Australia to temporarily bar Iranian visitor visa holders from travel

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MELBOURNE: Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced Wednesday that Australia will temporarily stop Iranians from entering the country on tourist visas. The six-month block, which comes into force on Thursday, addresses government concerns that visitors from Iran may be ‘unable or unlikely to depart Australia when their visas expire’. According to Mr. Burke, the government is acting in the national interest amid rapidly changing global conditions.

The restriction applies specifically to individuals outside Australia holding a Visitor Subclass 600 visa. Those already in the country or in transit will not be affected, nor will immediate family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents.

While some 7,000 Iranians currently hold visitor visas, exemptions remain for those on longer-term visas or individuals with spouses and children in Australia.