Visa and policy changes
Australia plans wider No Further Stay condition for visitor visas
The Government plans to introduce a No Further Stay condition across visitor visas. Here is what the proposal could mean, how the rollout is described and what travellers should check.
What to know
- The Government plans to introduce a No Further Stay condition across all visitor visas, to help ensure they are used for genuine visits rather than as a pathway to extend a stay.
- Home Affairs says migration changes have begun and will be progressively rolled out over the next 12 months; its public summary does not give a measure-specific start date or subclass-by-subclass detail for this change.
- A No Further Stay condition generally prevents applications for most temporary and permanent visas from within Australia. A waiver can be requested in limited circumstances.
- The Home Affairs Minister said this change concerns future visa grants and would not affect people already in Australia when it was announced.
- Travellers should check the visa grant notice and VEVO for the conditions attached to their own visa.
What has the Government announced?
The Department of Home Affairs says the Government plans to introduce a No Further Stay condition across all visitor visas. The stated aim is to keep visitor visas for genuine visits rather than use as a pathway to extend a stay in Australia.
The Department says the broader migration changes have begun and will be progressively rolled out over the next 12 months. Its public policy summary does not specify when this particular measure will start or list the affected visitor visa subclasses one by one.
What a No Further Stay condition can mean
Home Affairs says a No Further Stay condition means a person generally cannot apply for most temporary or permanent visas while in Australia. A waiver request may be available in limited circumstances, but requesting one does not itself waive the condition.
The condition does not mean every visitor visa holder currently has it. Check the individual visa grant notice or Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) to see the conditions attached to a visa.
Who may be affected by the planned change?
In his 17 September announcement, the Minister said the measure is about future visa grants and would have no impact on people already in Australia at that time. The Department has not yet published a measure-specific start date or subclass-by-subclass implementation detail on its policy summary page.
The proposal is separate from any No Further Stay condition already attached to an individual visa. People currently in Australia should continue to follow the conditions on their own grant.
What travellers should check
Before booking travel or making plans to remain longer, read the visa grant notice and check the current conditions in VEVO. Do not assume a visitor visa can be extended or that another onshore visa application will be available.
Follow the Department of Home Affairs for implementation details as the policy is rolled out. The rules and available options depend on the condition attached to the individual visa and the person’s circumstances.