Closure of the Pandemic Event visa

​​Joint media release with the Hon Andrew Giles MP

The Albanese Labor Government is closing the Pandemic Event visa.

From February 2024, the visa will be closed to all applicants. This will provide certainty to our visa system now that the circumstances that drove the operation of the visa no longer exist.

From2 September 2023, the Pandemic Event visa will only be open to applications from existing Pandemic Event visa holders.

All other visa holders will be ineligible for the Pandemic Event visa. This is a transitional measure to promote visa integrity.

Anyone with a valid Pandemic Event visa will remain lawful until their current visa expires. (유효한 코비드비자를 소지한 분들은 합법적으로 만기 전까지 호주에 남아 있을 수 있음)

The staged closure of the visa is another measure to ensure the visa system is serving the needs of the Australian people.

Labor inherited a migration system with backlog after backlog, delays and endless waitlists. The Albanese Government hasn’t wasted a day in cleaning up the mess left by the former Liberal Government.

The Albanese Government has recently ended a series of pandemic measures, including unlimited work hours for international students and work exemptions for Working Holiday visa holders.

These measures combined place downward pressure on Net Overseas Migration, which continues to rebound post-pandemic, and will help support the return to pre-pandemic levels of population growth.

From 2 September 2023, new applications will receive a six month visa. A Visa Application Charge of $405 AUD will also be introduced. (2023년 9월 2일 부터 신청하는 기존 코비비자소지자분들은 405불 신청비를 지불해야 함)

These settings will further ensure that the visa is only used by those who have a genuine need to remain and contribute to Australia.

People who currently hold a Pandemic Event visa and seek to apply for a different visa will need to meet the criteria for that visa.

Those without any options for other visa applications are expected to depart Australia when their visa expires.