Australian Immigration Daily News

The Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No 1) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) amend the Migration Regulations 1994 (Migration Regulations) and the Australian Citizenship Regulation 2016 (the Citizenship Regulation) as follows:

Amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994

Schedule 1 – Business Innovation and Investment Program – implements findings of a review and consultations to streamline and improve the operation of the Business Innovation and Investment Program to produce better outcomes for the Australian economy and support Australia’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery by maximising the impact of high value investors, business owners and entrepreneurs.

Schedule 2 – Working holiday maker visas – provides a nil visa application charge and eligibility concessions for working holiday makers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schedule 3 – Bridging visa amendments – makes amendments to reduce face-to-face contact by permitting the requirement for an interview to be waived for certain bridging visa applicants, and amends visa condition 8401, requiring visa holders to report to the Department, to provide the Minister with a discretion to allow bridging visa holders to report to the Department electronically or by telephone, rather than by attending in person.

Schedule 4 – Manner of Reporting on arriving overseas passengers and crew members – enables officers to require reporting to be given in a particular way, including a digital format, to provide greater efficiency and in accordance with the digital transformation agenda. Amendments to the Australian Citizenship Regulation 2016

Schedule 5 – Changes to citizenship fees – provides a nil fee for an application for evidence of citizenship when it is combined with an application for citizenship by descent or adoption (consistent with other applications); updates eligibility for concessional fees for an application for citizenship by conferral; and updates citizenship application fees to better reflect the cost of processing these applications.

Schedule 6 – Payment of citizenship fees in foreign currencies – makes routine amendments to incorporate instruments made under the Migration Regulations updating the places and currencies in which citizenship application fees may be paid and the relevant exchange rates.

Schedule 7 – Application, saving and transitional Provisions – sets out application and transitional provisions for Schedules 1 to 6.

Source: Home-Affairs-Legislation-Amendment-2021-Measures-No-1-Regulations-2021-Regs.pdf and

Home-Affairs-Legislation-Amendment-2021-Measures-No-1-Regulations-2021-Explanatory-Statement.pdf