Australia Travel Exemption | Critical Work and Compassionate Travel Exemptions
Article last updated: 3 December 2021.
Update on 2 December 2021: After almost two years of waiting to enter the country for many Skilled Visa holders and International Students, the emergence of Omicron has delayed plans to remove the need for Travel Exemptions for these groups. Scott Morrison called this a ‘temporary pause’ and appears eager to move forward, considering businesses have been experiencing worsening skill shortages. Our below article includes details on how the existing Travel Exemptions are being managed and you can read more about the impact Omicron has had on Australian international travel here.
In many circumstances, travel to Australia is restricted to people with a valid Travel Exemption. Here’s what employers and visa applicants/holders need to know.
As you can see above, Travel Exemptions have added a separate stage of approval to the process for overseas travellers. Some individuals are required to apply for a Travel Exemption to enter Australia, while others are automatically exempt.
Who can apply for an international Travel Exemption to come to Australia?
At this time, individuals that meet certain circumstances – such as for Critical Work or Compassionate / Compelling reasons – must apply for a Travel Exemption to enter Australia.
Critical Work Travel Exemptions will be phased out when changes to re-open to skilled migrants and international students occur – delays are taking place due to the Omicron variant.
Individuals in the below categories can currently apply for a Travel Exemption as at 3 December 2021:
- A foreign national invited by the Government to assist in the COVID-19 response;
- A foreign national whose entry would otherwise be in the national interest, supported by the Government;
- A person providing critical or specialist medical services, including air ambulance, medical evacuations and delivering critical medical supplies;
- A foreign national with critical skills or for work in a critical sector:
-
- Critical Sectors include:
- Financial technology
- Large scale manufacturing
- Film, media and television production
- Emerging technology
- Critical Skills include:
- Medical technology
- Critical infrastructure
- Telecommunications
- Engineering and mining
- Supply chain logistics
- Aged care
- Agriculture
- Primary industry
- Food production
- Maritime industry
- Critical Sectors include:
- A person providing critical skills in religious or theology fields
Above categories last updated: 3 December 2021
- A foreign national sponsored by an employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)
- Occupations currently on the PMSOL include:
- Chief Executive or Managing Director
- Construction Project Manager
- Accountant (General)
- Management Accountant
- Taxation Accountant
- External Auditor
- Internal Auditor
- Surveyor
- Cartographer
- Other Spatial Scientist
- Civil Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Transport Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)
- Petroleum Engineer
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Veterinarian
- Orthotist or Prosthetist
- Hospital Pharmacists
- Retail Pharmacists
- Industrial Pharmacists
- General Practitioner
- Resident Medical Officer
- Psychiatrist
- Medical Practitioners nec
- Midwife
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
- Registered Nurse (Medical)
- Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
- Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
- Registered Nurses nec
- Multimedia Specialist
- Analyst Programmer
- Developer Programmer
- Software Engineer
- Software and Applications Programmers nec
- ICT Security Specialist
- Social Worker
- Maintenance Planner
- Chef
- Occupations currently on the PMSOL include:
PMSOL Occupations last updated: 3 December 2021.
- Military personnel – conditions apply;
- A person who resides on a vessel that seeks a safe port – conditions apply;
- A student that has been selected to take part in an International Student Arrivals Plan with relevant Government support;
- A student in their final three years of study of a medical university degree with a confirmed placement in an Australian hospital or medical practice – conditions apply;
- A higher degree research student enrolled in an Australian education institution (including Masters by research and PhD students) with evidence of a current research grant from a Commonwealth agency or support from a relevant government agency – conditions apply.
- A student completing year 11 and 12, with relevant Government support – conditions apply;
- A student in their final two years of study in a dental, nursing or allied health profession university degree with a confirmed placement in am Australian hospital or medical practice – conditions apply;
- Persons travelling for compassionate and compelling reasons.
- Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa holders where a.) the 300 Visa has been granted and b.) the 300 Visa was lodged at least 12 months before submitting the Travel Exemption.
It is also possible to apply for a Travel Exemption for a relative (for example an aunt, uncle or grandparent) to escort an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident minor to travel to Australia – conditions apply.
As at 3 December 2021, travellers who are not an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or immediate family member and have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Malawi in the last 14 days are not eligible to enter Australia even if they hold a Travel Exemption – see further details here. This may change as further details emerge.
Travel Exemption Categories last updated: 3 December 2021.
Implications for Employers and Skilled Visa Applicants/Holders | Australia Travel Exemption
The impact of international travel restrictions means it is currently not possible for skilled workers to travel to Australia from overseas unless sufficient evidence is provided to demonstrate ‘Critical Work’ requirements. This is until changes to re-open to skilled migrants and international students occur – delays are taking place due to the Omicron variant.
Employers should seek to understand when an Exemption for Critical Work may be possible by considering the below:
- Whether the business:
- Operates in a Critical Skills sector;
- Requires a worker with Critical Skills;
- Or requires a worker with an occupation on the PMSOL.
- Consequences and detriment to the business if the worker cannot travel;
- Reasons why the worker is required from overseas – eg, the highly specialised nature of the work;
- Details of the project – eg, why travel is needed immediately;
- Estimated value of the work to the business;
- Impact of the worker’s travel to the economy – eg, the creation of local jobs.
Travel Exemptions are at the discretion of the Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner and refusals can cause delays. Applicants should provide substantial supporting evidence to explain their request.
Last updated: 3 December 2021.
Implications for Family Visa Applicants/Holders | Australia Travel Exemption
The impact of the international travel restrictions for families is that people may still be separated from their loved ones at this time.
As a guide, Travel Exemptions have previously been granted for Compassionate reasons for the below types of cases:
- Urgent or critical medical treatment in Australia;
- Cases involving separation of minors from their family unit;
- Cases demonstrating strong, compassionate circumstances with the potential for serious, ongoing and irreversible harm and continuing hardship to a person lawfully in Australia including:
- Attending funerals of close family members;
- Visiting a close family member who is seriously or critically ill, with little support in Australia;
- Travel for the partner of a person who is in Australia (including Temporary Visa Holders) and in the final trimester of pregnancy or due to give birth.
Circumstances outside of the above may be considered. Travel Exemptions are assessed by the ABF Commissioner on a case-by-case basis and substantial evidence should be provided.
Applying for a Travel Exemption
The ABF Commissioner has stated that it generally expects a person to have been granted a visa before applying for a Travel Exemption.
However, a person that meets the Critical Skills criteria can apply for an exemption beforehand. In our experience, visas have generally been granted to applicants that can obtain a Travel Exemption to enter Australia for Critical Work.
An exemption application should include sufficient supporting evidence and be lodged at least two weeks, but not more than two months before the planned travel.
Last updated: 3 December 2021.
Who does not need to apply for a Travel Exemption?
Persons in the below categories are automatically exempt from Australia’s international travel restrictions and do not have to apply for a Travel Exemption to come to Australia:
- Australian Citizens;
- Permanent Residents of Australia;
- Immediate family members of an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident;
- New Zealand Citizens usually resident in Australia and their immediate family members;
- A person who has been in New Zealand for 14 days or more immediately prior to arrival by air in Australia;
- Diplomats accredited to Australia, including their immediate family members (holding a Subclass 995 visa);
- Travellers transiting Australia for 72 hours or less;
- Airline crew and Maritime crew including marine pilots;
- Persons recruited under the Government-approved Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific Labour Scheme;
- Business Innovation and Investment (Subclass 188) Visa holders
- A person who holds a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Visa in the ‘Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Event’ stream and is supported by the Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce;
- A fully vaccinated Singapore citizen travelling from Singapore as part of travel bubble arrangements – conditions apply;
- A fully vaccinated Japanese citizen travelling from Japan as part of travel bubble arrangements – conditions apply;
- A fully vaccinated citizen of the Republic of South Korea travelling from South Korea as part of travel bubble arrangements – conditions apply;
- A fully vaccinated person that meets the requirements for relaxed entry restrictions – this is pending the Government’s Omicron updates.
As mentioned, currently at 3 December 2021, travellers who are not an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or immediate family member and have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Malawi in the last 14 days are not eligible to enter Australia even if they hold a Travel Exemption – see further details here. This may change as further details emerge.
Travellers should carry evidence that they meet one of the above categories.
Immediate family members who do not hold a Partner or Child Visa must provide evidence of their relationship to the Department of Home Affairs to travel.
Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300) Visa holders will need to apply for a Travel Exemption.
Last updated: 3 December 2021.
Critical Work & Compassionate Travel | Australia Travel Exemption
Currently, the available categories for an exemption are restricted to travel that boosts the economy, supports the provision of essential services and facilitates family reunion.
In the future, it is possible that the categories for Travel Exemptions may broaden as Australia responds to new and emerging economic and social needs.
In the meantime, employers and visa applicants/holders may wish to:
- Seek to understand whether a Travel Exemption is possible for their circumstances and how they can provide sufficient evidence;
- Plan for delays associated with obtaining Travel Exemptions (at international, state and regional borders as applicable), as well as limited flight availability and quarantine requirements.
What if an international Travel Exemption cannot be obtained? | Australia Travel Exemption
There is no limit to the number of times you can apply for a Travel Exemption, however more detailed evidence should be provided in subsequent applications – you may wish to seek advice before re-applying.
Businesses with labour needs that do not meet Critical Work requirements may wish to consider options to engage visa holders that do not need a Travel Exemption – eg, visa holders already in Australia.
Continuing the Discussion | Migration in the COVID-19 Era
Outbound Travel Exemptions also apply for leaving Australia – get in touch with Interstaff to understand Travel Exemption options for departing Australia.
We look forward to continuing the discussion over the next few weeks and we hope it is helpful. If you have any queries about your visa or travel exemption options, we encourage you to get in touch with Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents to arrange a consultation so that your circumstances can be considered. Simply contact [email protected] or +61 8 9221 3388 (or National Free Call 1800 449 858).
Source:
Federal Budget Papers
The Department of Home Affairs
Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents
Migration Institute of Australia
