The Impact of Coronavirus on Australian Visas

Coronavirus and Australian Visas

It is important to understand how Coronavirus impacts your migration and visa status.

This page provides simple and reliable information about the impact of Coronavirus on Australian visas and travel.

On this page:

Read about Australian Working Holiday Visa updates on our dedicated page.

Migration Agent Darren Chatt advises that “staying informed means knowing when to move forward with a visa application or ensuring you do not breach your visa conditions. Failure to stay updated about Coronavirus and Australian travel could jeopardise your chances of going to Australia. If you are unsure you should seek advice from a Licensed Migration Agent or The Department of Home Affairs.”

Visa conditions during Coronavirus

Yes – you must always abide by your visa conditions.

If you are in Australia and your visa is due to expire, you should apply for and be granted a new visa to remain lawfully in Australia. Alternatively, you should leave before you current visa expires.

Failure to comply with visa conditions will negatively affect your chances of entering Australia in the future. Your visa conditions will be outlined on your visa grant letter which you can download from your ImmiAccount.

Travelling to Australia before visa grant

If you are an immediate family member of an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident, you can currently enter Australia. For example you are a dependent child or spouse of an Australian.

You will require a valid visa to enter the country. You can apply for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600) and exemption to enter Australia, providing evidence of your relationship to the Australian. This could include a marriage certificate or birth certificate.

The Department of Home Affairs is experiencing high levels of demand for exemptions and an exemption is not guaranteed. You should make your application at least four weeks but no more than three months before you travel.

We recommend having the visa and exemption in place before making travel arrangements.

Australia’s quarantine requirements

All travelers arriving in Australia must undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of arrival. Most states have started charging for this, with costs starting  at $2,500.00 AU.

For full details on the exemption categories, application form and documentation required, see the Department of Home Affairs website.

Your visa Initial Entry Date of Visa

When you are issued an Australian visa you will receive a visa grant letter. This letter details your visa conditions, one of which is your IED (initial entry date). The IED is the date by which you must enter Australia to activate your visa. This is generally 12 months from the date your visa was granted.

The first entry date condition is a legislative requirement attached to permanent and provisional visas granted offshore. It is not possible to waive the condition or vary the date. Visa holders who breach the first entry date condition may be subject to visa cancellation.

However, in the majority of cases, visa holders who are unable to make their first entry by the required date may be allowed to enter Australia at a later date, provided their visa is still valid and there is no other reason to consider cancellation of the visa. (Source: Department of Home Affairs 2020)

SEE HERE: The Department of Home Affairs: Information for first entry to Australia

Applying for a Travel Exemption – Critical Skills

An individual or business can submit a request for a travel exemption under the critical skills category.

The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant an individual exemption if you are a non-citizen:

  • travelling at the invitation of the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response
  • providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies
  • with critical skills required to maintain the supply of essential goods and services (such as in medical technology, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, engineering and mining, supply chain logistics, agriculture, primary industry, food production, and the maritime industry)
  • delivering services in sectors critical to Australia’s economic recovery (such as financial technology, large scale manufacturing, film, media and television production and emerging technology), where no Australian worker is available
  • providing critical skills in religious or theology fields
  • whose entry would otherwise be in Australia’s national interest, supported by the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority.

Source: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/critical-skills-and-sectors

When applying for a travel exemption, you must provide evidence of how you will provide critical good and services in Australia. You can apply online on the Department’s website.

Further Resources

Check out the below articles on Coronavirus and Australian visas:

For full details on Coronavirus and the Australian border please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website.

For digestible updates about the impact of Coronavirus on Australian visas, why not follow our social channels?

You can also follow our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. Or why not join our exclusive Facebook group?

Check out our latest webinars, presented by our Registered Migration Agent Darren Chatt.

Speak to a Registered Migration Agent

Excellent5.0★★★★★ Based on 26 reviews from review us onAmz KirkpatrickAmz Kirkpatrick ★★★★★ I Cannot thank Sue and the team at Visa go enough!!!

Sue made our whole process stress free.

We honesty could not have done it all with out knowledge and support.

I have already been recommending visa go to friends who are looking to start the process.

Thank you so much again!!!Tina DeveneyTina Deveney ★★★★★ We just completed our Visa process with Visa Go. From start to finish, everything was clearly communicated, prompt and efficient.
Sue was a dream to deal with and thoroughly checked over all of our documents ensuring that everything was of the exacting standards of the Australian Government. We could not have completed process without Sue. Thank you once again for all of your help.Millie DaleMillie Dale ★★★★★ Cannot thank Sue enough for all her help and guidance in obtaining our 190 visa. Every step of the way was well explained and we got our visa granted with no hiccups along the way. Thankyou so much again sueIngrid Jansen van VuurenIngrid Jansen van Vuuren ★★★★★ 5 stars are not enough to thank Sue for the amazing work that she has done on our behalf! Apart from the fact that she is super thorough and knowledgable, she is also incredibly kind and understanding of the pressure and anxiety that her clients experience throughout their immigration journey. Today she went over and above her scope of duties by going into the office super early, just in case we could make a cut off (we were awaiting skills assessment results) and because of her dedication we got really lucky and managed to take up a great opportunity just in the nick of time! Sue, there aren't enough words in the world to describe how grateful we are for everything that you have done for us.Gemma BeeGemma Bee ★★★★★ Visa Go have been really supportive and knowledgeable in terms of the process. Sue Tempany is really knowledgable and responsive to any questions. I would fully recommend visa go. Swift service!Lindsay WoolstonLindsay Woolston ★★★★★ Our process started with an initial conversation with Darren, before we were assigned our emigration agent Sue. The visa process itself is quite complicated, and I don’t know how we’d have even attempted to do this on our own!

Sue was amazing throughout, keeping us updated each step of the way, and providing detailed guidance at the start of each stage, which enabled us to start preparing and collating everything needed for the next part when the time came. Sue’s replies to the many emails that I've sent her way over the course of this process, were always prompt and patient, and nothing ever seemed to much trouble. Sue’s experience and understanding of the processes, timelines and the strict format in which things had to be done, meant that she was able to advise us and provide guidelines, which meant that when we submitted each stage, we were not having to worry about delays due to incomplete applications.

18 months on from that initial meeting - we have now been living and working in Australia for 8 months, and have recently changed onto a permanent visa.

We are extremely glad that we chose to work with Visa Go, and want to say a massive thank you to Sue, Darren and the team for all of their support and assistance throughout.Amy LavelleAmy Lavelle ★★★★★ Visa Go have been amazing from day one in supporting us with our visa application for moving to Australia. Sue was our case officer and has been so patient in answering all of our questions and providing updates along the way. Having someone who we trusted to take care of the process really took the pressure off. The communication is excellent. We were granted our 491 visa yesterday morning!!! We will be using Visa Go when the time comes to apply for our permanent residency 191 🎉☀️Callum DavidsonCallum Davidson ★★★★★ This was one of the most difficult challenges of my life to obtain a regional skilled migration visa for Australia. There were so many obstacles and hurdles to jump due to Covid lockdown and a race against ageism rules of turning 45. I certainly could not have done this without the help of visa go! Managed to secure an Invitation to apply from the Australian Government and with the assistance of my wonderful agent managed to fast track my ITA four days before my birthday! Never give up on your dreams. I now have my visa that can lead to PR thanks to Visa Go! You guys were awesome and really appreciate your help. ☺️Ashley FlemingAshley Fleming ★★★★★ I can’t thank Kimberley and Darren enough for all the time, effort and support they gave us whilst going through our visa process. They answered any and all questions and made such a daunting undertaking much less stressful with all their advice and guidance. Would highly recommend!Darren CastleDarren Castle ★★★★★ After 4 1/2 years since our first contact with Visa Go Australia, and just over 3 years since starting our process with them, our visa has finally been granted and I cannot thank Sue and Darren enough! We had a very complex skill assessment stage but without Sue helping us with what we had to do, it wouldn’t of been possible without her. I highly recommend using Visa Go if you’re ready to start your journey to Australia or anywhere else, they have made our dreams come true! Thank you Sue, Darren and Kimberley 😁Chris LobbChris Lobb ★★★★★ I would highly recommend visa go.
Darren always took the time to answer any questions and help me through the process.
Within weeks he had my partner visa submitted and now I have my permanent residency!
I couldn’t thank Darren and the team enough 👍Rosie WhitmarshRosie Whitmarsh ★★★★★ Visa Go Australia are experts in their field.
My case officer, Sue, has been very professional and knowledgeable throughout the process providing great customer service, from providing the documents required to promptly replying to all queries.
So, to Darren, Kimberley and Sue, thank you all for your support to achieve my Visa.Lesley BotschuyverLesley Botschuyver ★★★★★ Good and efficient services, clear information on what documents to provide and quick answers to my questions. Got two visas approved with Kimberleys help 😊.Rebecca WolodyRebecca Wolody ★★★★★ Visa Go Australia provided amazing service when applying for a partner visa. They provide great support and advice throughout the process to ensure your application is done perfectly. Kimberley was always very patient answering my questions, and following up on things I missed. I would highly recommend Visa Go to anyone applying for an Australian visa.Sam HodsonSam Hodson ★★★★★ Visa Go were fantastic at helping me secure my partner visa . The whole process was very simple and well explained - and I got the permanent residency after only a few months which was amazing. Kimberley was very helpful and supportive throughout the process and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone!Mary PegasiouMary Pegasiou ★★★★★ Kimberley and Darren helped myself and my partner with our Australian residencies and we couldn’t be happier. Even through lockdown Kimberley was attentive and on the ball at all times, my visa process took no time at all! I’ve already recommended friends to visa go as they truly know what they are doing and are there to help and make the process as straight forward as possible. Highly recommend!!!Jake ForrestJake Forrest ★★★★★ I used Visa Go to apply for my Partner Visa and I have been super impressed with the service and turnaround time. Kimberley was very thorough with her communication and kept us updated through out the whole process. I can’t recommend the service enough!Ross FindlayRoss Findlay ★★★★★ My agent with Visa go was Kimberley Chatt. She was fantastic the whole way through. Always had very professional and prompt responses whenever I had a query. I felt like she went above and beyond to help me understand each step of the process. I now have my permanent partner visa in Australia and couldn't be happier. She turned what can often be a long arduous ordeal into a streamlined easy process. I would highly recommend this agency to anyone looking to immigrate to Australia. Thanks again Kimberley!Samantha MillsSamantha Mills ★★★★★ My Husband and I used Visa Go Australia to support us through our Visa process. Our Visa advisor was Sue, Sue was great from start to finish, always so helpful and replied to our emails and calls so quickly.
Our visa process took 11 months (as expected for the visa we applied for) and Sue kept us on track and up to date all the time, extremely organised and always happy to help and provide us with her support.
I highly recommend Visa Go Australia, we couldn't imagine trying to go through this process without Sues help and guidance. Samantha MillsLorna BalfourLorna Balfour ★★★★★ Visa Go provided an excellent service. They were professional, helpful and efficient throughout the visa process and Sue, my designated migration agent, always had words of encouragement to help deal with the tedium of the paperwork. I am a professional and I thought using a migration agent was probably unnecessary. I thought I could manage the paperwork process myself. However, it quickly became clear to me that an agent's assistance was very necessary. Visa Go's knowledge was invaluable and I have no hesitation in recommending their services.Lisa GarsideLisa Garside ★★★★★ Using Visa Go Australia was the BEST decision we made when planning for our move to Australia. My husband is British and needed an offshore 309 spouse visa. Sue made our life so much easier supporting us every step of the way. I was impressed with her knowledge, every question I had was answered quickly and with confidence. There is a huge amount of time and effort your agent does in the background so that you don't have to. I always felt like a priority and that I was in the safe hands of an expert. Not to mention how kind and friendly the agents are. I would highly recommend this company to anyone - 5 star service!John DochertyJohn Docherty ★★★★★ Amazing Darren and deanne changed our lives helping us Emmigrate to a new country.Chaz ManningChaz Manning ★★★★★ Visa Go Australia were integral in getting our visas granted, without them the whole process would have been so difficult for us to get everything right, they were always so happy to help no matter how silly the question. They split the process up in to manageable chunks and made sure that we were always ready for the next step which really minimised the stress of it all.
Can't thank Darren and Kimberley enough.
Calam, Charlie and RoryJonas ForshawJonas Forshaw ★★★★★ Me and my partner Cynthia have successfully been granted our partner visa for Australia and could definitely not have done it without all of the never ending help from Sue. Any visa process is always stressful, yet they helped so much with any problems we had along the way. I can't recommend this company enough! If you're worried about applying for a visa, you can rest assured that with their experience and knowledge, partnered with how lovely they always are even with the smallest of questions that you will be having your visa granted in no time with minimal stress!
Thank so much for all your help!
Jonas & CynthiaVictoria PullingerVictoria Pullinger ★★★★★ We were recently granted a PR Visa and the work that Sue puts in in the background is commendable. Darren and Sue have been great to work with over the last 2 years and we were kept up to date the whole way.
I would highly recommend anyone applying for a visa to do it through them.
They made sure we had all the information at every step of they way and nothing was ever a problem if I called or emailed.
Thank you so much to all of the team!
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