July 2020
Special Visa Arrangements for Hong Kong
On 9 July 2020 the Australian Government announced pathways to permanent residency for Hong Kong passport holders, including allowing temporary work visa holders and student visa holders currently in Australia to have their visas extended.
In a Joint Statement from the Prime Minister, the Hon. Scot Morrison MP, and the Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Alan Tudge MP, it was announced that due to Australia’s close relationship with Hong Kong, Australia will introduce new measures for students, temporary graduates and skilled workers from Hong Kong who want to live, work and study in Australia.
New visa arrangements will provide further opportunities for Hong Kong passport holders to remain in Australia, with pathways to permanent residency.
Temporary Graduate visa holders:
Former students already on a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa will be eligible for an extension of five years from 9 July 2020 in addition to the time they’ve already been in Australia, with a pathway to permanent residency at the end of that period.
Students:
Current and future students from Hong Kong will be eligible for a five year temporary graduate visa on the successful conclusion of their studies, with a pathway to permanent residency after five years.
Students who study at a regional campus will continue to be able to access a pathway to permanent residency after three years.
Temporary Skilled visas:
Current temporary skilled visa holders from Hong Kong will be eligible for an extension of five years from 9 July 2020 in addition to the time they’ve already been in Australia, with a pathway to permanent residency at the end of that period.
Future Hong Kong applicants for temporary skilled visas will be provided with a five year visa and a pathway to permanent residency after five years, provided they:
- Meet occupation lists; and
- Meet Labour Market Testing requirements; or
- Qualify through the Global Talent temporary visa scheme
Existing arrangements will continue to apply for those applicants who study and work in regional areas to help address skills shortages in those areas, with pathways to permanent residency after 3 years.
It was further announced that here are almost 10,000 existing temporary skilled, temporary graduate and student visa holders in Australia who will be eligible for these special arrangements, with a further 2,500 outside Australia and 1,250 applications on hand.
The Australian Government also indicated that it will also enhance efforts to attract Hong Kong’s “best and brightest” through the Global Talent and Business Innovation and Investment Programs. These programs will reportedly be prioritised and a dedicated Global Talent Officer will focus on facilitating the Hong Kong caseload.
The Australian Government further announced that it would develop new incentives to attract “export-oriented” Hong Kong based business to relocate to Australia. As well as economic incentives, there will reportedly be permanent visa pathways available for all critical Hong Kong based staff at the relocated business. The Government’s intention is to particularly target businesses that presently operate their regional headquarters out of Hong Kong “who may be looking to relocate to a democratic country”. There are reportedly more than 1,000 international companies that have their regional headquarters based in Hong Kong which might consider relocating to Australia.
To support future applications the Australian Government intends to re-open the visa application centre in Hong Kong which shut down during COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about Special Visa Arrangements for Hong Kong, please contact Melbourne’s best immigration lawyers at Erskine Rodan & Associates.
