COVID-19 Concession Period Ended

The COVID-19 Concession Period provided by the Australian government has ended as of 25 November 2023.

Originally put in place as a temporary measure to minimise the impacts of COVID-19 and worldwide travel restrictions, the Australian government has now ended the concession period that afforded a range of concessions relating to location at time of application lodgement and some work experience/regional residence requirements.

Given that all COVID-19 travel restrictions have now been lifted, the Department has advised that it has ended the concession period to ensure the migration system is managed effectively and with integrity.

Employer Nominated (subclass 186) Scheme – Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

Employer nominations under the Employed Nominated (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream now require TSS (subclass 482) visa holders to have worked in a position with their sponsoring employer for 2 out of the previous 3 years.

The following COVID-19 concessions are now redundant:

• Periods of reduced work due to COVID-19 will not count towards meeting the work experience requirements for the above stream nomination applications.
• The COVID-19 concession age exemption for high income earning applicants will not apply for new ENS/RSMS visa applications.

The age exemption for ‘legacy SC457 holders’ in Australia for 12 months during the pandemic from 1 February 2020 to 14 December 2021 will continue to apply for ENS visa applications lodged before 1 July 2024.

Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 887)

Eligible skilled provisional visa holders applying for a Skilled Regional (subclass 887)visa must be in Australia when applying.

Applicants can only access the employment requirement concession if they:

• Held an eligible skilled provisional visa during the concession period and make a valid application within 3 months of 26 February 2024.
• The ending of the concession period will end any other concessions for the subclass 887 visa.

Eligible SC887 visa holders applying for a SC887 visa must be in Australia when applying.

Family Visas

Standard lodgement requirements are back in place for location requirements at the time of visa grant for certain family visa applications.

Certain Parent and Child visa applicants who applied and were in Australia at any time during the concession period, will continue to be eligible after the end of the concession period.

Business Innovation and Investment Program visas

Applicants who were eligible to exercise COVID-19 concessions to make a valid application for a SC188/888 visa can do so for 3 months after the end of the concession period. Applications must be submitted before the end of 26 February 2024.

Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) Visa

From 25 November 2023 all applications for any stream of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa must be lodged in Australia.

Subsequent entrant applications can be lodged in or outside of Australia. The ability to grant applications to applicants who are either in or outside of Australia will continue. 

Partner Visa (subclasses 309/100 & 820/801)

A permanent change to the legislation will now enable all partner visa applicants to be granted their visa regardless of whether they are inside or outside of Australia.

Further Information and Assistance

If you would like to discuss your circumstances and how the end of the COVID-19 concession period may impact you, please contact our office on 1300 083 843 or submit an online enquiry.