‘It’s a mess’: migration agents cry foul after Australia clarifies ‘golden visa’ scheme remains active
- Canberra says the business visa programme remains open despite multiple reports in the past weeks saying it had been ‘axed’
- Agents said the reports sparked ‘widespread panic’ among applicants, and also called out the government over its lack of transparency and communication
Two weeks ago, local media reports said the visa – referring to the formally known Significant Investor Visa (SIV) that confers the right of abode to foreign nationals who can invest A$5 million (US$3.3 million) in the country over a period, had been closed.
According to the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA), the country’s main association for migration professionals, this effectively spread misinformation, causing “widespread panic” among visa holders, applicants and agents.
They said there was little direct information from the government, and the usual allocation of visa slots for the programme had been changed without warning.
While agents in Australia acknowledged that the SIV could be improved, they criticised the way local reports had insinuated that applicants could gain instant residency simply by having enough money.