Tasmania
Extra Subclass 190 places
Tasmanian Skilled Migration has announced that 150 additional SC 190 places will be made available by the Department of Home Affairs to meet the unexpectedly high demand in that state.
The Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination will not close to new registrations of interest or applications for nomination. Invitations to apply for nomination will continue to be issued throughout the remainder of 2022-23 and into the 2023-24 program year.
Further information about the Tasmanian state program, including nomination allocations and usage up to 12 April 2023, is available here.
Faster processing time for partner visas
The Department has announced that if a Partner visa application contains all the required information, it can be processed faster. The Department recommends logging into the ImmiAccount to make sure that the applicant (and any dependants) have provided all the required documents. My Health Declarations (MHD) service in ImmiAccount can be used to complete medicals sooner. See Completing the My Health Declarations form (PDF 868KB).
Applicants for a Partner visa may receive a phone call from a departmental officer. This is so the Department can get more information to progress the application. This phone call may come from any of the Department’s processing offices, including those located overseas and for this reason the call may be outside normal Australian business hours.
The Department of Home Affairs advise applicants to beware of scammers who impersonate the Department’s staff. The Department advise that staff will always identify themselves before they ask for any information and that applicants should always ask the departmental officer to confirm their file number or your application lodgement date. The Department also advises that its staff will never ask for:
- credit card information;
- banking details;
- ImmiAccount password;
- payment over the phone.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – visas for football fans and supporters
Football fans and supporters who want to come to Australia to watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 must have a valid Australian visa.
There are a range of visas that are suitable for football fans and supporters, and the type of visa needed will depend on the length of the stay in Australia.
More information about Australian visas is available using the visa finder on the Department’s website. The Department advises that they are currently processing a high number of visa applications and in order to ensure faster processing times, visa applications must be checked thoroughly: check twice, and submit once.
Travelling to New Zealand
Football fans and supporters who want to travel to New Zealand to watch matches will need a visa or an NZeTA for that country. Information on New Zealand visas and NZeTAs is available on the Immigration New Zealand website: Visitor Visa: Visa details | Immigration New Zealand
Transit visa requirement
Football fans and supporters transiting through Australia on their way to or from another country, including New Zealand, may need a transit visa. More information about this can be found in the Department’s website: transiting through Australia
Football fans and supporters should also check the transit visa requirements for other countries they are transiting through when travelling to and from Australia.
This newsletter only provides general information related to current migration matters. The information contained in this communication does not constitute specific migration advice, and should not be construed or relied on as such. Professional advice should be sought for the specifics of your situation prior to any action being taken. BD Welsh and Co disclaims any liability (including, without limitation, for any direct or indirect or consequential costs, loss or damage or loss of profits) arising from anything done or omitted to be done by any party in reliance, whether wholly or partially, on any of the information contained in this newsletter. Any party that relies on the information does so at its own risk. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.