Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408): Pandemic Event – Onshore Application
Back in April 2020, the Australian Government introduced the Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408): Pandemic event Visa to respond to temporary Visa holders’ concerns about the inability to fly back to their home country due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Pandemic Event Visa 408 Eligibility
To be eligible for this Pandemic event Visa 408, your current visa must be expiring within 28 days or has expired less than 28 days ago. You must be in Australia at the time of the application.
What are the evidence or supporting documents needed for Pandemic Event Visa 408?
You also need to provide evidence from your employer that you are currently being employed in a critical sector and the position cannot be filled by an Australian citizen or permanent resident. The critical sectors include but are not limited to agriculture, health, aged and disability care and childcare. You are also eligible for the Pandemic Event Visa even if you have yet to complete the required 3 or 6 months’ work for your second or third year Working Holiday or Work and Holiday Visa in a critical sector.
The following evidence must be provided in order to obtain your work rights:
- Letter from your employer confirming your employment is in the critical sector.
- Letter, contract of employment (including start & end dates) or payslips as a proof of current work in a critical sector.
- Proof that effort to employ Australian citizens or PR was done but to no avail.
Alternatively, you need to prove that you are not eligible for any other Australian visa. You can apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Event stream onshore online and the cost for the application is free. You are generally unable to extend this visa of any stream. Therefore, you would need to apply for another visa if you wish to stay longer.
What happens if you have No Further Stay Conditions when you are applying for the Pandemic Event Visa?
If you have a “No Further Stay” condition on your current visa and it is expiring, you would first need to apply for a waiver on the condition imposed on your current visa (No Further Stay – 8503, 8534, or 8535) as soon as possible before your visa cease effect, as the processing times is up to 28 days to receive an outcome on a waiver request, and may take longer if you are requested to provide further information or undergo a medical examination. Once approved, you can then apply for this Pandemic Event visa stream. Lodging a waiver request does not automatically mean that you can remain in Australia lawfully while the request is being decided.
If your visa expires before the waiver request decision is made, you will become unlawful and it will have serious consequences.
Does the Pandemic Event Visa Sound complicated?
We understand that applying for a Pandemic Event Visa to Australia is certainly very complex. It is even harder during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our Visa Specialists at ONE derland Consulting will help you assess your visa options. We have a 98% success rate and one of the most prominent migration agents in Australia. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews.
We specialise in complex visa cases. As a registered Australian migration agent with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Take the first leap and get in touch with us. Our migration agents are professional, honest and able to speak various languages such as Mandarin/ Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, Polish, German and Russian. Contact us through email at [email protected] or via phone at 08 9477 5831 (Perth office), 02 9188 2065 (Sydney office) or 03 9088 4114 (Melbourne office). Alternatively, you may book your consultation online and it is 100% refundable if you become our client.
