In brief:
- From March 26, a six-month an Arrival Control Determination will apply to people outside Australia with a Visitor (Subclass 600) visa linked to an Iranian passport.
- The Arrival Control Determination does not prevent people outside of Australia from applying for new visas, and new applications will "continue to be assessed on their merits".
Iranian visitor visa holders have been blocked from entering Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said, as the government reviews migration amid the expanding war in the Middle East.
It applies to people who have already had their visas granted, as the government restricts the whole visa class temporarily, instead of individually re-assessing and cancelling visas.
The announcement follows controversial changes to the Migration Act that were passed in parliament this month and heavily criticised by the Greens party and refugee advocates.
Home Affairs officials revealed the ban would last six to 12 months and could affect roughly 61,000 temporary visa holders in the Middle East.
From March 26, an Arrival Control Determination will be in force for six months, applying to people outside Australia who have a Visitor (Subclass 600) visa linked to an Iranian passport. The determination does not apply to people already in Australia, parents of a child already in Australia or dependents of Australian citizens.
The Arrival Control Determination does not prevent people outside of Australia from applying for new visas, and new applications will "continue to be assessed on their merits".
A small number of people, issued with a Permitted Travel Certificate, may be able to travel to Australia, with sympathetic consideration given to parents of Australian citizens.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said there were "many visitor visas" issued before the war in the Middle East, "which may not have been issued if they were applied for now."
"Decisions about permanent stays in Australia should be deliberate decisions of the Government, not a random consequence of who had booked a holiday."
"The Australian Government is closely monitoring global developments and will adjust settings as required to ensure Australia’s migration system remains orderly, fair and sustainable."
The conflict in Iran "has increased the risk that some temporary visa holders may be unable or unlikely to depart Australia when their visas expire," Burke's statement read.
Widespread travel disruptions have grounded millions of passengers transiting through the Middle East for nearly a month.
The snap amendments made to the Migration Act earlier this month gave the Home Affairs Minister license to enact temporary changes to Australia's immigration policy.
Refugee groups criticised the changes when they were announced, saying they would be used to prevent Iranians from seeking refuge.
Greens immigration spokesperson David Shoebridge said the "hypocrisy" was "hard to stomach", as Australia rushed the laws through even as it offered asylum to the Iranian Women's football team.
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