Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced earlier today that Australia will rebate visa application fees for students and backpackers for at least the next three months.
This becomes effective immediately as the country works to fill critical worker shortages due to COVID-19.
Overseas students arriving in Australia will have their visa rebated at a cost of $630 per student for the next eight weeks and will be organised via the Department of Home Affairs.
There are currently around 150,000 students overseas who have an approved visa to study in Australia and 23,500 backpackers overseas who have existing visas to enter the country.
“What we’ll be doing is we will be rebating the visa application fees from all those who arrive today,” the PM told reporters.
“My message to them is come on down,” he said.
“We want you to come to Australia and enjoy a holiday here in Australia – move all the way around the country and, at the same time, join our workforce.”