Part 3Visas
Visas generally: Visa conditions
52Conditions on temporary entry class visas (other than those subject to restricted temporary entry instructions)
On granting a temporary entry class visa, the Minister or an immigration officer may—
- impose conditions in addition to those specified in temporary entry instructions in relation to a visa of that class or type:
- vary or waive conditions that would otherwise apply to a visa of that class or type.
Following the grant of a temporary entry class visa, the Minister or an immigration officer may—
- impose further conditions, whether or not the conditions are specified in the temporary entry instructions in relation to a visa of that class or type:
- vary or cancel conditions that would otherwise apply to a visa of that class or type or were imposed under subsection (1).
The Minister or an immigration officer may also do 1 or more of the things in subsection (2) by agreement with the visa holder.
A condition imposed, varied, waived, or cancelled under this section—
- must be notified to the visa holder by the Minister or an immigration officer; and
- takes effect—
- from the date the visa is granted, if the condition is imposed, varied, or waived when the visa is granted; or
- from the date specified in the notice (being a date not earlier than the date of notification), in any other case.
- from the date the visa is granted, if the condition is imposed, varied, or waived when the visa is granted; or
The Minister may, by special direction in relation to a class or classes of persons holding temporary entry class visas,—
- impose further conditions on the visas, whether or not the conditions are specified in the temporary entry instructions in relation to visas of the relevant types:
- vary or cancel conditions that would otherwise apply to visas of the relevant types or that were imposed under this section.
However, the Minister may not make a special direction under subsection (4A) unless satisfied that the special direction is reasonably necessary to respond to 1 or more of the following circumstances:
- any unusual circumstance:
- any circumstance that is unable to be dealt with under any other provision of the Act:
- any circumstance that is outside the Department’s control:
- any circumstance that poses a challenge to the immigration system.
A special direction under subsection (4A) may, without limiting the generality of the manner in which persons may be classified, classify persons to whom a further visa condition, or a variation or cancellation of a visa condition, applies by reference to all or any of the following:
- their nationality:
- the country or place from which they are travelling or have travelled (whether it is their original or an intermediate point of departure):
- whether or not they hold, or are required to hold, any particular type of travel or immigration documentation, by whomever issued:
- the type of visa that they hold:
- any other type of visa that they have applied for.
The Minister must certify a special direction made under subsection (4A) as follows:
- the Minister considers that the exercise of the power to make the special direction in the particular situation is reasonably necessary to respond to 1 or more of the following circumstances:
- any unusual circumstance:
- any circumstance that is unable to be dealt with under any other provision of the Act:
- any circumstance that is outside the Department’s control:
- any circumstance that poses a challenge to the immigration system; and
- any unusual circumstance:
- the Minister considers that the exercise of the power to make the special direction in the particular situation will—
- benefit the class or classes of persons to whom it applies; or
- not disadvantage the class or classes of persons to whom it applies; and
- benefit the class or classes of persons to whom it applies; or
- the Minister has undertaken any consultation that they consider to be appropriate in the particular situation.
A special direction under subsection (4A)—
- is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
- commences in accordance with section 378(3), even if it is not yet published; and
- must be published together with an explanation of the effect of the special direction; and
- must specify—
- its duration, which can be no longer than 6 months; and
- any statutory power exercised; and
- the class of persons to whom it applies.
- its duration, which can be no longer than 6 months; and
Nothing in this section applies to a temporary entry class visa that is subject to restricted temporary entry instructions.
Notes
- Section 52(4A): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).
- Section 52(4B): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).
- Section 52(4C): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).
- Section 52(4D): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).
- Section 52(4E): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 75).


