country and extending to your next personal plan in Australia.
In addition, the Student Visa is the visa that offers the best career prospects in Australia, thanks to the pathways provided by the Australian Education System and the visa program of the Department of Home Affairs. If you are interested in learning more about it, contact us and we will gladly help you in your particular case!
Great benefits for international students: your international merit recognized!
One of the most attractive benefits of studying in Australia are the conditions that allow eligible students and graduates to live, learn and develop careers after their studies through the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485), which is a visa that allows international students who have completed at least two years of study in Australia and meet the Australian Study Requirement to work full time. Australian Study Requirement . Depending on the type of visa, it can last between 18 months and 4 years. Benefits of this visa include the ability to work without time restrictions, gain professional experience in Australia and include members of your family unit, such as a partner. This visa is commonly referred to as “Post-Study Visa”, but this gives rise to some confusion as the Post-Study visa is one of the two types of this 485 visa. In the following link you can find on the official website of the Department of Home Affairs of Australia all the relevant information for this visa.
Added to this is some great news! On July 1, the Department of Home Affairs officially published officially that those who have studied a degree that is on the list of eligible list of eligible qualifications and occupations will be able to access an extra 2 years of Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Post-Study Work Stream. This will extend post-study work rights to:
- 2 to 4 years for selected Bachelor Degrees.
- 3 to 5 years for selected Master Degrees.
- 4 to 6 years for all PhD studies.
If you wish to access this document and take advantage of this great benefit, we invite you to contact us at to give you personalized advice and help you choose the qualification you are looking for!
Personalized advice! At ACE Australia we can help and advise you on a case-by-case basis! In our ACE Australia Web Site, we have a section specially designed for this type of news and benefits that you can not miss. Depending on the sector in which you are interested in studying, you can find different articles about the advantages of studying in sectors such as Health , Engineering , Marine Sciences among others.
We invite you to contact us to get the best updated information available and to obtain the benefits of studying in Australia. Get ready to #LiveTheExperience.
