The government will recommence granting student visas, allowing travel to Australia as soon as borders reopen. International students will be able to lodge an additional student visa application free if Covid-19 prevented them completing study under their original visa.
The response is to aid Australia’s economic recovery as the number of applications for student visa dropped by third.
There are also ongoing concerns regarding students who are wishing to transition to skilled graduate subclass 485 visa. This visa requires an applicant at the time of application to demonstrate that they have completed an English language test (unless exempt). This is proving to be next to impossible for certain students given the current lockdown in many parts across Australia including Victoria.
The government has confirmed that students will be able to provide evidence of English after having lodged their application and will naturally allow many students visa holders to extend their stay and transition to subclass 485 visa.
Further news in relation to off-shore 485 visa applications will be announced in due course and published here.