The pandemic event visa that allowed overseas workers and students and their families to stay in Australia during COVID-19 is being scrapped.
The visa will only be open to applicants who are already on the arrangement from September 2 and will be closed to all applicants from February 2024.
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Applicants from September will only be able to receive a six-month visa and be slugged $405 to ensure it is only used by those who have a genuine need to remain and contribute to Australia.
People on a pandemic event visa can remain in Australia lawfully until it expires.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the visa was important during the pandemic.
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"Many people on temporary visas helped Australia during this period," he said.
"We're providing an opportunity for people who hold a pandemic event visa to explore another visa option or plan to leave Australia."
The government says the staged scrapping of the visa is to ensure the integrity of the system, which has been bogged down in processing backlogs.
