Temporary travel ban for Iranian subclass 600 - Visitor visa holders effective from 26 March 2026

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The government has reacted swiftly to the conflict in the Middle East. Firstly, they passed the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Act 2026 (Cth) less than two weeks ago. This added the framework to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) to temporarily ban certain non-citizens by using an arrival control determination.

This power, exercised by the Minister but which needs written agreement from the Prime Minister and the Minister administering the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1967 (Cth), allows the creation of an arrival control determination that applies to a class of non-citizens that cannot be in force for longer than 6 months.

There are exemptions to its applicability, including:

  • a temporary protection visa holder,

  • a temporary safe haven visa holder,

  • a subclass 786 – Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) visa holder;

  • a bridging visa holder for any of the above visas,

  • any non-citizen who is in Australia,

  • the spouse, de facto partner or dependent child of an Australian citizen, a permanent visa holder, or a person who is usually resident in Australia and whose continued presence in Australia is not subject to a time limitation,

  • the parent of a child who is under 18 and who is in Australia, or

  • a permitted travel certificate holder that is in force.

The permitted travel certificate is important as it is a way to demonstrate grounds to be exempt and enter Australia despite being affected by an arrival control determination, such as someone who claims to be a spouse of an Australian citizen.

Where a person is affected by an arrival control determination, their temporary visa ceases to be in effect, and they therefore cannot travel to Australia as they do not hold a visa. Their visa can come into effect again if the arrival control determination expires, is revoked or does not apply. The most likely way for it not to apply is if a permitted travel certificate is granted.

From today, the first arrival control determination is in effect. Subclass 600 – Visitor visa holders who provided a passport issued by the Islamic Republic of Iran when applying for that visa, and who are outside Australia are temporarily barred from entering Australia for 6 months unless they have a permitted travel certificate.

The purpose of this is due to the Iranian conflict and the war providing increased risk that these visitor visa holders may be unable, unlikely, and perhaps even unwilling, to leave Australia when their visas expire.

According to the Department of Home Affairs’ website those affected who are already en route to Australia before today and is perhaps in transit in a third country for less than 24 hours should be granted a permitted travel certificate without applying. Everyone else should apply for a permitted travel certificate between two months and two weeks from when they intend to come to Australia. They write that parents of Australian citizens will be considered for a permitted travel certificate.

There is an echo of the incoming travel permits days from the COVID-19 pandemic. The portal to apply for a permitted travel certificate has been repurposed from those times.

Gladly, the numbers needing to apply are significantly smaller than before, for now at least.