The covid visa stream of sub-class 408 was introduced during the pandemic when international borders were closed. It enabled temporary entrants who were unable to leave Australia to maintain their lawful status and keep working. They could apply for a 12 month covid stream visa and then apply for another one if they wished.

It was originally available to temporary entrants whose substantive visa was due to expire within the next 28 days and were working in or had a job offer in a critical sector such as aged or health care, agriculture, disability care, child care or food processing. It was eventually extended to work in any sector.

I expected that this visa stream would be closed to new applications when international borders re-opened........

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