Due to COVID-19 related travel bans Australia’s net migration intake in 2020-21 will be significantly lower than in previous years.

States and territories across Australia have announced that their Skilled Nomination program will remain temporarily suspended while they await the federal government’s allocation of state nomination places.

The Economic and Fiscal Update for July 2020 revealed that Australia’s net overseas migration will fall from 154,000 in 2019-20 to merely 31,000 in 2020-21.

The drop in net overseas migration may be even lower if re-opening of international travel takes place later in 2021 rather than from January 2021. 

It is expected that between July and December 2020, only citizens, permanent residents, New Zealanders and a small number of international students will be able to travel to Australia.

Immediate family members of Australian citizens and permanent residents who hold a temporary visa will need to provide evidence of their relationship.

The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force may grant a temporary visa holder an individual exemption if he or she is:

• a non-citizen travelling at the invitation of the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response
• providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies
• a non-citizen with critical skills or working in a critical sector in Australia
• a non-citizen whose entry would otherwise be in the national interest, supported by the Australian Government or a state or territory government authority
• military personnel, including those who form part of the Status of Forces Agreement, Commonwealth Armed Forces, Asia Pacific Forces and Status of Armed Forces Agreement
• a student completing year 11 and 12, with support from the relevant state and territory government
• travelling for compassionate and compelling reasons. Compassionate and compelling reasons include, but are not limited to, needing to travel due to the death or critical illness of a close family member.

All temporary visa holders must have a visa and an exemption to Australia’s travel restrictions before they travel.

Applicants who do not hold a temporary visa will not be considered for travel exemption.

For questions about Australian visas and Immigration matters please contact a Registered Migration Agent Yana Asmalovskaya.                            

Mobile: 0413392894  Email: yana@becomeaustralian.com