Australia Visa/Passport News

Nearly 90,000 temporary graduate visa holders in Australia have been trapped in the country without any financial support amid the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). As the virus continues to cause global economic devastation, the Morrison government has passed a $130bn support package with a new JobKeeper payment, a subsidy to keep Australians in work, but this does not include visa holders, VisaGuide.World reports. The temporary graduate visa holders income only help them to cover their living expenses. They [...]

Temporary visa holders who have been living and working in Australia for more than a year are now allowed to withdraw up to $10,000 from their superannuation funds. The decision was announced by the Australian Immigration Minister Alan Tudge, as part of a series of new measures to help residents who are financially affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. “In line with changes being made for Australian citizens and permanent residents, most temporary visa holders with work rights [...]

New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has strongly criticized Australia’s decision to tell temporary workers in Australia who have been left unemployed due to the coronavirus crisis that "it's time to go home". Last week, Australian Immigration Minister Alan Tudge advised the 2.17 million people living in Australia on temporary visas to return home. The suggestion also includes the 672,000 people who hold the 444 visa, which is New Zealand-specific. Ardern confronted PM Tudge on the decision, [...]

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Australia has decided to introduce its internal border controls, since last Friday. Residents of Western Australia, South Australia as well as the Northern Territory will be able to enter only for essential travel from other territories of the country, in a bid to halt the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Such strict measures have not been taken since the Spanish flu epidemic, 100 years ago, VisaGuide.World reports. Western Australia that covers a third [...]

The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged all non-residents to return to their home nations, amid the coronavirus crisis. During a press conference on Friday, Morrison discussed Australia’s effort in the fight against the disease and the precautionary measures that the country is seeking to take, VisaGuide.World reports. “As much as it’s lovely to have visitors to Australia in good times, at times like this, if you are a visitor in this country, it is time—as [...]

Horticultural organizations have called on the Federal Government of Australia to extend work visas for internationals in their country, so the cultivation of plants can continue normally, amid coronavirus crisis. After the federal government's travel ban, which has been in place since March 20, the arrival of Pacific Island workers under the Seasonal Worker Program has also stopped. Therefore, the employees that had been approved by the Department of  Education, Skills, and Employment, planned to arrive in [...]

A total of 2.4 million temporary visa holders, who are living and working in Australia might need to extend their stay as the majority of countries have closed their borders to halt the spread of coronavirus. The Australian Department of Home Affairs in cooperation with the Australian Border Force has taken further steps to handle the temporary visa issue. “Any visa application will be assessed considering the COVID-19 enhanced border measures and an applicant’s circumstances,” a Department [...]