The subclass 408 Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) visa is a flexible temporary visa arrangement which lets you stay in Australia to work if you are employed in a critical industry sector. Critical industry sectors include agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care and childcare. If you have been working in one of these sectors and do not satisfy the eligibility requirement for any other visa and are unable to return to your home country, you can apply for the pandemic event visa.
This week, the Government has expanded the criteria to respond to workforce shortages in the aged care sector. This expansion includes any person with relevant skills and qualifications in aged care to apply for the pandemic event visa, regardless of whether their substantive visa has work rights. You are considered to have the relevant skills and qualifications if you have received a job offer from an approved provider or a service provider of Commonwealth-funded aged care services to undertake work in the aged care sector.
To apply for the pandemic event visa, you must be in Australia with a substantive visa that is due to expire within 28 days or has expired for no more than 28 days before submitting an application. There is no visa application charge.
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.