The Australian Federal Government and the Queensland Government have announced policy changes to incentivise the return of international students. The Queensland Government announced that international students are welcome to enter the state from 1 am, Saturday 22, January 2022.
Students must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 72 hours prior to their departure. Rapid antigen and serology tests are not accepted. Testing requirements and exemptions from pre-departure testing are explained on the Department of Health website. Details of documents necessary for arrival are available at the Department of Home Affairs and the Queensland Government websites.
Students will not be required to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated with a TGA approved vaccine. Mandatory quarantine requirements may apply to other returning international students. All international students are required to provide a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for COVID-19 within 24 hours after entering the country.
The Federal Government announced that international students who arrive in Australia between 19 January 2022 and 19 March 2022 will be eligible for a refund of their visa application charge (AUD630). This temporary measure also applies to dependent visa applicants who travel during this period. This measure also applies to students who already have a visa, and may have already travelled to Australia on that visa before returning to their home country during the pandemic. It will also apply to students who apply after today, provided they are granted a visa and travel to Australia before 19 March 2022. Eligible travellers will be able to apply for this refund up until 31 December 2022. More information on how to apply for the refund will be made available on the Department of Home Affairs website shortly. It does not apply to students who are already in Australia.
The Federal Government also announced that Temporary Graduate visa holders who are eligible for a replacement Temporary Graduate visa because they lost time in Australia due to COVID-19 international travel restrictions would have their visas extended to 30 September 2022. This interim measure allows eligible Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who were affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions to enter or remain in Australia to live and work until they can apply for and be granted a replacement Temporary Graduate visa. Visas will be extended for people who were outside of Australia between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 while they held a valid Temporary Graduate visa. The extension will take effect on 18 February 2022, and visa holders will be notified directly by the Department of Home Affairs of the extension of their visa. The replacement Temporary Graduate visa will be open to applications from 1 July 2022 and will provide current and former visa holders impacted by international border restrictions with the same length of stay as their original visa, regardless of how long was spent in Australia on their original visa. Please see the Minister’s website for more information.
Temporary removal of the working hour limits for student visa holders with immediate effect has also been announced by the Federal Government. This means that international students can work more than 40 hours a fortnight in any sector of the economy. This decision will be reviewed in April 2022. The students will need to maintain their course enrolment and ensure satisfactory course attendance.
We look forward to welcoming our international students to USQ.
Professor Ren Yi
Pro Vice-Chancellor (International)