Official notice: No extension of work and vacation visas
The official website of the Australian Embassy in China recently issued a notice that holders of a working holiday visa outside Australia can not apply for an extension if their visa expires before the opening of the border.
The notification is as follows:
Due to current travel restrictions in Australia, holders of work and holiday visas (WHV) outside Australia may not be able to enter Australia before their visas expire.
Unfortunately, working and vacation visas can not be extended under current Australian law.
At present, there is no law clause to allow workers and holiday visa holders to freeze or renew working and holiday visas that have already come into effect. Nor is there a law clause to allow workers and holiday visa holders to freeze or renew approved but unused work and holiday visas.
The age requirement for applying for a work and vacation visa remains unchanged. The age range of applicants for work and holiday visas can not be extended.
If your visa is expired and you still want to go to Australia with a working and vacation visa, you need to submit a new application, re-provide all relevant materials, and meet all the requirements for approving the visa.
In China, this means you need to get an appointment when Australia cancels travel restrictions and announces the start of the next round on the Australian Embassy website and social media.
visa holders can get more information on our department website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
this part of the information will be updated with changes in government response to new coronal pneumonia. Also see COVID-19FAQs
From the official announcement, people who want to work in Australia on vacation need to pay attention to the following:
- If you`ve got a WHV visa before, but you` re out of date because the epidemic hasn`t entered the country, you need to grab a new place and re-apply for a new WHV visa.
- If you apply again, the Australian WHV application age is still 18-31 years old, beyond the age will not be able to apply.
Earlier, the Australian Immigration Association (MIA) said that under the impact of the new crown epidemic, holiday workers engaged in service-critical industries can be exempted from limit:
- A degree of flexibility will be provided to support the needs of key industries such as health, care for the elderly and the disabled, agriculture and food processing, and childcare;
- (b) Exemption from the six-month limit for working for an employer in the above-mentioned key industries;
- If the visa for the above-mentioned key industry staff expires within six months, they are eligible for renewal to continue their work;
- (b) Arrangements should be made leave Australia for those who are unable to make a living during the next six months;
- Employers need to commit to providing safe accommodation for agricultural workers that meets social distance requirements.
