Section 245AR — Prohibition on asking for or receiving a benefit in return for the occurrence of a sponsorship-related event
CurrentPart 2—Arrival, presence and departure of persons · Division 12—Offences etc. in relation to entry into, and remaining in, Australia · Subdivision D—Offences and civil penalties in relation to sponsored visas · Migration Act 1958
C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171As in force on 4 June 2026
View on the Federal Register of LegislationOn this page
- Provision
- Section 245AR
- As in force on
- 4 June 2026
- Citation
- C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171
Section 245AR — Prohibition on asking for or receiving a benefit in return for the occurrence of a sponsorship-related event
245AR Prohibition on asking for or receiving a benefit in return for the occurrence of a sponsorship-related event
(1) A person (the first person) contravenes this subsection if:
(a) the first person asks for, or receives, a benefit from another person; and
(b) the first person asks for, or receives, the benefit in return for the occurrence of a sponsorship-related event.
(2) To avoid doubt, the first person contravenes subsection (1) even if the sponsorship-related event does not occur.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply if the benefit is a payment of a reasonable amount for a professional service that has been provided, or is to be provided, by the first person or a third person. Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in this subsection (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).
Offence
(4) A person commits an offence if the person contravenes subsection (1). The physical elements of the offence are set out in that subsection. Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 360 penalty units, or both.
Civil penalty provision
(5) A person is liable to a civil penalty if a person contravenes subsection (1). Civil penalty: 240 penalty units.
(6) A person who wishes to rely on subsection (3) in proceedings for a civil penalty order bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in that subsection. Note: It is not necessary to prove a person’s state of mind in proceedings for a civil penalty order (see section 486ZF).

