Some categories of visas require applicants to be outside of Australia at the time the visa is granted. The Immigration Department is aware that COVID-19 travel restrictions are affecting visa applicants, particularly applicants for family visas who have come to Australia.
The Department is taking disruptions arising from the pandemic into account when considering visa applications. Visa applicants are being given additional time to complete the necessary requirements, including any current requirement to be offshore at time of visa grant.
Partner and Child visas
If you have applied for a Partner or Child visa outside Australia but are in Australia during the COVID-19 concession period, you can be granted a visa in Australia if you meet all other visa criteria.
- Visa applicants who made their visa application outside Australia before the end of the COVID-19 concession period, but have been in Australia during that period, will be able to have their visa granted in Australia if all the other requirements for the visa are met.
- Any applicant who is outside Australia and who meets the usual visa grant requirements will be able to be granted the visa outside Australia (as per the current process).
The COVID-19 concession period started on 1 February 2020 and is a temporary arrangement.
Applicants who come to Australia after the end of the COVID-19 concession period will not be able to be granted their visa while they are in Australia.
Visas included in this concession are:
- Child (subclass 101) visa
- Adoption (subclass 102) visa
- Dependent Child (subclass 445) visa
- Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa
- Partner (subclass 309) visa.
Parent visas
Parent visa applications lodged outside Australia
If you have applied for one of the Parent visas listed below outside Australia and you are now in Australia, your visa can be granted if you meet all other visa criteria during the COVID-19 concession period.
- Parent (subclass 103) visa
- Contributory Parent (subclass 173) visa
- Contributory Parent (subclass 143) visa
Any applicant for these visas who is outside Australia and who meets the usual visa grant requirements will be able to be granted the visa outside Australia (as per the current process).
Parent visa applications lodged in Australia
If you have applied for one of the Parent visas listed below in Australia, and you are currently outside Australia, your visa can be granted while you are outside Australia if you meet all other visa criteria during the COVID-19 concession period.
- Aged Parent (subclass 804) visa
- Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 864) visa
Any applicant for these visas who is in Australia and who meets the usual visa grant requirements will be able to be granted the visa in Australia (as per the current process).
Temporary concessions for Parent visa applicants will apply during the COVID-19 concession period. As mentioned above, the COVID-19 concession period started on 1 February 2020 and is a temporary arrangement.
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