Australia will temporarily abolish backpacker and international student visa application fees

Source: China Overseas Chinese Network

According to the Australian network compilation report, in order to alleviate labor shortages and reduce supply chain disruptions, the Australian federal government will temporarily cancel the visa application fees for backpackers and international students.

"The Australian" reported that Australian Prime Minister Morrison announced on the 19th that in the next 8 weeks, international students who submit applications to Australia will not have to pay 630 yuan (Australian dollars, the same below) visa application fees. Similarly, for the next 12 weeks, applicants for a working holiday visa will not have to pay the application fee.

Morrison noted that the new policy will also apply to the 23,500 backpackers who have already submitted their applications, as well as 150,000 international students.

"My message to them is: Come to Australia." Morrison said, "Come to Australia now because you want to come here." You have a visa and we want you to come to Australia for a holiday and travel around Australia while joining our workforce to help us with agriculture, hospitality and many other industries that depend on our workforce. ”

It is understood that these new policies will be supported through a $3 million campaign by Tourism Australia to help attract backpackers and overseas students. In addition, these fees will be refunded through the Australian Home Office.

Morrison also said changes to the definition of close contacts and relaxation of visa requirements could help reduce the number of employees furloughed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which in turn eased supply chain disruptions. He also noted that the key workforce challenges are not unique to Australia, and that many other countries around the world are struggling to address the same problem, "and that workforce has always been a special challenge, especially to address workplace disruptions, and we see the same challenges in health care manpower and an ageing workforce around the world". in Noi