Australia will not charge visitor visa applicants for the new applications if their visa expired or will expire between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2022.
Australia says new Visitor visa applicants overseas where their visa expired or will expire between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2022 will not be charged.
Through legislative changes, the government has paved the way for a free visitor visa for overseas applicants.
The government has also specified that applications for a Visitor visa (SC 600) in the Tourist and Business streams from India, China, and United Arab Emirates will be prioritised.
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Migration expert Chaman Preet says it’s a huge relief to see visitor visa applications from India and other countries are given priority.
“Currently visitor visa is an option for parents of Australian permanent residents or citizens. Applicants in other categories can only get an exemption if there are compelling, compassionate circumstances. It’s good to see that many Australian families will be able to reunite with their parents overseas, and that has been allocated priority. There is finally a ray of hope for many who have longed for this reunion with their families,” said Ms Chaman Preet, Director of Melbourne-based Migration and Education Experts (MEE)
The applicants must be located in the passport country and request priority consideration when applying to avail of this. The application must be made on Internet Form 1419 as the paper Form is not listed to make this application.
An applicant for a Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa is specified if:
(a) the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application; and
(b) the application is made between 27 February 2021 and 31 December 2022; and
(c) the applicant was granted a Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa while outside Australia before 21 March 2020; and
(d) that visa expired, or will expire between 20 March 2020 and 31 December 2021; and
(e) that visa was:
(i) a multiple entry visa; or
(ii) a single entry visa that was not used to enter Australia; and
(f) if the applicant has made a previous application after the commencement of this instrument—a decision has not been made to grant or refuse to grant the visa.
The changes commence on 26 November 2021.
