Visas extended for Ukrainians – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

Ukrainian nationals will be offered priority access to short and long term visa pathways as the federal government moves to end uncertainty over the looming deadline for a previous scheme designed to provide them refuge in Australia. Ukrainian refugees in Australia have been offered new visa options to ensure pathways stay open to those fleeing the Russian invasion.

Ukraine nationals seeking refuge in Australia have been offered new visa options to ensure short and long-term pathways stay open to those fleeing the Russian invasion.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles announced the decision days before a temporary humanitarian visa scheme introduced by the Morrison government ends on 31 July. Ukrainians unable to return home or access any other visa — such as skilled, family, student and visitor visas — will now be able to apply for bridging or protection visas.

Mr Giles has twice extended the visa scheme for two weeks — when it was due to end in June as well as in mid-July. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles announced the decision days before a temporary humanitarian visa scheme introduced by the Morrison government ends on 31 July (SBS).

Ukrainians unable to return home or access any other visa will now be able to apply for bridging or protection visas. The protection visa option will allow Ukrainians to live in Australia permanently, while the bridging visa will grant them full work rights for 12 months.

Since February 2022, the Australian government has granted more than 8600 mostly temporary visas to Ukrainians in Ukraine and hundreds more to Ukrainians elsewhere. So far nearly 3800 of these visa holders have arrived in Australia.

Greetings — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (right) greets Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Kyiv, Ukraine, earlier this month.

Source

Image Credit: ABACA / ABACA/PA

	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.