Minister of Immigration Hon Andrew Giles has announced that the Departmnt of home affairs will close of the SC 408 stream
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has announced the phasing out of a unique special visa stream created in 2020 to assist international students stranded in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision comes as part of the government’s plan to wind down visa categories introduced in 2020.
The Pandemic Event Visa (Subclass 408) was initially introduced at the peak of the pandemic to address labor shortages and provide support to international students unable to depart from Australia. However, some migration agents and education experts had advocated for its earlier abolition, citing concerns that it allowed individuals to work unrestricted hours for a full year.
As of September 2nd, the Pandemic Event visa will accept applications exclusively from current holders, with all new applications being closed starting February 2024.
Additionally, the government has taken the step of discontinuing other pandemic-era policies, including the provision for unlimited work hours for international students and work exemptions previously granted to Working Holiday Visa holders