• expired

Visa Application Fee Refunds and Waivers via Department of Home Affairs [Various Conditions and Fee Waived]

1640

Seems like a good deal for few people who were planning to travel to Aus.. if not, please delete / move to forums..

Due to Covid if your loved ones couldn't come to Australia while having a valid visa and if it expired during certain period they can get refunds or new application fee waived. There are various visa types and conditions associated with it. For e.g.

Visitors Visa [ Can save AUD145 per applicant if below conditions satisfy]

You may be eligible for a VAC waiver (no fee) when you apply for a new Visitor (subclass 600) visa (except in the Frequent Traveller stream) if:

  • you are outside Australia and
  • you hold, or have previously held, a Visitor (subclass 600) visa that:
    • we granted outside Australia before 21 March 2020
    • expired, or will expire, between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2022
    • was a multiple entry visa, or a single entry visa that was not used for travel to Australia

You must make your new application online by 31 December 2022 through ImmiAccount.

If you receive a VAC waiver on the basis of being affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions and your Visitor visa is granted or refused, you are not eligible to apply for another Visitor visa with a VAC waiver.

Tell us in your online application form that you held a previous Visitor visa impacted by COVID-19 related travel restrictions. If we confirm your eligibility, you will not need to pay the VAC when you submit your application.

You can still apply for a visa to visit Australia, but you may not be able to enter Australia now. Check the latest information about travel restrictions and safe travel zones.

Related Stores

Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government
Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government

closed Comments

  • +27

    The've been rejecting the reapplications, when you tick you couldn't use previous visa and redeem the free resubmission. Had to reapply my in-laws twice (paid the second time) approved the second time. Ducking cheats.

    Edit: Did i mention appeal charges are $3000 while fresh application is ~$150?

    • My in laws had their visa approved in 2020 but couldn’t travel due to the border closure. Can I reapply again without fees? Is that what I’m reading?

      • I actually got to know about it from my mate who had same issue.. if you meet criteria you don't pay the fee.. he saved $145 x 3ppl and ironically the visitor visa was somehow approved in less than 24 hrs..

      • Yes. A relative of ours had a three year visa that ended mid 2020. Applied for a new visa using this option and got a new visa issued for another 3 years few of charge

        • @aj3000 How long did it take for them to process the visa application?

          • @AceP: I applied for my parents in Oct 2021. Visa fees was waived off. Got the visa in around 4 weeks which also included medical tests

            • @rohichan: Thank you for sharing @rohichan

        • Can you get a 3 year visitor visa? I thought there was a maximum of 1 year for a visitor visa?

          • @BluebirdV: Yes it's a 3 year visa with max 1 year stay at a time

            • @rohichan: Thanks for that. Yeah I thought tourists can only stay 12 months in an 18 month period. Quite often the visa condition has a 3 month multiple entry so you have to keep leaving and re-entering. Can you create an immi account for a family member and apply for them? Do you have a link to where you can apply for it?

    • +1

      Not sure what your issue was.. my mate had a issue where old visa number was not recognised.. He emailed Immi technical support and in a week they sorted it for him.. applied for 3 family members and saved $435

  • Can I get a refund from WA? Asking for a friend…

    • +27

      Republic of Perth have a different system so no.

      • +6

        Hi there, just a reminder we are not a republic we are the Kingdom of Western Australia and our ruler is HRH King-Emperor McGowan I. God save the King!

        • Until you suddenly turn against him, the same way as the last one (Barnett).

  • +4

    Wouldn't it be nice if Peter Dutton and his bunch of useless cronies could approve my partner's Working Holiday Visa extension application from August 2020.. It's getting beyond a joke at this point.. We'll probably die of old age before we hear anything.

    • +5

      Or my wife's sons offshore visa applied for when he was 9 in 2019. Immi are pigs

    • +1

      I think Dutton got shuffled on to Dad's Army. Immigration matters now sit with Alex Hawke (Immigration) and Karen Andrews (Home Affairs), both about as (in)capable as Dutton.

  • +14

    What about our passports? 2 years we couldn’t use them, how about a discount on the next renewal? We already have about the most expensive passport in the world.

    • How much is an aussie passport?

      • $308 for 10-yr validity, so getting 60 bucks off is not too shabby

      • Land of Oz has 2nd most expensive passport after Turkey. We got screwed again.

    • I agree.

      • +3

        New Passport renewal fee should be discounted pro rata based on previous expired date and border closure date.

    • let’s not forget car registration and insurance.
      i think i’ve done about 2000km in 2 years

  • +13

    For everything else there's Mastercard

    • +3

      But a Visa takes you places

      • …except to the Amazon (well, until recently…)

      • +2

        Djokovic would like a word

        • +2

          Hey he got to check out some hotels

  • +1

    Definitely handy.
    Thanks OP!

  • -7

    Not a bargain. This information was there for ages for those who could use a visa during the COVID.

    • +5

      Not everyone was aware of this info.

      So it’s definitely a deal.

      • -3

        Who could not come*

        Not even a deal, just a good gesture from DOHA.

        • +2

          Oh dear.
          All such gestures are considered good bargains for us.
          Oh dear

  • -4

    nothing about home affair and immi is a bargain, sorry OP

  • -1

    Nothing from the government will ever be a deal because you will pay back in some way or form in future.

  • +1

    Can I get my insane $4045 visa application fees back 😒

    • Was that for a skilled work or business innovation visa?

      • 190

    • -3

      Why did you pay it then? Seems like you decided it was reasonable value at the time

  • +2

    First time seeing a deal for DHA, lmao.

  • My Parents had a visitor visa 600 granted in 2018 but visa expired in 2021.It was a multiple entry visa.

    They came to visit me once in 2018. I just wanted to know if we are still eligible for the VAC waiver ??

    • read each dot points above.. if you fit all then yes..

    • No

    • +1

      Yes, i had same situation and paid no visa fees on re-application for parents. Already got the visa as well few days ago.

  • So, the multiple entry visa holders who have visited once are still eligible, right?

    • Yes

      • I wonder when you have applied, how long did it take them to tell you that you are eligible for the waiver? Is it automatic or need to wait for a human to take a look? Cheers.

        • +1

          as my mate said (and in description above copied from their website ).. when you apply for new visitor visa.. there is a section to fill in if you are eligible for VAC waiver and asks you for your old / expired visa grant number.. then when you move forward it checks and automatically allows you to go through.. else gives you an error that you are not eligible.. then you simply complete the form and it doesn't ask for any fees and submits.

          If its automatic.. not sure if someone still checks.. doubt it as submission checks and doesn't asks for fee. So don't think the visa granting officer will check and reject for fee not paid.

          • @its: Thanks for the info, just don't want to have to wait for a few days/weeks for someone to check on eligibility before being able to submit.

  • Will I still be able to take benefit of this deal if the passport had to be renewed due to expiry of passport? I understand the previous visa will be linked to the old passport. Will Aus Immi be able to identify my parents with the new passport? Any thoughts?

    • Hmm same here. I am going to put in the details and check tomo. I think it should accept as its based on the visa immi number and not the passport alone.

      Well fingers crossed it does. Will let u know how I go.

      • Pls Do let us know how long it took and whether it worked.

  • Useless cronies, they are the worst. My citizenship has not been granted, applied in October 2020.

    • +2

      But why would they give citizenship to a crazyguy??

      • Hahaha nice one..

  • If only UKVI were this generous. I had my UK visa approved weeks before covid hit and borders closed. Trying to get a response from them, let alone a refund for my unused visa, has been a complete nightmare.

  • I wonder if this will work for my 5 year old 820 visa 😂

  • Unresolved Reports
    2 for Illegal/Inappropriate

    Huh?

  • Afternoon All,

    This might be a little off topic, but just wondering if anyone knows what I should do. I applied/sent through a Visitor Visa (600) for my sister in law in Feb 2020. Its now Feb 2022 (duh!) I know this whole Covid crap shut the world down etc and this affects processing times, but it just seems excessive.
    Question is
    A) Do I wait longer?
    B) Should I reapply?

    Any input is appreciated.
    Thanks!

    • We are in the same boat. Applied for Visitor Visa in Feb 2020 and still no outcome. I think you will have to get an exemption for travel and request the immigration office to process further.

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