Following on from our recent newsletter detailing the Arrival Control Determination under the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Act 2026 which put in place suspension of certain international arrivals into Australia, it has been announced this week by the Minister for Home Affairs that as of 26 March 2026 and remaining in effect for six months, any person who is:
- outside Australia on commencement of the arrival control determination on 26 March 2026 and
- holds a Visitor (Subclass 600) visa, and is
- recorded by the Department as having used a passport issued by the Islamic Republic of Iran when applying for that visa
will have their Visitor visa temporarily cease to be in effect, unless an exemption applies.
Exemptions
The Determination does not apply to the following Visitor visa holders with Iranian passports:
- the spouse, de facto partner or dependent child of an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent visa holder, or an Australian resident who is not subject to a time limitation (such as a New Zealand citizen)
- the parent of a child who is under 18 and in Australia
- a person who was in Australia when the Arrival Control Determination commenced
- a person who has been issued a Permitted Travel Certificate (PTC) that is in force.
Permitted Travel Certificate (PTC)
Applications for PTC are considered on a case-by-case basis and will only be issued in very limited circumstances, which may include individuals who:
- are the parent of an Australian citizen, or
- can show they genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily.
These people may continue to travel to Australia if they hold a valid visa. However, they will need to provide evidence that the restrictions do not apply to them before they travel to Australia. A request for a PTC can be made on the Department’s Arrival Control determination portal.
Arrival Control Determination check
Before travelling, individuals should check whether their Visitor visa has been affected by requesting an Arrival Control Determination check through the Department of Home Affairs’ Arrival Control Determination Portal.
More information on what is required for a request for an Arrival Control Determination check can be found on the Department’s website.
What does this mean for HR ?
Although this determination highlights Iranian nationals who hold visitor visas only, you must take into consideration that if you have an Iranian national looking to come to Australia on a work visa such as a 400 or 482 please speak with us before making any employment offer or lodging a visa application.
Source: Migration Institute of Australia March 2026
