In a statement by the federal government on Monday, about 9,000 Hong Kong nationals in Australia will have the chance to acquire permanent residence status with two new visa streams opening on March 2022.
“These new visas will provide a pathway for temporary graduates and temporary skilled workers from Hong Kong currently in Australia on extended visas, and will build on the already close family connections and economic ties with Hong Kong that have existed for many years,” Minister Alex Hawke said.
Opening from 5 March 2022, both Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport holders will be eligible for the following visa streams:
.Subclass 191 – the Hong Kong (regional) stream — for primary visa holders who were usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least three years immediately before applying and who lived, worked and studied exclusively in a designated regional area for that period while holding the qualifying visa.
.Subclass 189 – the Hong Kong stream — for primary visa holders who were usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least four years immediately before applying, and who held the qualifying visa during that period.
According to the official media release, there are currently around 8,800 temporary skilled, temporary graduate, and student visa holders who will be eligible for these new visas.