COVID-19 related Visa and Citizenship FAQs
The travel restrictions to Australia due to COVID-19 continue to have an effect on all visa and citizenship processing in Australia and around the world, including in Dubai.
The FAQs below will help answer some of the questions you have about the effect of COVID-19 on visa and citizenship processing in Dubai.
For visas not covered here, please see https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/coming-australia-0
VISITOR/BUSINESS VISITOR VISA/TEMPORARY WORK VISA/MEDICAL TREATMENT VISAS
1. I applied for a Visitor/Business Visitor/Temporary Work visa/Medical Treatment visa; I am still waiting for a decision. When can I expect to have a decision?
Until the travel restrictions to Australia are eased or lifted, Dubai office will only process Visitor/Business Visitor/Temporary Work visa/Medical Treatment visa applications for people who have applied for a travel exemption.
Click here https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions-0 to find out about travel restrictions and exemptions.
After you apply for an exemption, use the enquiry form at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/australian-immigration-enquiry-form to send us the reference number you receive. Dubai post will then assess your visa application and a team in Australia will process your request for travel exemption. You will be notified separately about the visa application and travel exemption outcome. You will need both a visa and a travel exemption to travel to Australia.
Please note that because travel exemptions requests are not processed in Dubai, we cannot expedite the process or provide you with a status update.
2. Why did you refuse my Visitor/Business Visitor/Temporary Work visa/Medical Treatment visa if you are only processing visas for people who apply for an exemption?
It is open to us to refuse visa applications if the reason for refusal is not related to the travel restrictions/COVID-19. For example, if the delegate is not satisfied that you genuinely intend to visit Australia temporarily, they can refuse the visa on that basis.
We will not refuse your visa application if COVID-19 arrangements are preventing you from meeting the visa criteria, for example, because VFS is closed and you cannot provide your biometrics.
3. I was granted a Visitor/Business Visitor/Temporary Work visa/Medical Treatment visa but cannot/could not travel because the restrictions came into effect. Can my visa be extended?
No. It is not possible to extend the validity period of any visa, even if the reason why you did not travel is outside your control.
If your visa is still valid and you need to travel to Australia, you can apply for the exemption (see question 1).
If your visa has ceased, you can apply for a new visa when the restrictions are lifted. If you apply for a new visa before the restrictions have been lifted, you must also apply for the exemption.
4. I have already travelled to Australia on my Visitor/Business Visitor/Temporary Work visa/Medical Treatment visa previously, but I was outside Australia when the travel restrictions came into effect. Do I need to apply for an exemption or can I just book a flight and return to Australia?
You must apply for an exemption even if you travelled previously on a Visitor/Business Visitor/Temporary Work visa/Medical Treatment visa and this visa is still valid. Having travelled to/lived/worked in Australia previously as a temporary resident does not automatically mean you will be given an exemption.
5. I was granted a Visitor/Business Visitor/Temporary Work visa/Medical Treatment visa but could not travel because the restrictions came into effect. Can I get a refund?
No. Not being able to travel as a result of the restrictions is not a prescribed circumstance in which a refund can be given. Form 1424 https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1424.pdf lists the limited circumstances that we can give a refund.
We also cannot waive the visa application charge if you decide to apply for another visa because your current visa expired before you could use it.
6. The reason for my travel no longer exists, should I withdraw my visa application?
You can withdraw your application if the reason for travel no longer exists. If you do not withdraw the application, we may refuse your application when travel restrictions are lifted and we resume normal visa processing.
STUDENT VISAS
7. I applied for a Student visa and I am still waiting for a decision. When can I expect to have a decision?
Until the travel restrictions to Australia are eased or lifted, Dubai office will only process Student visa applications for applicants who have applied for a travel exemption.
Click here https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions-0 to find out about travel restrictions and exemptions.
If you apply for an exemption, send us the reference number and we will assess your visa application. You can write to us at
8. I hold a Student visa but I am currently outside Australia. Can I return to Australia to start/continue my studies?
Due to the travel restrictions, you cannot travel to Australia unless you meet one of the travel exemptions.
Click here https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions-0 to find out about travel restrictions and exemptions.
If you think you can meet one or more of the exemption criteria, you can apply for an exemption from the same link.
Please note that exemption applications are processed in Australia, not in Dubai. As such, staff at the Dubai office cannot expedite the process or provide you with a status update.
PARTNER VISAS
9. I applied for a Partner visa; I am still waiting for a decision. When can I expect to have a decision?
Due to COVID-19, visa processing times have been affected and applications may take longer to finalise.
Furthermore, we are prioritising processing Partner visa applications for those exempt travellers to support urgent travel.
10. I was granted a subclass 309 and/or subclass 100 visa. Do I need to apply for an exemption?
No. Partner (subclasses 100, 309, 801, 820) visa holders do not need to request an exemption.
11. I was granted a subclass 300 visa. Do I need to apply for an exemption?
Yes. Click here to find out about travel restrictions and exemption eligibility.
12. I was granted a subclass 309 and/or subclass 100 visa but cannot/could not travel by the initial entry date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Can my initial entry date be extended?
If you are unable to enter Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic before your ‘initial entry date’, please contact the office that granted your visa once the initial entry date has lapsed AND you have a proposed new travel date.
In this event, you will need to detail why you were unable to enter before the specified date. If determined appropriate at the time, a delegate may provide you with a letter to facilitate your travel and entry to Australia, in spite of the breached ‘initial entry date’ condition. The department understands that clients affected by COVID-19 may have exceptional and compelling reasons, preventing them from meeting the first entry date requirement.
13. I was granted a subclass 300 visa but cannot/could not travel by the initial entry date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Can my initial entry date be extended?
If you are unable to enter Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic before your ‘initial entry date’, please contact the office that granted your visa once the initial entry date has lapsed AND you have a travel exemption AND you have a proposed new travel date.
In this event, you will need to detail why you were unable to enter before the specified date. If determined appropriate at the time, a delegate may provide you with a letter to facilitate your travel and entry to Australia, in spite of the breached ‘initial entry date’ condition. The department understands that clients affected by COVID-19 may have exceptional and compelling reasons, preventing them from meeting the first entry date requirement.
CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT (CBD)
14. I live in Abu Dhabi but my CBD certificate needs to be collected from Dubai. Can you send it to the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi so I can collect it, because there are movement restrictions between Abu Dhabi and Dubai?
The CBD certificate is a secure document and must be stored securely until it is collected. You can still travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi despite the travel restrictions, as long as you comply with the measures that the UAE Government has put in place.
You can choose to collect the certificate in person, or you could have a courier service pick up the certificate on your behalf.
VFS GLOBAL/BIOMETRICS
15. I received a letter that asks me to do biometrics but VFS is still closed, what should I do?
We are aware that the VFS offices are still closed and will not refuse your visa application because you have not provided your biometrics.
If we are processing your visa application because you have applied for an exemption (see question 1), we will advise you what you need to do about your biometrics.
16. When will the VFS Global offices re-open?
Continue to check the website of the Department of Home Affairs at www.homeaffairs.gov.au and the VFS Global website at www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/index.html for information on resumption of visa and citizenship services to Australia.