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What are the details of Australia’s new visa program for Hong Kong passport holders?

I learned that Australia has reformed its visa policies for Hong Kong passport holders. What are the changes? I actually hold two passports, one issued by Hong Kong as a permanent resident and one issued by mainland China as a citizen. Will my applications be prioritized by the immigration authorities?


Answers
  • Regis Gateways Pty Ltd
    September 17, 2020

    Australia is looking at attracting various groups of people- the highly skilled and business investors/owners, as well as companies from Hong Kong seeking to relocate their operations to this country. Current Hong Kong passport holders who are also Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa holders and family members who held this visa on or before July 8, 2020 will enjoy an extended stay to a new end date of July 8, 2025. Any future Hong Kong passport holders who are granted this visa will also automatically have a 5-year stay visa. Likewise, the abovementioned privileges are granted to subclass 482 and 457 temporary work visa holders. They will all also be entitled to new visa arrangements for future opportunities to remain with pathways to permanent residency.

  • September 11, 2020

    Current and future students from Hong Kong will be eligible for a 5-year temporary graduate visa once they successfully complete eligible tertiary studies. These graduates will also have a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years. These future temporary skilled visa holders will also be eligible for a 5-year visa with a pathway to permanent residency. Future applicants from Hong Kong for temporary skilled visas will be eligible for a 5-year visa, if they have qualifications listed on the occupational skills lists and meet Labour Market Testing requirements, or qualify through the Global Talent temporary visa scheme, which is for exceptional talent where the sponsoring employer pays above the Fair Work High Income Threshold of​ $153,600.

  • Australian Visa Options
    September 18, 2020

    Hong Kong passport holders are now able to stay for 5 years when they are granted a Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage and Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visas after July 9, 2020. The permanent residency pathways for these visa holders will be announced at a later date.