The section 48 bar of the Australian Migration Act 1958 is lifted for three skilled migration visas to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on onshore applicants prevented from leaving Australia due to travel restrictions
The federal government has amended its migration regulations to allow those onshore on bridging visas to lodge applications for select skilled visa subclasses, which include:
Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated visa
Onshore visa applicants subject to the s48 bar can now apply for three skilled visas subclass 491, 494 or 190
In its explanatory statement, the Department of Home Affairs states that ‘this amendment facilitates applications in Australia by applicants who are prevented from leaving due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions but meet all other requirements for making an application for the visa’.