# Commencement of prosecutions

> act-s492 — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

492 Commencement of prosecutions
          (1) Subject to this section, a prosecution for an offence against this Act
              or the regulations may be instituted at any time within 5 years after
              the commission of that offence.
          (2) A prosecution of a person for an offence against section 234, 236
              or 243 that is alleged to have been committed after the
              commencement of this subsection may be instituted at any time.
          (3) A prosecution for an offence:
               (a) against section 232A, 233 or 233A of this Act as in force
                   before the commencement of this subsection; and
               (b) alleged to have been committed after the commencement of
                   the Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999;
              may be instituted at any time.
          (4) A prosecution for an offence against section 233A, 233B, 233C,
              233D, 233E or 234A that is alleged to have been committed after
              the commencement of this subsection may be instituted at any
              time.