In addition to drafting plans to offer safe haven visas to Hong Kong residents living in Australia amidst China’s decision to go ahead with the controversial security law in Hong Kong, the Australian government is offering new and extended visa options to
students and skilled workers from Hong Kong, including pathways to permanent residency.
The special visa arrangements, aimed at attracting talent to Australia and creating more job opportunities, include:
- Additional five years of work rights to temporary graduate and skilled workers, with a pathway to permanent residency,
- Five year graduate visa to students, with a pathway to permanent residency, and
- Five year visa for temporary skilled visas applicants if they meet the updated skills lists and Labour Market Testing requirements.
For applicants who study and work in regional areas, the existing arrangement continues which includes pathway to permanent residency after 3 years. Further, there will be enhanced efforts to attract export-oriented businesses from Hong Kong to relocate to Australia.
The Hon Alan Tudge MP, Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs in a Joint statement with the Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister said that the special arrangement will benefit 10,000 existing temporary skilled, temporary graduate and student visa holders in Australia, with a further 2,500 outside Australia and 1,250 current applicants.
