New SC408 COVID-19 ‘Visa’ Stream Announced

The Department of Home Affairs has announced by way of legislative instrument a new approved ‘event’ of the SC408 visa known as ‘Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Event’.

This visa will allow applicants to be granted a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa for people who are considered as essential staff members of businesses in Australia that are assisting in establishing a businesses operations in Australia and will assist in Australia’s response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The specific criteria listed in the Legislative Instrument is:

(a) are employed full time as an essential staff member of a business that:

(i) is relocating to Australia and

(ii) will assist in Australia’s response to the economic effects of COVID-19; and

(b) will assist with the establishment of the business’s operations in Australia; and

(c) make an application for a Subclass 408 visa in relation to the event between 27 February 2021 and 30 June 2022; and

(d) have not previously been granted a Subclass 408 visa in relation to the event specified in 408.229(b).

An applicant for a Subclass 408 visa in relation to an Australian Government endorsed event (as specified for clause 408.229 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations) will need to nominate which event applies to their circumstances at the time of application for the visa, as a number of different events are specified for this purpose at this time.

Applying for the visa

If you require further information regarding this new visa option please contact our office.