FAQs on Australia’s COVID-19 Pandemic Visa

The Australian Government adopted a new visa to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. This visa categorized as Subclass 408 and known as the COVID-19 Pandemic Event visa allows foreign nationals with temporary resident status to continue living in Australia because of the Covid-19 situation.

The visa does not require sponsorship or endorsement. Applicants do not require written permission to apply for a COVID-19 Pandemic Visa. The COVID-19 pandemic case visa applies only to people onshore who have 28 days or less of validity left on their current visa or whose visas have expired in the last 28 days. The Visa fee is not charged for Subclass 408 visa.

Here are the answers to some FAQs on the visa.

Who is eligible to apply for the visa?

The visa can be applied by:

• Persons currently staying in Australia.
• Persons who are unable to depart Australia due to COVID-19.
• Those who are ineligible for any other visa based on their intended activities.
• Those who can provide proof from their employer that they are working in a critical sector and an Australian citizen or permanent resident cannot fill the position.
• Temporary Work visa holders including working holiday makers employed in critical sectors who have not completed the three or six months of stated work necessary to apply for a second or third Working Holiday Maker visa
• Those who cannot leave Australia due to COVID-19 and have exhausted all other visa options.

Does the COVID-19 Pandemic Event visa allow me to work?

Individuals who work in critical sectors will be permitted to work on their COVID-19 Pandemic Event Visa. Any other individuals holding this visa will have no work permit.

Workers in critical sectors who indicate their work activities while applying for a visa will be given work permits.

 People applying for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa as a last resort to remain lawfully in Australia until their departure will not be granted permission to work. It will be considered illegal if they work.

How long is the visa valid?

Individuals working in critical sectors such as agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care, and childcare will be granted a visa that will be valid for up to 12 months.

Should I produce a letter of endorsement to apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?

If you apply for a visa to work or continue to work in a critical sector (such as agriculture, food processing, health care, elderly care, disability care or childcare) you must provide proof of your ongoing work which includes:

• Period of employment
• Confirmation of the critical sector that you will be working in

What are the other conditions to be granted a COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?

During your stay in Australia you must maintain adequate health insurance. If you do not have insurance, you will need to buy health insurance.

Once in Australia, you are directly responsible for all your medical bills. Insurance aims to mitigate your financial liability.

For this visa to be granted you must have adequate health insurance for the whole of your stay.

With the introduction of this visa, temporary visa holders whose visas have expired or are about to expire can continue to remain in the country during the Coronavirus pandemic.