Extended visas for engineering graduates who lost time in Australia due to border restrictions

Here’s some welcome news for engineering graduates — eligible Skilled-Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476) visa holders who lost time in Australia as a result of COVID-19 international border restrictions will have their visas extended for 24 months.

This visa allows recent engineering graduates to live, work or study in Australia. This will provide eligible visa holders with the usual length of the visa, plus an additional six months.

In a statement today, Australian Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke said this would allow current and former Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa holders to enter, or remain in, Australia until April 2024.

“This measure recognises the importance of qualified engineers to Australia’s economy, particularly as we continue to manage the COVID-19 recovery,” Hawke said. “Australia’s international border opened to fully vaccinated Student, Temporary Graduate and Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa holders from Dec. 15, 2021.”

Welcome news at last for holders of 476 visas – graduate engineers – who have been stranded overseas due to Covid travel restrictions. This is a just and fair result. Congratulations to everyone who has campaigned so hard for this outcome! pic.twitter.com/O8o5j1dMsk

— Nick McKim (@NickMcKim) March 2, 2022

What engineering graduates should know

Thousands of Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa holders lost time in Australia due to travel restrictions, said the statement.  

The extension is expected to take effect in April 2022, subject to amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994. Eligible visa holders will be notified directly by the Department of Home Affairs of the extension of their visa and may arrive in Australia after this occurs. 

It will also apply to people whose visas have already expired, providing they were unable to use the full length of their original visa due to COVID-19 international travel restrictions.

Further details will be available on the Department of Home Affairs website.