Visa expiry extensions for Hong Kong passport holders

On 9 July 2020, the Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Scott Morrison MP, announced a couple of government initiatives favouring Hong Kong citizens/passport holders currently in Australia, including visa expiry extensions.

Following civil and political unrest in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Mr Morrison took steps to suspended Australia’s Extradition Treaty with Hong Kong (SAR). Whilst in effect, this would prevent the PRC from requesting Australia to return a Hong Kong SAR passport holder back to Hong Kong.

More importantly, the Prime Minister announced that the government would provide visa expiry extensions for certain Hong Kong SAR passport holders.

The Visa Expiry Extensions in summary:

• Hong Kong SAR passport holders those who (on 9 July 2020) hold 457 Temporary Work Skilled Visas or 482 Temporary Skills Shortage Visas or 485 Temporary Graduate Visas will have their expiry dates extended until 8 July 2025. The new expiry dates for these visas were successfully implemented on 24 July 2020;
• Hong Kong SAR passport holders those who (on 9 July 2020) were waiting for their 457 Temporary Work Skilled Visas to be approved by the Department of Home Affairs will have a visa validity until 8 July 2025, regardless of the requested visa period at the time of their visa application;
• Hong Kong SAR passport holders those who (on 9 July 2020) were waiting for their 482 Temporary Skills Shortage Visas or 485 Temporary Graduate Visas to be approved by the Department of Home Affairs will have a visa validity period of five (5) years from the date of approval.

The visa expiry extensions will guarantee certain Hong Kong SAR passport holders with prolonged stability in Australia. However, they all must each still abide by respective of the visa conditions while they are in the country.