Subclass 408 Pandemic Event Visa: 2026 Status and What to Do Next

What Was the 408 Pandemic Event Visa?

The Subclass 408 visa has existed for many years as a general Temporary Activity visa covering a range of sponsored activity streams — religious workers, research activities, senior executives, and more. In 2020, the Department of Home Affairs added a COVID-19 Pandemic Event stream as an emergency measure. This stream allowed temporary visa holders (students, working holiday makers, skilled workers, and others) whose primary visa had expired or was about to expire, to remain in Australia temporarily while the pandemic continued. The pandemic event stream was unusual in that it required no sponsoring employer, charged no visa application charge, and was granted quickly to prevent people from falling into unlawful status while international borders were closed. At its peak, hundreds of thousands of people held 408 pandemic event visas in Australia.

Current Status: Is the 408 Pandemic Event Stream Still Open?

No. The COVID-19 pandemic event stream of the Subclass 408 visa closed to new applications. The Department of Home Affairs discontinued this stream as Australia's pandemic emergency measures wound down. If you still hold a valid 408 pandemic event visa, it remains valid until its expiry date — you have not lost your lawful status. However, you cannot apply for another 408 pandemic event visa once it expires. The key question for current 408 holders is: what do you transition to? The answer depends on your circumstances — your visa history, your occupation, your employer situation, your relationship status, and your long-term goals in Australia. A registered migration agent can model the full range of options available to you.

Options If You Still Hold a 408 Pandemic Event Visa

If you currently hold a valid 408 pandemic event visa, you should be actively planning your next visa now — do not wait until your 408 expires. Common transition pathways include: the Subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage visa (if an Australian employer is willing to sponsor you in a nominated occupation); the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa (if you recently completed an Australian degree and meet the eligibility criteria); the Subclass 500 Student visa (if you wish to continue studying in Australia); the Subclass 820/801 Partner visa (if you are in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident); a points-tested visa via SkillSelect (if you have a positive skills assessment and sufficient points for an 189, 190, or 491 Expression of Interest). Many 408 holders have been in Australia for 3–5 years due to the pandemic and may have accumulated significant Australian work experience and personal ties — these can strengthen multiple visa pathways.

Bridging Visas for 408 Holders

If your 408 pandemic event visa has expired and you lodged a new visa application before it expired, you will have been automatically granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). The BVA allows you to remain in Australia lawfully while your substantive visa application is being processed. Conditions on the BVA mirror those of your last substantive visa in most cases — if you had full work rights on the 408, you typically have work rights on the BVA. If you left Australia after your 408 expired but before lodging a new substantive application, you may have fallen into an unlawful status and then departed — this creates a separate and more complex situation requiring urgent advice from a migration agent. Never remain in Australia unlawfully — the immigration consequences (visa bars, character considerations) can severely limit your future options.

What If You Held a 408 and Now Want Permanent Residence?

Time spent on a 408 pandemic event visa counts as lawful temporary residence for most purposes, including: the residence component of citizenship applications (in future, once you have PR); the points test Australian residency bonus; some partner visa assessments. However, the 408 does not give you any direct path to permanent residence itself — it is a holding visa. Your PR pathway will be via a skills assessment and points-tested EOI, an employer-sponsored 186 or 482-to-186 pathway, a partner visa (820/801 or 309/100), or another substantive PR pathway. A migration agent can assess which pathway best fits your circumstances and whether your time in Australia on the 408 strengthens any particular application.

Can I still apply for a 408 pandemic event visa?

No. The COVID-19 pandemic event stream of the 408 visa is no longer available. Other streams of the Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa still exist (religious workers, senior executives, etc.) but the pandemic event stream is closed.

Does time on a 408 count for the citizenship residency requirement?

Time on a 408 pandemic event visa counts as lawful temporary residence. For citizenship purposes, you need 4 years of lawful residence (including at least 12 months as a permanent resident) — the 408 time counts toward the 4-year period but not the 12-month PR component.

I overstayed my 408 visa. What are my options?

If you are currently in Australia without a valid visa (unlawful status), you should seek urgent advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer. Options may include lodging a new visa application that triggers a bridging visa, or departing voluntarily. Remaining unlawfully for extended periods creates serious barriers to future visa applications.

Can a migration agent help me transition from a 408 to a permanent visa?

Yes — this is exactly the type of complex transition work where a migration agent adds significant value. They can assess all available pathways, calculate your points, identify any gaps in your evidence, and manage the application process.