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June deadline nearing for migration visas

THE Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Act 2013 is due to come into effect on 29 June 2014.

While the government has legislation before parliament seeking to repeal Labor’s legacy Act, in the form of the Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Repeal Bill 2014, it remains likely the legislation will take effect as scheduled. The repeal bill has passed through the Lower House and will be debated by the Senate later this month.

Unless the legislation is repealed, from 29 June 2014 any person who is in an area to participate in, or to support, an offshore resources activity is in Australia’s migration zone and will need to hold an appropriate visa.

The government has recently made some important announcements regarding the types of visas that will be acceptable if the legislation is not repealed before it starts.

Vessels that could be covered by the Act include those engaged in pipelaying; supply; tug and heavy lift; seismic; other specialist vessels; and floating platforms (towed and self-propelled).

Depending on the vessel and the activity concerned, the type of visa required will be one of the following:

  • Permanent resident visa;
  • Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988);
  • Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visa (subclass 400); or
  • Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457).

To ensure compliance, AREEA members are encouraged to closely monitor developments in the coming weeks and to seek advice from AREEA’s Manager of Migration Services, Jules Pedrosa, who is a registered migration agent. Jules can be contacted on (02) 9211 3566 or at [email protected].

For more information about the new visas, click here.

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