New Laws for Hong Kong Passport Holders
The time has come. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 09 July 2020 on new visa arrangements for Hong Kong passport holders, a new legislative instrument has been released and registered in relation to current visa holders and prospective visa applicants for Subclass 457/482 and subclass 485.
What is the New Law for Hong Kong Nationals?
In summary, the changes are:
For current subclass 457/482/485 visa holders, their visa period will be extended to 08 July 2025. No new application/renewal is required.
For prospective subclass 457/482/485 visa applicants (or those who have lodged the application and currently waiting for decision), the visa will be granted to five years.
Family members as the secondary applicant will get the same visa period as the primary applicant, regardless of their nationality/passport.
The Prime Minister has also announced on 09 July 2020 that there will be permanent residence pathway at the end of the five-year period, however, this has not been covered under the instrument. It is expected for further development/announcement to occur.
If you are a Hong Kong passport holder, or you have a family member who holds Hong Kong passport, watch this space for the next development. If you are unsure on how the above will impact you, whether you need to take any action, or if you simply wish to plan your migration pathways, contact our office for assistance.
How Can Agape Henry Crux Help You
If you want to find out more about your eligibility or need advice on your Australian migration matter, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can book a Migration Planning Session with one of our immigration lawyers to seek professional advice by calling 02-7200 2700 or email us to book in a time at info@ahclawyers.com.
We speak fluent English, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian, Burmese and Malay. If these aren’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact our office.