Activating a Skilled Visa for Australia during Covid-19 Visa Go Australia

As a result of COVID-19, global travel bans have left migrants worried about activating their visas before the initial entry date. The below information from MIA and the Department of Home Affairs addresses this question.

“Condition 8504 – Must enter Australia before specified date

The Department has provided information for the holders of skilled and business visas who were offshore at the time of grant and are subject to Condition 8504 ‘must enter before a specified date’.

Skilled Visas

Skilled Migration is aware that in certain circumstances the visa holder and/or family members may not be able to comply with this condition. Failure to comply with visa conditions can render a visa liable for cancellation under the Migration Act 1958 and visa holders are strongly encouraged to make their first entry to Australia by the initial entry date provided in your grant notification.

However, generally the Department will not seek to cancel a Skilled visa where the only reason for doing so would be breach of this condition related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This information applies to the following visa subclasses:

Skilled Independent (subclass 189)
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
Skilled Regional (subclass 489)
Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491)

Business Visas

Holders of Business Skills or Distinguished Talent visas in this situation are requested to send an email to: business.skills.adelaide@homeaffairs.gov.au for further information.

The full advice sheet and further information on travelling from Skilled Program Delivery, South Australia is available here.”

For further on COVID-19 and complying with your visa conditions, you can visit the Department of Home Affairs website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au