• Feedback
  • RSS Feed
  • Sitemap
Ommcom News
  • Home
  • Odisha
  • Nation
  • World
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
  • Science & Tech
  • Photo Gallery
  • ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ ପଢନ୍ତୁ
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Odisha
  • Nation
  • World
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
  • Science & Tech
  • Photo Gallery
  • ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ ପଢନ୍ତୁ
No Result
View All Result
Odisha News, Odisha Breaking News, Odisha Latest News || Ommcom News
Home World

Australia Scraps Pandemic Visa For International Students

OMMCOM NEWS by OMMCOM NEWS
September 1, 2023
in World

Melbourne: The Australian government has announced the closure of the Pandemic Event visa beginning February 2024 — a move that could see a sizable number of international students and temporary workers scrambling for other options to remain in the country.

Also known as Subclass 408, the visa was introduced during the height of the pandemic in 2020 to plug labour shortages and support international students who were unable to leave the country.

“From February 2024, the visa will be closed to all applicants. This will provide certainty to our visa system now that the circumstances that drove the operation of the visa no longer exist,” Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles jointly announced on Thursday.

As a transitional measure to promote visa integrity, it was announced that beginning September 2, 2023, the Pandemic Event visa will only be open to applications from existing holders.

From Saturday onwards, new applications will receive a six month visa and an application charge of AUD405 will also be introduced to ensure that the visa is only used by those who have a “genuine need to remain and contribute to Australia”.

As per these new changes, those with a valid Pandemic Event visa will remain lawful until their current visa expires.

Those without any options for other visa applications are expected to depart Australia when their visa expires.

“The Pandemic Event visa was an important part of Australia’s visa system during the pandemic. Many people on temporary visas helped Australia during this period. We’re providing an opportunity for people who hold a Pandemic Event visa to explore another visa option, or plan to leave Australia,” Giles said.

The move comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Government recently ended a series of Covid-era measures, including unlimited work hours for international students and work exemptions for Working Holiday visa holders.

The Pandemic Event visa was initially introduced to provide relief for foreign students in Australia who were unable to leave the country during Covid-related border closures.

It allowed students to live in the country for an additional 12 months if their visas expired, and travel to or from Australia multiple times during a stay.

Arguing that the visa was being misused, immigration and education experts called for its abolition with immediate effect as it allowed people to work unlimited hours for 12 months.

Almost 60,000 international students and temporary workers were using the visa to extend their stay in Australia, even post pandemic, according to recent figures released by the Department of Home Affairs.

The department issued 65,859 pandemic visas from June 2022 to March 2023.

(IANS)

ShareTweetSendSharePinShareSend
Previous Post

Philippines: Super Typhoon Saola Leaves 1 Dead, Displaces Over 3,87,000

Next Post

Timer Bomb Seized From Talcher MLA’s Premises In Odisha

Related Posts

World

NSA Ajit Doval Meets Russia’s First Dy Prime Minister In Moscow

August 9, 2025
HELSINKI, July 16, 2018 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin started their first bilateral meeting here on Monday, and they are expected to discuss a wide range of issues. (Xinhua/Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa/IANS)
World

Trump, Putin Meeting Set In Alaska To Discuss Ukraine Ceasefire

August 9, 2025
PM Modi
World

PM Modi Speaks With ‘Friend’ Putin, Reaffirms Commitment To Deepen India-Russia Ties

August 8, 2025
Khalistan Embassy
World

Khalistan Embassy In Canada: A Brazen Provocation That Ottawa Still Won’t Confront

August 8, 2025
Guo Jiakun
World

China Responds To Trump Tariff Threat, Says Trade With Russia ‘Legal And Legitimate’

August 8, 2025
Landslide
World

Seven Confirmed Dead After Landslide In China’s Guangzhou

August 8, 2025
Next Post

Timer Bomb Seized From Talcher MLA’s Premises In Odisha

9 Soldiers Killed, 5 Injured In Suicide Attack In Pakistan

Centre Forms Panel To Study 'One Nation One Election' Proposal Under Ex-Prez Kovind

khimji
TPCODL
OMC
  • Feedback
  • RSS Feed
  • Sitemap

© 2025 - Ommcom News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Odisha
  • Nation
  • World
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
  • Science & Tech
  • Photo Gallery
  • ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ ପଢନ୍ତୁ

© 2025 - Ommcom News. All Rights Reserved.