Australian government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic) is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia if you are working in a critical sector or if you are unable to depart Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
This visa allows you to:
Live in Australia temporarily, if you have no other visa options and are unable to depart due to COVID-19 travel restrictions
Remain in Australia if you work in a critical sector during the covid-19 pandemic
Agriculture
Food processing
Health care
Aged care
Disability care
Childcare
Tourism and hospitality
Include family members in your application
Note: Due to urgent need for critical sector workers, The Department of Home Affairs has brought in a less restrictive policy for the Work Limitation Visa Condition 8107
Eligibility
Be in Australia
Have a substantive visa currently in effect or that expired less then 28 days ago
If you are working in a critical sector, you must provide the department with evidence of your employment. This must confirm the dates of your employment, confirm which critical sector it is and provide evidence that an Australian citizen or permanent resident couldn’t fill the position
Be able to support yourself and any dependants while in Australia, if you are unable to support yourself you should make plans to exit Australia
Meet health and character requirements
Have adequate health insurance, while in Australia on a temporary visa you are personally liable for any medical expenses. You are not eligible for Australia’s public healthcare (Medicare)
Have genuine intention to only reside in Australia temporarily (Genuine Temporary Entrant)
Not have had any previous visa application refused or cancelled
Have signed the Australian values statement
Have paid back any outstanding debt to the Australian government
There is no visa application charge (VAC) associated with this visa
Additional costs: You might also have to pay other costs for each applicant for health checks, police certificates and biometrics
Stay
This is a temporary visa; your length of stay will be specified in your visa grant letter issued by The Department of Home Affairs
If you are employed in a critical sector, the length of stay is up to 12 months
If you are applying for this visa because you are unable to depart Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions, the length of stay is up to 3 months
Processing Time
As of the 18th of January 2022, The Department of Home Affairs does not publish processing times for the COVID-19 pandemic event visa as there is a delay in response due to the significant impact covid-19 has had on visa application demand. When you apply for this visa you are granted a bridging visa attached to your application, this comes in to effect If your substantive visa expires before you receive a response on your covid-19 pandemic event visa application.
Obligations
You must obey all Australian laws and meet all visa conditions
You must meet all public health directions to fight covid-19 as announced by the Australian Government and the individual state/territory governments
If you are granted this visa because you work in a critical sector you must continue your work, if you are no longer employed you must find work in a critical sector or make plans to depart Australia
Inform the department if anything changes. This includes changes to your employment status, relationship status, the birth of a child (or stepchild) and any changes to personal details such as phone number, address or passport.