# Classes of visas

> act-s31 — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

31 Classes of visas
          (1) There are to be prescribed classes of visas.
               Note:      See also subsection 35A(4), which allows additional classes of
                          permanent and temporary visas to be prescribed as protection visas by
                          regulations made for the purposes of this subsection.

          (2) As well as the prescribed classes, there are the classes provided for
              by the following provisions:
                (a) section 32 (special category visas);
                (b) section 33 (special purpose visas);
                (c) section 34 (absorbed person visas);
                (d) section 35 (ex-citizen visas);
                (e) subsection 35A(2) (permanent protection visas);
                 (f) subsection 35A(3) (temporary protection visas);
               (fa) subsection 35A(3A) (safe haven enterprise visas);









                 (g) section 37 (bridging visas);
                 (h) section 37A (temporary safe haven visas);
                  (i) section 38 (criminal justice visas);
                  (j) section 38A (enforcement visas);
                 (k) section 38B (maritime crew visas).
          (3) The regulations may prescribe criteria for a visa or visas of a
              specified class (which, without limiting the generality of this
              subsection, may be a class provided for by section 32, 35A, 37,
              37A or 38B but not by section 33, 34, 35, 38 or 38A).
        (3A) To avoid doubt, subsection (3) does not require criteria to be
             prescribed for a visa or visas including, without limitation, visas of
             the following classes:
               (a) special category visas (see section 32);
               (b) permanent protection visas (see subsection 35A(2));
               (c) temporary protection visas (see subsection 35A(3));
              (ca) safe haven enterprise visas (see subsection 35A(3A));
               (d) bridging visas (see section 37);
               (e) temporary safe haven visas (see section 37A);
                (f) maritime crew visas (see section 38B).
               Note 1:      An application for any of these visas is invalid if criteria relating to
                            both the application and the grant of the visa have not been prescribed
                            (see subsection 46AA(2)).
               Note 2:      If criteria are prescribed by the regulations for any of these visas, the
                            visa cannot be granted unless any criteria prescribed by this Act, as
                            well as any prescribed by regulation, are satisfied (see
                            subsection 46AA(4)).

          (4) The regulations may prescribe whether visas of a class are visas to
              travel to and enter Australia, or to remain in Australia, or both.
          (5) A visa is a visa of a particular class if this Act or the regulations
              specify that it is a visa of that class.