Australian PM, Scott Morrison, has announced that the visa application fees for overseas students arriving in Australia will be rebated during the next eight weeks. And the working hours are raised by more than 20 hours.
The Australian government hopes that the visa rules would encourage properly vaccinated overseas students to return to Australia as soon as possible, helping to alleviate the present labor shortage.
PM Morrison stated that the $630 rebates will be available to students beginning January 19th for the next eight weeks. Additionally, student visa holders will be allowed to work for more than 20 hours in any sector for a limited time.
The adjustments also apply to new visa applications, which will be “processed expeditiously” so that students may visit Australia within the rebate period.
This interim move was intended to help alleviate Australia’s workforce shortage, worsening as more individuals are forced to isolate themselves due to a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases.
For students working in the tourism and hospitality sectors, the 40-hour cap was previously abolished in May 2021. And, the work limitations for students, which are set at 40 hours per fortnight, were temporarily lifted.
In addition, students who had received post-study work visas but were unable to utilize them due to border restrictions will be eligible to apply for new visas.
International students were unable to enter Australia in 2020 and 2021 due to a severe border restriction in Australia. International students might enter the country without special permission after December 15, 2021, as long as they are completely immunized.