Australia has introduced temporary restrictions on visitors arriving from Iran, citing the ongoing war and continued hostilities in the country.
The government stated that the conflict in Iran has increased the risk that some temporary visa holders may not be able to leave Australia when their visas expire.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, for the next six months, people holding specific visitor visas linked to Iran will not be allowed to enter Australia. However, the restrictions will not apply to individuals married to an Australian citizen or those with children under 18 living in Australia.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the move, saying, “There are many visitor visas which were issued before the conflict in Iran, 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 booked a holiday.”
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), which described it as “heartless” and likely to cause “unnecessary trauma and harm” to Iranians already affected by the war.
In a post on X, the ASRC said, “This is a massive betrayal of the Iranian community. Just when people most need safety, the Albanese Government is slamming the door closed.”
According to 2023 data from the Department of Home Affairs, nearly 86,000 people of Iranian origin are living in Australia.
