Skip to main content
You cannot request a 'No Further Stay' condition be left off your visa at the time you apply for the visa. If you are in Australia holding a visa with 'No Further Stay' condition imposed on it and your circumstances change, there is provision to waive the condition in limited circumstances. The circumstances in which the minister might waive a 'No Further Stay' condition are:
  1. since the person was granted the visa that was subject to the condition, compelling and compassionate circumstances have developed:
    • over which the person had no control
    • that resulted in a major change to the person's circumstances
  2. if the minister has previously refused to waive the condition, the minister is satisfied that the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (a) are substantially different from those considered previously
  3. if the person asks the minister to waive the condition, the request is in writing.
If you do request a waiver of a 'No Further Stay' condition, the departmental officer who considers your request must be satisfied that all the above requirements apply in your case, namely that:
* the circumstances that have developed since you were granted the visa are both compassionate and compelling
* you had no control over these circumstances
* these circumstances have resulted in a major change to your personal circumstances. Please note: Waiver is not automatic. Each request is decided by assessing your particular circumstances against the above legal requirements.

Circumstances not considered beyond the applicant's control

The following circumstances are not considered 'beyond the control' of the visa holder for the purposes of the waiver provisions:
♦ marriage to (or commencing a de facto partner relationship with) an Australian citizen or permanent resident
♦ pregnancy (women who become pregnant while in Australia would generally need to have evidence they are unable to leave Australia).
♦ failure to complete a course due to failing a subject.

Processing times

Generally, it takes up to 28 days to receive an outcome on a waiver request. It might take longer if you are invited to provide further information or undergo a medical examination.

Decision cannot be reviewed

The decision not to waive condition 8503, 8534 or 8535 cannot be reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or by another Department office. The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection does not have any power to intervene if condition 8503, 8534 or 8535 is not waived. If your circumstances change significantly after you have had a waiver request refused, you can lodge a second request. You must explain how the new circumstances are substantially different from those considered in your previous waiver request.

Reg 2.05 Conditions applicable to visas
(1) For subsection 41(1) of the Act, a visa is subject to any conditions specified for that Subclass of visa in Schedule 2, subject to subregulation (2).
Note: Regulation 2.40A prescribes conditions in relation to special purpose visas taken to have been granted to airline positioning crew members and airline crew members.
(2) For subsection 41(3) of the Act, the conditions that the Minister is permitted to impose on a visa are the conditions (if any) specified as permitted for that Subclass of visa in Schedule 2.
Note: Conditions referred to by number in Schedule 2 are set out in Schedule 8: see the definition of condition in regulation 1.03.
(3) For the purposes of subsections 29(2) and (3) of the Act (which deal with the period during which the holder of a visa may travel to, enter and remain in Australia), the limits on the period within which a person may:
(a) remain in Australia; or
(b) travel to, enter, and remain in Australia; as the case requires, under the authority of a visa of a particular subclass are specified in the relevant Part of Schedule 2.
(4) For subsection 41(2A) of the Act, the circumstances in which the Minister may waive a condition of a kind described in paragraph 41(2)(a) of the Act are that:
(a) since the person was granted the visa that was subject to the condition, compelling and compassionate circumstances have developed:
(i) over which the person had no control; and
(ii) that resulted in a major change to the person’s circumstances; and
(b) if the Minister has previously refused to waive the condition, the Minister is satisfied that the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (a) are substantially different from those considered previously; and
(c) if the person asks the Minister to waive the condition, the request is in writing. (4AA) For subsection 41(2A) of the Act, and subject to subregulation (4A), a further circumstance in which the Minister may waive condition 8503 in relation to a visa is that the holder of the visa has a genuine intention to apply for:
(a) a General Skilled Migration visa; or
(b) a Subclass 132 (Business Talent) visa; or
(c) a Subclass 186 (Employee Nomination Scheme) visa; or
(d) a Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa; or
(e) a Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)) visa. (4AB) For subsection 41(2A) of the Act, further circumstances in which the Minister may waive condition 8503 in relation to a visa are that the holder of the visa:
(a) either:
(i) holds a safe haven enterprise visa; or
(ii) is a lawful non citizen who has ever held a safe haven enterprise visa; and
(b) satisfies the requirements of subregulation 2.06AAB(2). (4AC) For paragraph 41(2B)(b) of the Act, the following visas are prescribed:
(a) a Subclass 400 (Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)) visa;
(b) a Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa. (5A) For subsection 41(2A) of the Act, further circumstances in which the Minister may waive condition 8534 in relation to a visa are that the holder of the visa:
(a) has completed the course for which the visa was granted; and
(b) has a genuine intention to apply for:
(i) a General Skilled Migration visa; or
(ii) a Subclass 132 (Business Talent) visa; or
(iii) a Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa; or
(iv) a Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa; or
(v) a Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)) visa.
(6) For subsection 41(2A) of the Act, further circumstances in which the Minister may waive condition 8534 in relation to a visa are that the holder of the visa is a registered nurse, or satisfies the requirements for registration as a registered nurse, in Australia.