An eleventh-hour reprieve has been granted to Ukrainians with an extension to the humanitarian visa program for displaced Ukrainians that was due to end at midnight on 14 July. This is the second extension the original deadline was 30 June 2022.
Prime Minister Albanese just recently returned from a trip to the war-torn country and now the visas, valid for three years, have been extended to 31 July so that Ukrainian nationals and family members have time to accept the offer.
The visas allow them to work and study in Australia and offer access to Medicare.
According to a report in The Australian Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said that Australia will also continue to provide support including via a $450,000 grant to the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations to assist those who arrive.
Since 23 February 2022 the Department has granted more than 8,5000 visas to Ukrainian nationals and as of 30 June more than 3700 of these visa holders have arrived in Australia.
The offer of a Temporary Humanitarian Stay must be done by completing a webform online before 11.59pm on 31 July.