Australia Names 1 Country Whose Citizens Will Face Travel Restrictions
- Australia's Department of Home Affairs issued an Arrival Control Determination on March 26, 2026, targeting Iranian passport holders with visitor visas
- Most Iranian nationals outside Australia when the Determination began cannot use their existing Visitor (Subclass 600) visa to enter the country for 6 months
- A Permitted Travel Certificate process exists for affected travellers, but approvals are granted only in very limited circumstances
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Australia's Department of Home Affairs placed temporary travel restrictions on Iranian passport holders who hold a Visitor (Subclass 600) visa, effectively suspending the visa rights of most affected individuals outside the country.
The Arrival Control Determination came into force on March 26, 2026, and remains active for six months.
Under the measure, any Iranian passport holder outside Australia on the date the policy was implemented, holds a Visitor (Subclass 600) visa, and used an Iranian passport when applying for that visa, is barred from travelling to Australia for the duration of the Determination.
Source: UGC
Iran: Why Australia imposed restrictions
The Department cited the ongoing Iran conflict as the driving factor behind the decision. Authorities expressed concern that some visa holders may be unable or unwilling to depart Australia once their visas expire, given the deteriorating conditions in Iran. The restrictions are designed to protect the integrity of Australia's migration system and give the government time to assess associated risks before allowing further travel.
Affected individuals whose visas remain valid at the end of the six-month period will have their visa rights automatically restored. Those whose visas expire during the restriction period will be required to apply for a new visa.
Australia visa: Those exempted and how to appeal
The Determination does not apply to all Iranian passport holders. Those exempted include the spouse, de facto partner, or dependent child of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Australian resident not subject to a time limitation.
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Parents of children under 18 who are already in Australia, and individuals who were physically in Australia when the Determination commenced, are also unaffected.
For those who do fall under the restrictions but still need to travel, the Department offers a Permitted Travel Certificate. Applications are reviewed individually and approvals are limited to narrow circumstances, such as parents of Australian citizens or travellers who can demonstrate a genuine intention to stay temporarily.
The Department advises applicants to submit requests at least two weeks before their intended travel date and to make no travel arrangements until a certificate has been officially issued.
Travellers who had already begun their journey to Australia before 26 March 2026, including those in transit at a third country for fewer than 24 hours, are generally eligible for a Permitted Travel Certificate without needing to apply formally.
No refunds will be issued for Visitor visas affected by the restrictions unless travellers meet specific criteria set out by the Department.
Australia speaks about support letter
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Australia's Department of Home Affairs requires citizens of 11 specific countries to submit a government-issued letter of support before obtaining a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462).
The 11 nationalities include citizens from Ecuador, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Peru, Poland, San Marino, Slovenia, Thailand, and Türkiye.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
