There are 2.17 million people presently in Australia on a temporary visa.

The changes announced in this article will help facilitate this for those who may be stood down or lose work hours as a result of the coronavirus. 

Visitor Visa Holders

• International tourists should return to their home country as quickly as possible

International Students Visa Holders

• Students are encouraged to rely on family support, part-time work & their own savings to sustain themselves in Australia
• Students who have been in Australia for 12 months or longer may be eligible to access their Australian superannuation
• The government will be flexible to International Students meeting their visa conditions due to pandemic
• Able to work up to 40 hours per fortnight
• Students working in major supermarkets, aged care or nursing can work for extended hours to support these critical sectors

Temporary Skilled Visa Holders

• Those who have been stood down, but not laid off, will maintain their visa validity & opportunity to extend their visa as per normal arrangements
• Businesses can reduce the hours of the visa holder without the person being in breach of their visa condition
• Able to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation this financial year
• Those who have been laid off due to coronavirus should leave the country immediately in line with existing visa conditions if they are unable to secure a new sponsor
• If a 4-year visa holder be re-employed after coronavirus pandemic, their time already spent in Australia will count towards their permanent residency skilled work experience requirements

Working Holiday Visa – Critical sectors only

• Some limited flexibility will be provided to
  support the critical sectors of health, aged and disability care, agriculture and food processing, and childcare
• Exempt from the six-month work limitation with the one employer
• Eligible for a further visa to keep working in these critical sectors if their current visa is due to expire in the next six months
• Those who cannot sustain themselves over the next 6 months should leave the country

Temporary Graduate Visa Holders

• Eligible to access their Australian superannuation if needed for support

Read the full announcement on Saturday, 04 April 2020 here.