AUSTRALIA TRAVEL DECLARATION ROLLOUT

The Federal Government has announced $56.1 million over four years to replace Australia’s paper Incoming Passenger Card with a digital Australia Travel Declaration at every international airport and seaport in the country. The travel media has covered this as the welcome death of the orange card and the scramble for a pen at 30,000 feet. That is the least important part of the story. The passenger card is a legal declaration with visa, character, and biosecurity consequences that can follow a traveller for years — and digitising it will make those consequences easier for the Government to enforce, not harder.

KEY TAKEAWAY

The Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) will progressively replace the paper Incoming Passenger Card, expanding beyond the current Qantas pilot to Perth and Adelaide before the end of 2026, and then to all international airports and seaports in a phased rollout over the following 12 to 18 months. The legal obligations are unchanged: every answer — about goods, health, and criminal convictions — remains a formal declaration to the Commonwealth. What changes is the data. Digital collection produces cleaner, structured, instantly searchable records that can be cross-matched against visa applications, character declarations, and biosecurity enforcement with far greater ease than a handwritten card ever could.

01 The Most Underestimated Document in Australian Travel

Every traveller entering Australia — visitor, temporary visa holder, permanent resident, and returning citizen alike — is required by law to complete a passenger card as part of immigration clearance. For decades that obligation has been discharged on the familiar orange cardboard form handed out mid-flight: name, passport number, flight details, address in Australia, and a series of yes/no declarations covering goods being brought into the country, health status, intended length of stay, and prior criminal convictions.

Most travellers treat the card as a formality on the way to the baggage carousel. It is nothing of the sort. The Incoming Passenger Card is a signed legal declaration. The traveller certifies that the information given is true, correct, and complete, and acknowledges that a failure to answer questions properly may have serious consequences. Australian citizens who refuse to complete the card can be penalised; non-citizens can be penalised and refused immigration clearance. And critically for our clients, the Department of Home Affairs retains passenger card data and uses it as a reference point when assessing later visa applications.

In our practice, we regularly see the effects of a card completed carelessly at the end of a 14-hour flight. A conviction ticked “No” that later surfaces in a police certificate. An intended address that contradicts a visitor visa’s stated purpose. An undeclared food item that becomes a biosecurity infringement — and, for visitor visa holders, potentially a visa cancellation at the border. The card takes ninety seconds to complete and can take years to unwind.

02  From Qantas Pilot to National System

The Government’s announcement commits $56.1 million over four years to traveller modernisation. At its centre is the Australia Travel Declaration — the digital replacement for the paper card that has been quietly piloted since October 2024 on eligible Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. More than 450,000 passengers have used it, completing their declaration through the airline’s app up to three days before arrival and receiving a QR-coded digital pass by app and email, which is presented to Australian Border Force officers on landing.

The rollout now proceeds in stages:

›         Before the end of 2026: the Qantas-partnered pilot extends to Perth and Adelaide.

›         Over the following 12 to 18 months: the ATD is phased in at all Australian international airports and seaports — including cruise terminals — initially accessible through a purpose-built web form, with airline-app integrations to follow as industry partners come on board.

›         Throughout: paper cards remain available in arrival halls for travellers who cannot access the digital option. The paper card is being retired as the default, not abolished as an option.

The Government has framed the change around convenience and capacity: growing traveller numbers, record international volumes through Melbourne Airport, and the expected surge of visitors ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. The Home Affairs Minister’s line about travellers scrambling for a pen has done the media rounds. But the announcement’s fine print tells the more consequential story: the Government itself says digital collection improves data quality for risk assessment and allows declarations to be updated rapidly in response to global events such as disease outbreaks and biosecurity threats.

Third Time Lucky

This is Australia’s third attempt to retire the paper card. The “seamless traveller” initiative of 2016 delivered SmartGates but never displaced the card itself. The pandemic-era Digital Passenger Declaration, launched in 2022, performed so poorly that it was withdrawn within months. The current staged, airline-integrated approach — trialled for nearly two years before national expansion — reflects a deliberate caution born of those failures. It also means the system arriving at your airport has already processed nearly half a million real declarations. This one is likely to stick.

03 Same Declaration, Sharper Teeth

Nothing in this announcement changes the legal character of the declaration. Whether completed in blue ink over the Pacific or on a phone three days before departure, the traveller is making formal statements to the Commonwealth, and the same framework of consequences applies:

DECLARATIONGETTING IT WRONGPOTENTIAL CONSEQUENCE
Criminal convictionsAnswering “No” where convictions exist — however old, and from any countryCharacter scrutiny at the border; recorded inconsistency with later visa applications; potential refusal of immigration clearance
Biosecurity itemsFailing to declare food, plant, or animal productsOn-the-spot infringement notices (currently up to $2,664), prosecution for serious matters, and — for visitor visa holders — possible visa cancellation at the border
CurrencyFailing to declare AUD $10,000 or more (or foreign equivalent)AUSTRAC reporting breach; seizure and prosecution exposure
Personal details & intentionsStatements inconsistent with visa conditions or later applicationsRecorded discrepancies that can support findings of false or misleading information — including PIC 4020 exposure in future applications

The point our clients most often miss is the last row. Passenger card data does not evaporate at the arrivals gate. It is retained, and the Department compares it against what applicants later say in visa applications. A traveller who declares no convictions at the border and then discloses one in a partner visa application — or the reverse — has created a documented inconsistency. In an environment where Public Interest Criterion 4020 attaches a three-year ban to findings of false or misleading information, a careless tick-box at the airport is genuinely capable of derailing a future application worth many thousands of dollars.

“Travellers have always been legally accountable for every answer on the passenger card. The difference is that a handwritten card had to be found, read, and transcribed before it could be used against you. A digital declaration is a structured record from the moment it is submitted.”

04  The Integrity Dimension

Read this alongside everything else 2026 has delivered. Regular readers of our commentary will recognise the pattern. In our analysis of the 2026–27 Federal Budget, we described a migration system being restructured around four ideas — one of which was integrity by default. The ATD rollout, announced barely two months after that Budget, fits the doctrine precisely.

Consider what digital declaration data actually enables. Handwritten cards are slow to digitise, prone to transcription error, and difficult to query at scale. A digital declaration is machine-readable on arrival — in fact, before arrival, since it can be lodged up to three days early. That means:

›         Pre-arrival risk assessment. Declarations lodged days before a flight can be screened against departmental holdings — visa records, prior declarations, character information — before the traveller reaches the primary line. Border interventions can be planned rather than improvised.

›         Systematic cross-matching. Structured data makes it trivial to compare a conviction declaration on arrival with the character declarations in every past and future visa application on the same client record.

›         A cleaner evidentiary trail. In cancellation and refusal matters, the Department will no longer be reliant on a scanned image of a smudged card. A digital declaration, timestamped and attributed, is a stronger exhibit.

›         Dynamic questioning. The Government has expressly flagged that digital collection lets it update declaration questions rapidly in response to biosecurity or health events — meaning the content of the legal declaration itself can now change at the speed of a software release.

None of this is sinister, and much of it is sensible border administration. But it belongs in the same frame as the year’s other developments: the April tightening of partner visa evidentiary expectations, the digitisation of parent visa lodgement under LIN 26/005, the expanded section 501(6A) character grounds, and the arrival control powers inserted in March. The system is becoming more digital, more data-rich, and less forgiving of inconsistency — at every point of contact, now including the aircraft cabin.

05 – What you should do: Traveller Checklist

The practical guidance below applies whether you complete the declaration digitally or on paper — but the margin for casual error narrows as the digital system arrives.

Before You Travel

›         Treat the declaration as a legal document, not a formality. Complete it soberly, ideally at home in the pre-arrival window rather than in the final hour of a long-haul flight. This is one genuine advantage of the digital format — use it.

›         Answer the criminal conviction question accurately — always “Yes” if convictions exist, anywhere, at any time. Declaring a conviction does not automatically mean refusal of entry; it means an assessment. Concealing one creates a recorded false declaration that can surface in every future application.

›         Keep your declarations consistent. If you have a visa application on foot or anticipate one, the answers you give at the border should align with what you have told — or will tell — the Department elsewhere. If your circumstances are complicated, take advice before you fly, not after you land.

›         When in doubt about goods, declare. There is no penalty for declaring an item that turns out to be permitted. The penalties run entirely in the other direction.

On Arrival and Afterwards

›         Keep a record of what you declared. Screenshot the completed digital declaration and QR pass. If a question is ever raised about what you said on entry, your own contemporaneous record is invaluable.

›         Do not assume the paper option protects you. Paper cards remain available, but they are digitised and retained just the same. Choosing paper changes the format, not the legal effect.

›         If you realise you answered incorrectly, act early. An innocent error is far easier to address proactively than to explain after the Department identifies the discrepancy itself. Contact a lawyer before contacting the Department.

For visa holders with any character history

The conviction question on the passenger card is not new — but the ease of matching your answer against your visa record is about to increase substantially. If you hold or are applying for an Australian visa and have any conviction history, in Australia or overseas, obtain advice on how it should be disclosed consistently across your declarations. A mismatch between your arrival card and your application file is one of the most avoidable ways to acquire a PIC 4020 problem.

For all enquiries, call Phoenix Law & Associates +61731800908 | email – info@phoenix-law.com.au | Level 8, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. #Travel #PassengerDeclaration #phoenixlaw #brisbanelawyers #MultilingualLawyers #MigrationLaw #AustralianVisa #digitalAustraliaTravelDeclaration

The End of Onshore Visa Hopping: What Temporary Visa Holders Need to Understand – Subclass 485 & 500

From 2 February 2026, a suite of regulatory amendments formally ended what the Department of Home Affairs describes as “visa hopping” — the practice of switching between temporary visa categories from within Australia to indefinitely extend a stay without a genuine immigration pathway. The changes are now fully operational, and Phoenix Law & Associates is seeing a significant volume of clients caught mid-transition who were unaware that the rules had changed. This section sets out what has closed, what remains open, and what the fee increase means for planning.

What Is No Longer Permitted Onshore

The following onshore switching pathways are now closed or materially restricted:

  • Visitor visa → Student visa: Individuals who entered Australia on a Subclass 600 Visitor visa may no longer apply for a Subclass 500 Student visa from within Australia. They must depart and lodge offshore. This applies even if they have a Confirmation of Enrolment. The previously relied-upon pathway of “arrive on a tourist visa, then apply for student visa onshore” is closed.
  • Temporary Graduate (485) → Student visa: Holders of a Subclass 485 visa whose post-study work rights are expiring may no longer apply for a Student visa onshore as a mechanism to extend stay. They must depart and apply offshore.
  • Employer-sponsored visa → Student visa: Switching from an employer-sponsored visa to a student visa onshore is now significantly restricted. The Department is signalling that employer sponsorship should be treated as a genuine work pathway.
  • Repeat visitor visa applications: The Department is applying heightened scrutiny and higher refusal rates to applicants who have made repeated visitor visa applications or who have previously been refused a student visa.
Who Is Not Affected The visa hopping restrictions do not close all onshore pathways. The following remain available from within Australia in most circumstances: applications for skilled visas (189, 190, 491), employer-sponsored visas (482, 186), partner visas (820), and extensions of current student visas (enrolled students who wish to continue or extend their studies are not affected by this measure).

The Subclass 485 Fee Increase: A Material Cost Change

Effective 1 March 2026, the visa application charge for the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) doubled from $2,300 to $4,600 for primary applicants. Secondary applicant fees also doubled. For a couple with one dependent child, the total government application charge now exceeds $8,000 — making this the largest single-day fee increase in the history of the graduate visa programme.

Applicant TypePrevious ChargeCharge from 1 March 2026
Primary applicant$2,300$4,600
Secondary applicant (adult)$1,150$2,300
Secondary applicant (child under 18)$575$1,160
Example: Couple + 1 child (total)~$4,025~$8,060

Other Subclass 485 Changes Now in Effect

  • Age limit: The maximum age for a Subclass 485 application has been reduced to 35 years for most streams.
  • English requirement: The minimum has increased to IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum 5.5 in each component), up from the previous 6.0 benchmark.
  • Genuine Student test for course changes: Enrolled students seeking to change courses or providers face enhanced scrutiny under the Genuine Student (GS) requirement — the course change must make logical sense given the applicant’s background and stated career goals.
  • Ministerial Direction 115 — traffic light model: Student visa processing speed is now linked to whether the applicant’s education provider is operating within its 2026 national planning level allocation. Students enrolling at providers who have exceeded their allocation may face materially longer processing times.

For all STUDENT VISA and Migration enquiries, call Phoenix Law & Associates +61731800908 | email – info@phoenix-law.com.au | Level 8, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. #StudentVisa #VisaHolders #phoenixlaw #brisbanelawyers #MultilingualLawyers #MigrationLaw #AustralianVisa

If You Are Currently Mid-Transition If you entered Australia on a visitor or graduate visa with the intention of switching to a student visa onshore, and have not yet lodged, the onshore pathway is now closed to you. You will need to depart Australia and lodge your student visa application offshore. Phoenix Law & Associates recommends seeking legal advice before taking any steps — including departure — as the sequence and timing of actions can affect your bridging visa status and your onshore lawful stay.

What happens to your online life when you’re gone ??  Your “stuff”? It’s not where it used to be!

An Estate used to be things you could hold. That’s not how it works now. It lives online, and your partner having some phone passwords is not a good plan. It won’t hold up.

If you have cryptocurrency;  an online business, a blended family or a carer for an aged parent, you really need to be talking to us. Reverse-engineering their or your online presence after passing is a nightmare. Most Wills contain none of this.  Take the 10-minute SELF REVIEW and check your situation here ;

Phoenix Law work with Queensland clients from first-time will-makers to families with substantial crypto holdings and online businesses. We can review your existing Will, draft proper digital asset provisions, help you build a secure access plan, and coordinate with your accountant on the tax side where it matters. CALL +61731800908 or email – info@phoenix-law.com.au | Level 8, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. #DigitalAssets #cryptocurrency #phoenixlaw #brisbanelawyers #MultilingualLawyers #AgedParents #BlendedFamily

What Happens to Your Online Life When You’re Gone? – A Queensland Guide to Digital Succession

Think about the last hour of your day yesterday. You probably checked your phone. Maybe replied to a few emails. Scrolled through some photos. Logged into your banking app. Perhaps you opened a crypto exchange to check a balance, posted on Instagram, or downloaded a file from the cloud.

Now think about your will. Does it say anything about any of that?

For most Queenslanders, the honest answer is “No”. And that’s the problem we want to talk about.

Your “stuff” isn’t where it used to be

A generation ago, an estate was mostly things you could touch. A house, a car, jewellery, bank books, share certificates, photo albums on a shelf. When someone passed away, the executor knew where to look because everything had a physical home.

That’s not how life works anymore. Today, a meaningful chunk of what you own — and a huge chunk of what matters to you — lives online. Photos sit in iCloud or Google Photos. Money moves through online-only bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets. Family memories are scattered across Facebook, Instagram, and group chats. Some Queenslanders run entire businesses out of an Etsy shop, a Shopify store, or a monetised YouTube channel. Others hold thousands of dollars in NFTs, gaming accounts, or domain names.

All of this is part of your estate. Almost none of it is automatically dealt with by a standard will.

A quick reality check on Queensland law

Queensland’s Succession Act 1981 was written when “online” wasn’t really a word. It doesn’t mention cryptocurrency, social media, or cloud storage anywhere. The courts treat digital assets as a form of intangible personal property, which means they get caught up in the usual rules about specific gifts and residue — but the Act offers no special pathway for accessing them.

The broader legal landscape, however, is finally moving. In April 2026, Australia’s first comprehensive digital assets law — the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act — received Royal Assent. It brings crypto exchanges and custody providers under the same Australian Financial Services Licence regime that governs banks and stockbrokers. For estates, this is genuinely helpful: where your crypto sits with a regulated Australian exchange, your executor will increasingly deal with a business that has formal protocols for deceased customers, much like a bank.

But — and it’s a big but — this only helps with assets held through licensed intermediaries. The moment you self-custody (your own wallet, your own seed phrase, your own hardware device), no regulator can compel anyone to give your family access. The blockchain doesn’t care about a grant of probate.

Why “I’ll just leave the passwords somewhere” isn’t a plan

Here’s a conversation we have all the time:

“Don’t worry, my partner knows my phone passcode.”

It sounds reassuring. It almost never holds up.

Phones now use biometric locks. Banking apps require two-factor authentication that texts a code to the locked phone. Crypto exchanges send verification codes to email accounts that are also locked. Many people use a password manager, but if no one knows the master password, the whole vault is sealed. We’ve seen families who knew exactly which exchange held their parent’s crypto, had the email login, and still couldn’t get in because they couldn’t intercept the SMS code being sent to a phone they couldn’t unlock.

The other common approach — writing passwords on a sticky note in the desk drawer — has the opposite problem. It works, but it’s also a security disaster while you’re alive. Anyone who walks past has the keys to your financial life.

A proper plan sits between these extremes: organised, secure, accessible to the right person at the right time, and updated as things change.

The four things every digital succession plan needs

We break it down for clients into four parts. None of them are complicated on their own. The trick is doing all four together.

One: a written inventory. Not your will — a separate, private document that lists what digital assets you actually have. Bank accounts, super logins, crypto holdings (and which wallets or exchanges they sit on), email accounts, social media, cloud storage, domain names, online businesses, subscription services with stored value, gaming accounts with purchases. You don’t need to value them. You need to make sure your executor knows they exist. You’d be amazed how often significant assets are discovered months after probate because no one knew where to look.

Two: an access plan. This is the practical bit — how does the right person actually get in? For most Queenslanders, the cleanest solution is a reputable password manager with an “emergency access” feature, where a nominated person can request access and receive it after a waiting period you set. For self-custodied crypto, the access plan needs to cover seed phrases and any hardware devices. The plan should also explain how to unlock your phone, because without that, two-factor authentication becomes an impenetrable wall.

Three: the will itself. This is where your solicitor comes in. Your will should specifically acknowledge digital assets, give your executor express authority to deal with them, and — for anything of real value — include specific bequests rather than letting them fall into residue. For larger crypto holdings, a testamentary trust can offer asset protection and tax planning advantages that an outright gift can’t. One critical point: passwords, PINs, and seed phrases should never go inside your will. Once probate is granted, your will becomes a public document. Anything sensitive needs to live in the separate access plan, not the will.

Four: the platform tools. The big tech companies have, slowly, built in their own legacy features. They’re not perfect, but they’re free and they save your family enormous amounts of stress.

The platform tools worth setting up this weekend

These take about 20 minutes total. They won’t replace a proper estate plan, but they fill gaps that no will can.

  • Apple Legacy Contact lets you nominate someone who, with an access key plus your death certificate, can retrieve your photos, messages, notes, and files from iCloud. It won’t give them access to saved passwords or purchased media, but for most families, the photos alone are priceless. Set it up under Settings → your name → Sign-In & Security → Legacy Contact.
  • Google’s Inactive Account Manager lets you choose what happens to your Gmail, Drive, and Photos after a period of inactivity you set (three to eighteen months). You can nominate up to ten trusted contacts to receive specific data. Find it at myaccount.google.com/inactive.
  • Facebook Legacy Contact lets a nominated person memorialise your account, pin a final post, and manage friend requests. Set it up under Settings → Memorialisation Settings.
  • Other platforms are inconsistent. Instagram and X have no legacy contact feature — accounts can only be memorialised or deleted on application by family. LinkedIn allows removal but no transfer of control. For these, the only practical option is making sure your executor has the login details through your access plan.

A few specific situations we see often

You hold cryptocurrency. Don’t assume your family will work it out. The single most common cause of permanent crypto loss in Australian estates is a seed phrase that was never written down, or was written down somewhere no one could find. If you self-custody, write the seed phrase on paper or metal, store it somewhere physically secure (not the same place as the hardware wallet), and make sure at least one trusted person knows it exists and how to access it.

You run an online business. Your Shopify store, Etsy shop, or monetised YouTube channel may be worth more than your car, but it’s tied to logins, payment processors, ABN registrations, supplier accounts, and customer lists that all need a handover plan. Without one, the business can be effectively destroyed within weeks of your death — even if the will leaves it to a capable family member.

You have a blended family. Digital assets are a common flashpoint in estate disputes because the rules are unclear and the values can be significant. Specific bequests and clear instructions reduce the risk of someone arguing later about who was meant to receive the crypto, the domain portfolio, or the monetised social accounts.

You’re a carer for an ageing parent. This is the situation we wish more families thought about earlier. Helping a parent set up legacy contacts, document their digital life, and review their will while they still can is far easier than reverse-engineering their online presence after they’ve passed.

The 10-minute self-check

If you can answer yes to all of these, you’re in good shape. If not, it’s time for a chat.

  • I have a current will that mentions digital assets.
  • Someone I trust knows what digital accounts and assets I hold.
  • Someone I trust could unlock my phone if they needed to.
  • My passwords are stored somewhere accessible to the right person at the right time — not written on paper at my desk, and not only in my head.
  • For any cryptocurrency I self-custody, there’s a secure record of how to access it.
  • I’ve set up legacy contacts on Apple, Google, and Facebook (whichever I use).
  • I’ve reviewed all of the above in the last twelve months.

Most people we see can tick maybe two or three. That’s normal — this is a new area, and the law and the technology have both moved faster than most estate plans. The point isn’t to feel guilty about gaps. The point is to close them.

How Phoenix Law can help

We work with Queensland clients across the spectrum — from first-time will-makers to families with substantial crypto holdings and online businesses — to make sure their estate plans actually reflect their lives in 2026. We can review your existing will, draft proper digital asset provisions, help you build a secure access plan, and coordinate with your accountant on the tax side where it matters.

The conversation is usually shorter than people expect, and the relief afterwards is usually bigger than people expect.

CALL +61731800908 or email – info@phoenix-law.com.au | Level 8, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. #DigitalAssets #cryptocurrency #phoenixlaw #brisbanelawyers #MultilingualLawyers #AgedParents #BlendedFamily

What should you do to give your relationship the best outcome ?  

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has published the April 2026 Partner Processing Newsletter — it shows a meaningful tightening of the evidentiary and procedural standards governing partner visa applications. Couples and sponsors who are planning to apply, or who already have a current application, need to understand what is now expected, and what they should do to protect their position. You usually have only one opportunity to get it right, the longest processing time, and a cost of AUD $12,000- $15,000 or more. Read more, and then work with Phoenix Law & Associates to ensure your application gives you the best possible chance of a positive outcome.

Key Takeaway

The Department is raising the bar on application quality and is explicitly putting applicants and their representatives on notice: you will generally receive only one opportunity to respond to a request for further information. There will be no routine follow-up requests. Applications that are not decision-ready at lodgement face a substantially elevated risk of refusal.

  1. Understanding the Two-Stage Partner Visa Pathway

Australia’s partner visa framework operates as a two-stage process. Whether you apply onshore or offshore determines the subclass pathway, but the underlying structure — and the evidentiary obligations — are the same:

  • Onshore pathway (Subclass 820 → 801): For applicants already in Australia on a valid visa. Lodgement typically results in the grant of a Bridging Visa, allowing the applicant to live, work, and access Medicare while processing is underway.
  • Offshore pathway (Subclass 309 → 100): For applicants outside Australia. The applicant must generally remain offshore for the decision on the temporary visa and can travel to Australia once Subclass 309 is granted.
  • Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300): For engaged couples not yet married. The applicant must marry within nine months of arrival and then transition to the Subclass 820/801 pathway.

In both primary pathways, both the temporary and permanent stages are paid for at the time of initial lodgement — a single, non-refundable fee that now sits at approximately AUD $9,365 for the main applicant, making this one of the most expensive visas in the Australian immigration system. Total out-of-pocket costs — including health examinations, police certificates, translations, and professional representation — typically range from AUD $12,000 to $15,000 or more.

The permanent stage assessment becomes available approximately two years after the original application is lodged and requires the couple to demonstrate that their relationship remains genuine and ongoing at that point. In some cases where a long-term relationship is established at the outset (generally three years together, or two years with a dependent child), both stages may be granted concurrently.

  1. What the Department Has Changed

The Department’s April 2026 Partner Processing Newsletter reflects findings from an internal review and sets out several significant operational changes. Phoenix Law & Associates recommends that all applicants and sponsors read these carefully.

One Chance to Respond — and That’s It

Perhaps the most consequential change in this newsletter is the explicit statement that where the Department issues a Request for Information (RFI) or a Natural Justice letter, that will be treated as the primary — and likely only — opportunity to address the matters raised. Follow-up or reminder requests will not routinely be issued.

If the response period expires without a reply, and no extension has been sought within that timeframe with reasons given, the Department may proceed to decide the application based solely on the information already available. This is not merely an administrative efficiency measure — it is a signal that incomplete or poorly-prepared applications may be refused without further engagement.

Stronger Evidence Required at Lodgement

The internal review identified that a significant number of applications were lodged with limited or insufficient evidence of a genuine and ongoing relationship. The Department’s message is unambiguous: adequate evidence must be in place at the time the application is lodged — not assembled reactively after a request is issued.

This evidence must be current. Stale evidence — photographs, bank statements, or statutory declarations that pre-date lodgement by years — will not adequately demonstrate that the relationship is continuing at the time of assessment.

ImmiAccount Is Now the Primary Contact Channel

The Department has reinforced that ImmiAccount is the preferred — and expected — method for all communications and document submissions. Emails sent to the partner visa mailbox will not be acted on quickly and will only receive a response in limited circumstances. Using multiple contact channels simultaneously (for instance, submitting both a webform and an email) does not expedite processing; it complicates case records and further delays outcomes.

Documents uploaded to ImmiAccount must be clearly labelled, accurately categorised, and logically organised. A disorganised document bundle is a processing delay waiting to happen.

Police Certificate Requirements Clarified for Permanent Stage

For applicants progressing to the permanent stage (Subclass 801 or 100), the Department has clarified the overseas police certificate requirements:

  • A police certificate from any country where the applicant has spent 12 months or more cumulatively in the last 10 years (and for which no prior clearance was provided) is required.
  • A new overseas certificate is required if the applicant has spent a cumulative 12 months or more in that country since the grant of their temporary partner visa.
  • Where character concerns exist, a new police certificate must be provided regardless of time spent overseas.
  • The two-month threshold applies to temporary partner visas only — it does not extend to permanent partner visa assessment.

Police certificates must be in order before the permanent stage assessment commences. Expired certificates are one of the most commonly cited causes of unnecessary delays at the permanent stage. Do not wait for the Department to prompt you.

Proactive Evidence Maintenance Required

For applications that have been under assessment for an extended period, the Department has issued clear guidance: relationship evidence should be actively maintained and refreshed. The recommendation is to update financial, household, and social evidence every six to twelve months, and to provide updated personal statements where circumstances have changed. This is particularly important given that processing times for partner visas currently sit at a median of approximately 17 months.

  1. Processing Realities – What You Should Expect in 2026

Partner visa processing times remain among the longest in the Australian immigration system. The current data paints a sobering picture for couples hoping for a swift resolution:

Visa PathwayTypical Range (Temporary Stage)90th Percentile
Subclass 820 (Onshore Temporary)12 – 20 monthsUp to 23 months
Subclass 309 (Offshore Temporary)12 – 20 monthsUp to 24 months
Subclass 801 / 100 (Permanent Stage)Assessed ~2 yrs after lodgementVaries by complexity
End-to-end total3 – 5 years (typical range)

The median processing time as of March 2026 is approximately 17 months for the provisional and temporary stages. The Department acknowledges that its focus on resolving older and more complex cases is temporarily inflating overall processing figures. There is no express lane — no mechanism to pay for faster processing in ordinary circumstances.

The practical consequence for applicants is that this process demands stamina, ongoing compliance, and active evidence management over a period of years — not months.

  1. What You Need to Be Doing: Applicant Checklist

In light of the Department’s April 2026 guidance, here is what every applicant should be doing — whether you are preparing to lodge or already have an application on foot.

Before Lodgement

  • Build a comprehensive evidence bundle from day one. Do not plan to supplement later. Address all four pillars of the relationship assessment: financial aspects, nature of the household, social aspects, and commitment to each other.
  • Ensure all identity documents are current and certified. Certified copies of birth certificates and passports must be included at the time of lodgement.
  • Check health and character requirements before proceeding. Reference current Department processing times to sequence health examinations and police certificates appropriately — there is no benefit in completing these too far in advance of likely assessment.
  • Organise and label every document correctly in ImmiAccount. Use clear, descriptive file names. Categorise accurately. A well-organised application signals professionalism and assists the assessing officer.
  • Ensure your sponsor’s information is complete and accurate. Missing or incomplete sponsor information is one of the Department’s commonly cited causes of processing delays.

While Your Application Is on Foot

  • Check ImmiAccount regularly. Do not rely on email notifications — log in frequently and respond to any correspondence promptly and within the specified timeframe.
  • If you receive an RFI or Natural Justice letter, treat it as your one chance. Respond fully, comprehensively, and within time. If you need more time, request an extension with reasons before the deadline passes.
  • Refresh your relationship evidence every 6–12 months. Update bank statements, lease agreements, photos, social evidence, and personal statements to ensure the file reflects your current circumstances.
  • Notify the Department of any changes in relationship circumstances. Failure to do so is a sponsor obligation and can have serious consequences for the application.
  • At the two-year mark, proactively submit updated information for the permanent stage. Do not wait for the Department to prompt you — eligible applicants and their representatives must initiate this through ImmiAccount.

Do Not…

Do not contact the Department via email or through multiple channels simultaneously. This does not accelerate processing and actively increases the risk of delays and complications to your file. Use ImmiAccount. If that is not possible, use the Partner processing enquiry form on the Department’s website.

  1. Sponsor Obligations: A Continuing Responsibility

Being a sponsor is not a passive role. The Department’s April 2026 newsletter reiterates that sponsors carry ongoing obligations throughout the life of the application — obligations that, if neglected, can directly jeopardise the outcome.

  • Keep your personal and contact details current in ImmiAccount. An out-of-date address or phone number means you may miss eligibility notifications — including the trigger for the permanent stage assessment.
  • Notify the Department promptly of any change in relationship circumstances. This includes separation, changes in living arrangements, or any other material development. The obligation to notify is ongoing and is not discretionary.
  • Provide updated information and documentation quickly – when requested. Sponsors who are slow or unresponsive to requests contribute to processing delays and can undermine the integrity of the application as a whole.
  • Understand that the Department scrutinises your criminal history. Sponsors with relevant criminal history — particularly relating to family violence or child abuse — may face additional character-based assessment hurdles that affect the application.
  1. Broader Implications for the Future

The April 2026 changes need to be read carefully, it reflects a deliberate shift in the Department’s approach to the partner visa caseload. Several themes emerge.

The “Front-Loading” Imperative

The Department is effectively requiring applicants and their representatives to front-load the work. The days of lodging a basic application with the intent to supplement it reactively after receiving requests are over. The expectation is that applications arrive complete, well-organised, and supported by comprehensive current evidence. This substantially raises the cost and effort required at the outset — but it is the only reliable way to reduce the risk of refusal.

Integrity Focus is Intensifying

The internal review that prompted this newsletter identified widespread deficiencies in evidence quality. This suggests the Department is actively auditing application quality and may be directing case officers to apply heightened scrutiny to under-evidenced files. The partner visa programme has always been subject to close examination — applications that raise credibility concerns (age gaps, short relationships, inconsistencies in the timeline, or limited shared financial life) will face deeper scrutiny, including potential consideration of Public Interest Criterion 4020 (fraud and misrepresentation).

The Cost of Getting It Wrong Has Never Been Higher

With a non-refundable application fee of approximately AUD $9,365, total costs commonly exceeding $12,000 to $15,000 when all associated expenses are included, and processing times measured in years rather than months, the consequences of a refusal are severe — financially, emotionally, and practically. A refused application does not simply mean reapplying. It may trigger the application of PIC 4020, a character assessment, or AAT review proceedings, each carrying their own costs and timelines.

Professional legal advice at the outset is not a luxury in this environment. It is the most cost-effective risk mitigation available.

LASTLY,…

How Phoenix Law & Associates Can Assist

Phoenix Law & Associates has extensive experience in preparing and managing partner visa applications across all stages and subclasses. In light of the Department’s April 2026 guidance, we strongly recommend that applicants and sponsors seek early legal advice — before lodgement, not after receiving a request for information.

Our approach includes a thorough pre-lodgement review of all evidence against the four pillars of the relationship assessment, strategic advice on sequencing health and character requirements, careful organisation and categorisation of documents in ImmiAccount, proactive management of ongoing evidence obligations throughout the processing period, and representation in responding to RFIs and Natural Justice letters.

If you have an existing application on foot and are uncertain whether your evidence file is current and adequate — particularly in light of the Department’s new expectations — we encourage you to contact us for a file review.

The partner visa pathway is one of the most demanding in Australian immigration law. The April 2026 news makes it clear that the margin for error is narrowing. Phoenix Law & Associates is here to ensure your application gives your relationship the best possible chance of a positive outcome.  Call +61731800908  or email info@phoenix-law.com.au | Level 8, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane.  https://www.phoenix-law.com.au/ We are MULTILINGUAL LAWYERS and will look after you with warmth and professionalism. #PartnerVisa @DHA #phoenixlaw #brisbanelawyers #MultilingualLawyers #SouthAfricanLawyers #Spanishspeaking #JapaneseLawyers #ChineseLawyers #KoreanLawyers

Traditionally in Australia, spouses or de facto partners of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen must prove a genuine and continuing relationship, requiring at least 12 months of de facto or registered relationship evidence, living together with a mutual commitment to a shared life.

But when faced with an appeal about a relationship between a 90-year old man and his Indonesian de facto partner, Ms Angkawijaya aged almost 60, the Full Federal Court recently considered whether there must be love and affection for there to be a genuine spousal or de facto relationship.

Is a mutual commitment to a shared life enough?

The Angkawijaya Case of 2016, and the True Test of a De Facto Partner Relationship shows that “Love”, whilst warmly appealing and compelling, is not a qualification for the grant of a partner visa.

For Australian migration law, the case of Angkawijaya v Minister was a landmark for Immigration and Border Protection. The Full Federal Court, in its 2016 judgment, emphasised that the central concern under the Migration Act is whether the couple shares a mutual commitment to a shared life, not the intensity of their emotional connection.  

The circumstances were not straightforward, or line up with what the Tribunal expected to see in a relationship. When Ms Angkawijaya was asked about the reason for her partner visa application, she said that “she loved [Mr Limberiou] and she loved people generally” and that when she was asked if she loved him more than she loved people generally she said that she “loves all” and “loves everybody”.

Given her ambivalence and other concerns, about the significant age difference and unconventional dynamics, the Tribunal concluded that it was not satisfied that the couple had a mutual commitment to a shared life together. The Tribunal held that a de facto relationship which in the circumstances of this case did not include love and affection was not and could not be a de facto relationship within s 5CB(2) of the Act

In essence, the relationship was judged on personal values, rather than on statutory requirements. The Full Federal Court held that, “A couple may have a commitment to each other to a shared life together as partners in the absence of what one might call emotional or romantic love.”

Statutory Requirements –  the law doesn’t demand Valentines

The Full Federal Court decisively overturned that determining that emotional intimacy is relevant but not determinative. Judge Driver emphasized that the law requires a holistic assessment under Regulation 1.09A, which mandates consideration of all relevant circumstances—not just sentimental ones. In the court’s view: “A couple may have a commitment to each other to a shared life together as partners in the absence of what one might call emotional or romantic love, just a genuine, ongoing, and exclusive commitment to building life together.

Is being in love necessary for marriage ( or a de facto Relationship?)

Examining our own attitudes towards this is interesting. It may be that compatibility and shared values: mutual respect, understanding, and shared goals can be just as important as romantic love, especially in the long term. A stable relationship can thrive on friendship, trust, and shared experiences. Many other cultures may see these values as important.

Phoenix Law and Associates are Family Law and Immigration Law specialists. This case is important as it demonstrates;

  1. For partner visa applicants, it’s important to record solid evidence; as financial interdependence, joint household arrangements, social recognition, plans for the future, can outweigh emotional ambiguity. Demonstrating a shared life project and mutual interdependence – these are the legal markers that matter most.
  2. Legally, it reinforces that decision-makers must not let personal value judgments trump legal criteria—it ensures fairness across diverse relationship types.
  3. For society generally;  It anchors the legal legitimacy of non-traditional, pragmatic, or caring-focused partnerships in migration processes. No matter how unconventional a couple may appear, the law judges the shared journey, not the passion behind it.

For friendly expert advice on Immigration and Family Law, talk to PHOENIX LAW & ASSOCIATES multilingual lawyers.  CALL +61731800908 or email info@phoenix-law.com.au | Level 8, 320 Adelaide Street, Brisbane #JapaneseLawyers #KoreanLawyters #ChineseLawyers #southafrican  #SkilledMigration  #immigrationaustralia  #SpanishSpeaking #crossborderlegalmatters

The landscape of worker visas is undergoing a seismic shift, with chicken farmers and music instructors finding favour, while traditional roles like chefs and managers are left off the list. We may see the new era of the Skills in Demand Visa, slated to replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) Visa in 2024. This new visa promises a four-year stint for skilled workers across three distinct streams, paving the way for Permanent Residency for all eligible applicants.

The government’s aim to streamline employer-sponsored visas hit a snag with the unveiling of the initial job list, drawing concern from sectors like construction facing acute labour shortages. Despite assurances of prioritising migrants with sought-after skills, the draft list raised eyebrows among employer groups and international students alike.

Under the Skills in Demand Visa umbrella, three pathways emerge: the Specialist Skills Pathway, catering to top-tier professionals commanding a minimum salary of $135,000; the Core Skills Pathway, featuring an updated occupation roster and a salary threshold starting at $70,000; and the Essential Skills Pathway, tailored for lower-wage earners.

While IT professionals and accountants may find themselves initially sidelined, salvation could come in the form of a government proposal granting visas to individuals earning over $130,000, regardless of their field. However, the Hospitality sector stands poised to challenge this plan, underscoring the vital role migration plays in sustaining many eateries and cafes.

Acknowledging the labyrinthine complexity of the current visa system, newly appointed ministers have pledged a simplified approach, echoing Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil’s sentiment on untangling the “bowl of spaghetti” comprising convoluted visa classes and eligibility criteria.

December ushered in a clearer roadmap, condensing work visas into three streamlined streams. The top tier beckons migrants with prospective employers willing to shell out over $130,000, offering a visa irrespective of occupation. On the flip side, those earning below $70,000 may secure visas under specific circumstances, such as in aged care. For earners falling between the $70,000-$130,000 bracket, entry hinges on a revamped jobs list spotlighting high-demand skills and scarce expertise.

Gaining an Australian Visa may be a very complex business. Phoenix Law & Associates have skilled migration lawyers to assist you, who speak your language and understand your culture – Urdu, Hindi, Pashtu, Farsi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese – English, Portuguese, and Romanian – to help you.

CALL 1800GETHELP | Level 16, 300 Adelaide St, Brisbane City| https://www.phoenix-law.com.au/ #WorkerVisa #Migration #AustraliaVisa #BrisbaneLawyers #Urdu #Hindi #Pashtu #Mandarin #Cantonese #Korean #Japanese #Portuguese #Romanian #FamilyLaw

Sumérjase en una celebración de la cultura hispana. Vea el programa completo en https://www.facebook.com/spanishfilmfestival

y cuando necesite ayuda con asuntos legales ? ¡Phoenix Law & Associates habla su idioma ! LLAMENOS AHORA +61 (07) 3180 0908 | 1800-GET-HELP |e; info@phoenix-law.com.au |Nivel 16 300 Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD.

La noche de apertura comienza con los muy vistos Antonio Banderas y Penélope Cruz en un estreno australiano – Competencia Oficial. Cuando un rompecorazones de Hollywood y un actor de teatro radical se juntan, las chispas saltan en esta comedia juguetona y afilada que ridiculiza la riqueza, el arte y el orgullo.

A un click de distancia (Language Lessons) es una comedia premiada sobre una profesora de español y su alumno. La estrella más destacada ? Penélope Cruz en sus tres propuestas, dos de ellas protagonizadas también por su marido en la vida real, Javier Bardem. El dúo más oscarizado de España, hizo historia este año, (junto con Kirsten Dunst y su otra mitad, Jesse Plemons) cuando ambos fueron nominados en los Oscar de 2022.

Visita https://www.facebook.com/spanishfilmfestival/videos/1074077506513916 para participar en un concurso que te llevará durante 18 días a España, Portugal y Marruecos. Es un viaje para dos personas con fecha de salida en 2023.

Accidentes laborales – Especialmente en un entorno industrial, el lugar de trabajo puede ser peligroso, pero eso es sólo una parte del panorama. Hay numerosos factores, que van desde el sobreesfuerzo hasta la mala manipulación de materiales peligrosos, y una multitud de variables que pueden contribuir o influir en un incidente laboral.

Dado el gran número de horas que se pasan en el lugar de trabajo, las lesiones son desgraciadamente habituales, pero no siempre se trata de una negligencia. Si sufres una lesión en el trabajo, puedes reclamar una indemnización. Busque inmediatamente atención médica para sus lesiones y luego un abogado experto en indemnizaciones podrá ayudarle.

Levantamiento
Con demasiada frecuencia, los empleados intentan levantar un objeto demasiado pesado por sí mismos, por lo que son propensos a sufrir esguinces, distensiones o desgarros musculares. No hay nada malo en pedir ayuda con los objetos que son difíciles de levantar. El sobreesfuerzo puede producirse al levantar, empujar, tirar, sujetar, transportar o lanzar objetos. La lesión por esfuerzo repetitivo (RSI) describe el daño y el dolor causados por el movimiento repetitivo y el uso excesivo y no se limita sólo a los operadores de ordenadores y teclados.

Pueden ocurrir accidentes terribles al manejar maquinaria pesada.

Por desgracia, y a veces de forma trágica, en las obras de construcción, las fábricas, las industrias y las explotaciones agrícolas, el cuerpo puede sufrir daños por las máquinas. Las lesiones más comunes asociadas a las máquinas son el aplastamiento, el corte, el cizallamiento, la perforación, la abrasión, las quemaduras, el desgarro, el estiramiento o una combinación de dos o más de estos. Otras lesiones comunes son las descargas eléctricas, la pérdida de audición y la mala salud por la liberación de sustancias peligrosas o la falta de oxígeno.

Las lesiones por choque e impacto pueden incluir a vehículos, máquinas o maquinaria del lugar de trabajo, pero suelen estar asociadas a los empleados que conducen vehículos de motor por motivos de trabajo. Una vez más, busque atención médica inmediatamente, y luego hable con nuestro experimentado equipo de indemnización.

Fatiga, estrés y distracción.

Para recuperarse de un trabajo manual extenuante, es esencial que los empleados hagan las pausas adecuadas. No hacerlo puede provocar una serie de problemas físicos, como la atrofia y el agotamiento general. Los resultados de cualquiera de ellos pueden ser mucho más devastadores que tomarse un descanso de 10 minutos.

La fatiga, el estrés y el cansancio en el lugar de trabajo pueden provocar agotamiento, falta de atención y, finalmente, una lesión laboral. Incluso los empleados bien descansados pueden fatigarse en el trabajo, por lo que los empresarios deben asegurarse de que los empleados se tomen descansos a intervalos regulares.

Los empleados que no están en el estado mental o físico adecuado para un trabajo tienen más probabilidades de lesionarse. Las distracciones en el trabajo son como estar fatigado y estresado. Es imposible que los trabajadores realicen su trabajo con todo su potencial si están distraídos. No es raro escuchar historias de trabajadores lesionados en el trabajo porque se distrajeron mientras estaban en el trabajo.

Materiales peligrosos

La manipulación inadecuada de materiales peligrosos o el no uso de equipos de protección personal (EPP) es una causa común de accidentes en el lugar de trabajo, y puede dar lugar a lesiones por sustancias químicas y quemaduras. Si se leen las hojas de datos de seguridad de los materiales y se proporciona el atuendo de protección adecuado, se pueden evitar los incidentes en el lugar de trabajo. La exposición a sustancias químicas abrasivas o peligrosas puede suponer un riesgo de reacciones cutáneas u oculares y lesiones potencialmente más graves. Los empresarios deben asegurarse de que los empleados que trabajan con productos químicos peligrosos disponen del equipo de seguridad adecuado, como gafas y guantes.

Mala limpieza en el entorno de trabajo.

Todo el mundo tiene derecho a un lugar de trabajo seguro;
La iluminación inadecuada suele pasarse por alto cuando se intentan evitar los accidentes en el almacén o el lugar de trabajo.

Los tropezones y las caídas pueden atribuirse a los suelos resbaladizos y a los pasillos con mucho tráfico, así como al calzado inadecuado. Representan el 33% de todas las lesiones personales, y son una de las principales causas de todas las reclamaciones de indemnización de los trabajadores. Los problemas más comunes son las lesiones de cabeza, espalda y cuello, las fracturas de huesos, los cortes, los esguinces y los tirones musculares. Los trabajadores que sufren lesiones durante su trabajo pueden tener derecho a reclamar una indemnización por daños y perjuicios. Es fundamental ponerse en contacto con nosotros lo antes posible.

La falta de equipos de seguridad, una formación deficiente y unos procedimientos de seguridad inadecuados pueden contribuir a que se produzcan accidentes con repercusiones físicas y emocionales en los trabajadores, al tiempo que crean importantes implicaciones financieras también para el empresario.

Violencia laboral y acoso

Lamentablemente, la violencia entre compañeros de trabajo se ha vuelto demasiado común. Suele estar provocada por la política de la oficina u otras cuestiones delicadas. La integración de la resolución de conflictos y la mediación entre compañeros puede ayudar a reducir los riesgos de esos estallidos. El exceso de trabajo, el estrés y el acoso laboral pueden causar lesiones psicológicas graves y duraderas.

¿No está seguro de tener derecho a una indemnización?

Según nuestra experiencia, es más que probable que tenga derecho a ella. Nuestros abogados expertos en lesiones personales en Brisbane y QLD pueden ayudarle ahora.  PHOENIX LAW & ASSOCIATES gestionan las reclamaciones en el sistema ‘No Win No fee’ es decir, no cobra honorarios a menos que ganemos su caso. Contacto 1800 438 435

A Sydney bus driver has been awarded compensation after an altercation with a train station attendant who refused to let him use the toilet, leaving him “extremely stressed and upset” in May 2021 in Campbelltown.

He arrived at Macarthur Station in the early hours of the morning needing “to do one and two”, but found the toilets locked as the train station attendant would not unlock the toilet doors, saying he had not had a chance to clean them.

After pleading several times, the driver turned away, and the attendant “pushed him on his back”. The attendant eventually unlocked the toilet, and the driver later completed an injury report form, describing it as “assault”.

He told the commission the incident and subsequent disciplinary meetings at work had exacerbated his anxiety and depression. The driver lodged a claim with Transdev’s worker’s compensation insurer GIO for medical expenses, being $900 for consultations with a psychologist and $3240 for future appointments, also with a psychologist.

GIO disputed the claim. The matter was heard before the commission, which this month ruled in the driver’s favour. “I am satisfied that the applicant sustained a psychological injury on May 2, 2021,” senior member Kerry Haddock said. “That injury was an aggravation of a disease, to which his employment was the main contributing factor.” She noted the driver’s supervisor described him as an “excellent worker”. “I accept that the treatment proposed is appropriate,” she said
This story will resonate with any Australians working long hours away from the home.

If you have suffered a similar incident, please talk to our expert personal injury lawyers in Brisbane & QLD now. PHOENIX LAW & ASSOCIATES run claims on a No Win-No Fee Basis. CALL US NOW +61 (07) 3180 0908 |or 1800-GET-HELP |e; info@phoenix-law.com.au |Level 16  300 Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD.

#psychological injury #workerinjury #compensationlawyers #personalinjurylawyers

Devolución de los gastos de solicitud de visado: Estudiantes y portadores de Working Holiday Visa. (Refunds for Students and Working Holiday Makers arriving in Australia )

El Gobierno australiano ofrece un incentivo para que los estudiantes y los portadores del Working Holiday Visa que estén completamente vacunados viajen a Australia lo antes posible.

(If you are an eligible Student or Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa holder and you arrive in Australia within a specified period you may also be able to claim a refund of the Visa Application Charge. For more information see Working Holiday Makers and Students. For further information about other refund provisions, see Getting a refund. )

Como parte de este incentivo, los titulares de visados de estudiante y del Working Holiday recibirán un reembolso del primer tramo de la tasa de solicitud de visado pagada en relación con ese visado.

Elegibilidad

En el caso de los estudiantes, serás elegible* a la devolución de la tasa de solicitud de visado pagada en relación con ese visado si:

• es titular de un visado de estudiante válido (subclases 500, 560, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574 o 575), y
• llega a Australia con ese visado entre el 19 de enero de 2022 y el 19 de marzo de 2022.

En el caso de los aplicantes del Working Holiday, usted tendrá derecho* a la devolución de la tasa de solicitud de visado pagada en relación con ese visado si:

• eres titular de Working Holiday/Work and Holiday válido (subclases 417 o 462), y
• llega a Australia con esa visa entre el 19 de enero de 2022 y el 19 de abril de 2022.

Cómo solicitar el reembolso

Si cumples con estos criterios de elegibilidad, puedes crear una cuenta y acceder desde esta página:
Visa Refund Portal – Visa Refund Portal (homeaffairs.gov.au)

No es necesario que te apresures a presentar tu solicitud. Siempre que sea titular de un visado de estudiante o del Working Holiday, haya pagado la tasa de solicitud de visado y no haya solicitado ya una exención o un reembolso, y llegue con ese visado dentro de los plazos especificados, podrá solicitar el reembolso. Puede presentar una solicitud en cualquier momento hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2022.

Para recibir el reembolso lo antes posible, es recomendable que lo ingrese en una cuenta bancaria australiana o en una tarjeta de crédito válida, en lugar de hacerlo mediante una transferencia internacional.

Póngase en contacto con nosotros inmediatamente para obtener más informaciones sobre migración y visa. Llame al 07 3180 0908 o 1800GETHELP e ; info@phoenix-law.com.au #visa #brisbane #studentvisa #workingholidayvisa #austrália