A Chinese mother granted an emergency visa to visit her son on life support in Melbourne spent the night by his bedside before his life support was switched off on Monday morning.

Xiao Li, 22, had been in Royal Melbourne Hospital with critical brain injuries since his car and a truck collided near Melbourne on January 27.

Xiao Li's mother will be allowed to take his body back to China with her.

His mother, Xing Lang Ren, was blocked from seeing Mr Li in hospital because of the coronavirus travel ban in place until at least February 15, until the Australian government announced on Friday it would allow her immediate entry in what was the first exemption to the ban.

Ms Ren arrived in Melbourne on Sunday morning before going to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she spent time with her son during his final hours.