457/482: Age caps lifted for 457 visa holders for PR, Short-term stream pathway for 482 visa holders; Switzerland added to WHM visa program

457/482: Age caps lifted for 457 visa holders for PR, Short-term stream pathway for 482 visa holders; Switzerland added to WHM visa program

The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Aff​airs announced a raft of changes today that will see the age cap for legacy 457 visa holders lifted and a pathway to permanent visas for 482 visa holders in the Short-term steam. Major benefits to 485 visas were also announced. Switzerland will be added to the WHM program from 1 January 2022.

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BREAKING: Vaccinated temporary visa holders allowed to enter Australia from 1 December 2021, visitor and bridging visa holders absent

BREAKING: Vaccinated temporary visa holders allowed to enter Australia from 1 December 2021, visitor and bridging visa holders absent

Temporary visa holders will be able to enter Australia from 1 December 2021 without the need for a travel exemption provided they are fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption. Notable exclusions from this major announcement are visitor visas and bridging visas.

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491/494/190 visas: Bar from further application lifts from 13 November 2021; Hong Kong pathway to PR from 5 March 2022

491/494/190 visas: Bar from further application lifts from 13 November 2021; Hong Kong pathway to PR from 5 March 2022

For the first time in many years three skilled visas have been added to the small list of visas for those affected by the infamous section 48 bar from 13 November 2021. New streams for the 189 and 191 permanent visas have been registered for Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders to apply from 5 March 2022.

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2020-21 program year exceeds planning level, 72,376 partner visas granted

2020-21 program year exceeds planning level, 72,376 partner visas granted

The report for the 202-21 migration program year was released with the not unsurprising result of over 70,000 partner visas granted, leaving under 65,000 still to be processed. Other outcomes also surprised.

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