Australian Government may temporarily stop some overseas visitors

Australia’s federal government has been switly and quietly changing visa regulations. The latest change introduced legislation to temporarily ban some passport holders from countries impacted by war conflict from coming to Australia.

The change appears to have been sparked by the war in the Middle East as it has raised concerns about increase in asylum seeker claims. Officials from the Home Affairs Department drafted the new legislation late last week and it was introduced to parliament by Assistant Minister for Citizenship Julian Hill earlier this week.

The government shared concerns that people already in Australia may overstay their visas to avoid returning to countries currently impacted by the war conflict. Clare Sharp, Head of Immigration, said that there were around 7200 Iranians with temporary visas for Australia.

According to Human Rights Watch under the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026, the Minister for Home Affairs can issue an “arrival control determination” that would stop people from specified regions from entering Australia on temporary travel visas such as tourist, student, or sporting visas.

Once issued, an “arrival control determination” would automatically freeze any temporary visa held by people within the designated group, preventing them from entering Australia for up to six months. This determination can be made at any time before a visa holder arrives in Australia, including while they are in transit through a third country.

In a briefing note accompanying the proposed Bill it stated that the “current situation in the Middle East demonstrates how quickly the circumstances can change for visa applicants and for those non-citizens who already hold a temporary visa but have not yet travelled to Australia, and for whom a visa application now would likely be unsuccessful”.

The opposition appears to be supporting the proposed bill, with Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Ted O'Brien stating the legislation had the Coalition's in-principle support, but the Greens called it an appalling act of cruelty.

The amendment does not apply to humanitarian, refugee or those with a temporary protection visa only temporary visas, and parent with a child in Australia or those with an immediate family member who is an Australian citizen would be exempt.

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