The Australian Government is offering a range of new visa support initiatives to international students and graduates, including an international student visa fee refund and temporary removal of limits on working hours for student visa holders (subclass 500), as well as replacement Temporary Graduate visas and extended graduate ‘stay and work’ periods (subclass 485).

Student visa application fee refund and Covid-19 visa application fee waiver

Any international student visa holders (including dependents) arriving in Australia between 19 January 2022 and 19 March 2022 will be refunded their visa application fee (around AU$630), as “a thank you for coming back and continuing to choose Australia,” says Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.   

The refund applies to both current visa holders and new students who arrive in Australia within the relevant dates.  To request a refund, students will need to create an account on the Home Affairs Visa Refund Portal and complete an online claim form.  Eligible visa holders will be able to make a claim any time up to 31 December 2022. 

Students already in Australia, who held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and could not complete their course within the original visa time period because of the impacts of COVID-19, may be eligible to have their student visa application fee (VAC) waived when applying for a new student visa. For information click here.

International students currently located outside of Australia should check their visa status via the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) website prior to making arrangements to travel to Australia.

Students who want to change to a lower-level course or non-award course must apply for, and be granted, a new student visa before they change their course. More information is available about changing courses.

Extra time allowed for English tests, biometrics and health

Students will have extra time to provide English language test results if they are unable to take a test because of COVID-19. Extra time will also be given for biometrics collection and health checks where COVID-19 has disrupted access to services. Students should respond to requests for information via their ImmiAccount, if they need additional time.

Removal of limits on student working hours

The Australian Government has announced a further, temporary relaxation of work restrictions for international student visa holders. This means there is currently no restriction on the number of hours that students can work while studying in Australia. It also means that students who have already arrived in Australia can start working before the start of their course. These changes will be reviewed in April 2022.

The temporary removal of restrictions on working hours does not change the requirement that international students must still meet satisfactory course progress requirements, and balance work and study commitments. Students must still:

• maintain their course enrolment
• ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
• ensure satisfactory course progress.

Student visa holders who cancel their enrolment and stop attending classes, or fail to meet satisfactory course progress, may be in breach of their visa conditions. If an education provider has approved a course deferral for a student or has delivered learning via online, rather than face to face, a student visa holder will not be in breach of condition 8202 (meet course requirements).

If you are working or have an offer of employment in a critical sector, and you have finished your course, you may be eligible for a COVID-19 Pandemic (subclass 408) visa. You can only apply for this visa 90 days before your student visa is due to expire.

Students are encouraged to visit the Study Australia Employability Hub for student and graduate employment information.

Workplace protections remain

International students remain protected by Australia’s workplace laws. Students who believe they have been treated unfairly should report their treatment to the Fair Work Onbudsman. Students can also find out more about workplace rights and protections at the Know your rights page on the Study Australia website.

For more information on recent visa policy changes please speak to our migration team and Education Agents either via email at info@australasiaeduconnect.com.au or contact our office via phone +61423064265.

Follow our Social Networking site for regular update at LinkedIn Page, Twitter, Facebook.