On 19th January 2022, the Australian Government announced that it will provide a fee rebate to any students or backpackers who come back to Australia in the next few months.

For students, who arrive in the following 8 weeks starting from 19 Janaury 2022 will be refunded their A$630 application fees once they enter Australia.

For backpakers on working holiday-maker visas who arrive within the next 12 weeks will also be refunded their application fees.

The expected cost of the fee rebate scheme is $55 million.

It is hoped the move will be enough to entice the roughly 150,000 students and 23,500 backpackers who currently hold a visa and are not in the country.

“That is a thankyou to [students] for coming back and continuing to choose Australia, but we also want them to come here and be able to be filling some of these critical workforce shortages,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

“Particularly those who are working and being trained in healthcare, aged care, those types of sectors, that will be incredibly helpful.”

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement can be viewed below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJOXdOTolFg