There has been an amendment to the migration act, Section 48. Previously migrants in Australia who had a Visa cancelled or refused were barred from further Visa applications while already in the country. The only exceptions (previously) were Protection and Partner Visas. This restriction was designed to prevent repeat applications from those migrants who did not really qualify for any Visa.

This law has now been amended, so migrants in Australia can apply for the following Visas.

• Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated (Class SN) (Permanent)
• Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Class PS) (Provisional)
• Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Class PE) (Provisional)

Previously migrant had to travel offshore, and supply confirmation of the travel, when applying for these Visas.

These alterations were made to facilitate applications during COVID-related travel restrictions. The 491 and 494 Visas are focused on regional migration, and keeping needed employees in regional areas of Australia. The 190 Visa comes with obligations for skilled migrants to live and work in their nominated State or Territory.

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Due to the new Omicron variation of the COVID Virus the planned reopening of the Australian borders has been changed.

The intention was to re-open the border in a series of phases. The early phases, such as allowing Australian citizens back in after November the 1st, have been retained. But newer phases, such as allowing travellers from Japan and South Korean, have been delayed. Japanese and South Korean visitors were to be granted travel access from the 1st of December 2021. This has been pushed back to the 15th of December.

This delay in implementing a border policy change gives the government and medical authorities some time to understand the new Omicron COVID variant. It helps to prevent the spread of the disease if we know if the vaccine is effective, what the symptoms tend to be, and how contagious the new strain is.

At the present only fully vaccinated individuals form the following list can enter Australia.

• Australian citizens
• Permanent residents
• The immediate family of citizens and permanent residents
• Green lane travellers from New Zealand
• Green lane travellers from Singapore
• Some individual exceptions

There will be no general travel from the following African Countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique. This includes anybody who has been in any of these countries within the last 14 days.

Australian citizens and permanent Residents travelling from these countries may enter Australia, but must be quarantined for 14 day. Anybody who was in these 8 African countries 14 days prior to these new restrictions must be isolated and COVID tested. They may be put into quarantine subject to their test.