# Definitions

> reg-1.03 — as in force on 2026-06-01 — F2026C00497 · Compilation No. 287 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026C00497/latest/text

1.03 Definitions
               In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears:
               AASES form, for a secondary exchange student, means an Acceptance Advice of
               Secondary Exchange Student form from the relevant State or Territory education
               authority, containing the following declarations:
                 (a) a declaration made by the student’s exchange organisation, accepting the
                     student;
                (b) a declaration made by the student’s parents, or the person or persons
                     having custody of the student, agreeing to the exchange.
               academic year means a period that is specified by the Minister as an academic
               year in an instrument in writing for this definition.
               additional applicant charge means the charge explained in
               subregulation 2.12C(4).
               adequate arrangements for health insurance means arrangements to be covered
               by health insurance:
                (a) that meet the requirements for health insurance specified in an instrument
                    under regulation 1.15L for the purposes of this paragraph; or
                (b) if no such requirements are specified—that are adequate in the
                    circumstances.
               adoption has the meaning set out in regulation 1.04.
               Note:    adopt and adopted have corresponding meanings: see Acts Interpretation Act 1901,
                        section 18A.

               adoption compliance certificate means an adoption compliance certificate within
               the meaning of the Family Law (Bilateral Arrangements—Intercountry
               Adoption) Regulations 2023 or the Family Law (Hague Convention on
               Intercountry Adoption) Regulations 1998.
               Adoption Convention means the Convention on Protection of Children and
               Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption signed at The Hague on
               29 May 1993.
               Note:    The text of the Adoption Convention is set out in Schedule 1 to the Family Law (Hague
                        Convention on Intercountry Adoption) Regulations 1998.

               Adoption Convention country means a country that is a Convention country
               under the Family Law (Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption)
               Regulations 1998.








               adverse information has the meaning given by regulation 1.13A.
               aged care service has the same meaning as in the Aged Care Act 1997.
               aged dependent relative, in relation to a person who is an Australian citizen, an
               Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, means a
               relative who:
                 (a) does not have a spouse or de facto partner; and
                 (b) has been dependent on that person for a reasonable period, and remains so
                      dependent; and
                 (c) is old enough to be granted an age pension under the Social Security Act
                      1991.
               aged parent means a parent who is old enough to be granted an age pension
               under the Social Security Act 1991.
               aircraft safety inspector means a person who:
                 (a) is employed by a foreign government to inspect the safety procedures of
                     international air carriers or the safety of aircraft; and
                (b) travels to Australia on an aircraft in the course of that employment; and
                 (c) will depart Australia on an aircraft in the course of that employment or as a
                     passenger.
               airline crew member means:
                 (a) a person who:
                       (i) is employed by an international air carrier as an aircrew member; and
                      (ii) travels to Australia in the course of his or her employment as a
                           member of the crew of an aircraft; and
                     (iii) will depart Australia in the course of his or her employment as a
                           member of the crew of, or a passenger on, an aircraft; or
                (b) an aircraft safety inspector.
               airline positioning crew member means a person who:
                 (a) is employed by an international air carrier as an aircrew member; and
                (b) travels to Australia in the course of his or her employment as a passenger
                     on an aircraft; and
                 (c) will depart Australia as a member of the crew of an aircraft.
               annual market salary rate, for a proposed occupation nominated under
               section 140GB of the Act or an occupation in relation to which a position is
               nominated under regulation 5.19, means the earnings an Australian citizen or an
               Australian permanent resident earns or would earn for performing equivalent
               work on a full-time basis for a year in the same workplace at the same location.
               ANZSCO has the meaning specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing
               for this definition.
               APEC means Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation.
               APEC economy means each of the following:







                  (a) Australia;
                  (b) Brunei Darussalam;
                  (c) Canada;
                  (d) Chile;
                  (e) PRC;
                   (f) Hong Kong;
                  (g) Indonesia;
                  (h) Japan;
                   (i) the Republic of Korea;
                   (j) Malaysia;
                  (k) Mexico;
                   (l) New Zealand;
                 (m) Papua New Guinea;
                  (n) Peru;
                  (o) the Republic of the Philippines;
                  (p) the Russian Federation;
                  (q) Singapore;
                   (r) Taiwan;
                  (s) Thailand;
                   (t) the United States of America;
                  (u) Vietnam.
               appropriate regional authority, in relation to a State or Territory and
               applications for visas of a particular class, means a Department or authority of
               that State or Territory that is specified in a legislative instrument made by the
               Minister in relation to the grant of visas of that class.
               approved form means a form approved by the Minister under section 495 of the
               Act or regulation 1.18, and a reference to an approved form by number is a
               reference to the form so approved and numbered.
               approved provider has the same meaning as in the Aged Care Act 1997.
               Arts Minister means the Minister responsible for administering the National
               Gallery Act 1975.
               ASCO means the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, Second
               Edition, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 31 July 1997.
               Note:     At the time this definition commenced, the standard was available at
                         http://www.abs.gov.au.

               Asia-Pacific forces member means a person who:
                (a) is a member of the armed forces of Brunei, Fiji, Malaysia, Thailand or
                    Tonga; and
                (b) is travelling to Australia, or is in Australia, in the course of his or her duty;
                    and








                  (c) holds military identity documents and movement orders issued from an
                      official source of the relevant country.
               assistance notice means a notice in writing, issued by the Minister, the Secretary
               or an SES employee or acting SES employee of the Department, in relation to a
               non-citizen, advising that:
                 (a) the non-citizen is required in Australia to assist in the administration of
                     criminal justice in relation to human trafficking, slavery or slavery-like
                     practices; and
                (b) satisfactory arrangements have been made to meet the cost of keeping the
                     non-citizen in Australia.
               associated entity, of a person, means an entity that is an associated entity of the
               person under section 50AAA of the Corporations Act 2001, determined as if that
               section applied in relation to entities including a body of the Commonwealth, a
               State or a Territory.
               associated with has a meaning affected by regulation 1.13B.
               assurance of support, in relation to an application for the grant of a visa, means
               an assurance of support under Chapter 2C of the Social Security Act 1991.
               AUD, in relation to an amount of money, means Australian dollars.
               AusAID means the body that was known as the Australian Agency for
               International Development.
               AusAID Minister means a Minister who was responsible for administering
               AusAID.
               Australian child order has the meaning given by subsection 70L(1) of the
               Family Law Act 1975.
               Note:     Subsection 70L(1) of the Family Law Act 1975 provides that an Australian child order
                         means:
                         (a) a Subdivision C parenting order; or
                         (b) a State child order.

               Australian International Shipping Register means the Register established by
               subsection 56(2) of the Shipping Registration Act 1981.
               Australian permanent resident means:
                (a) in relation to an applicant for a Return (Residence) (Class BB) visa—a
                    non-citizen who is the holder of a permanent visa; or
                (b) in any other case (other than in the case of an applicant for registration as a
                    migration agent under Part 3 of the Act)—a non-citizen who, being usually
                    resident in Australia, is the holder of a permanent visa.
               Note:     For paragraph 294(1)(b) of the Act, section 34 of the Migration Agents
                         Regulations 2026 specifies the persons who are Australian permanent residents for the
                         purposes of an applicant for registration as a migration agent under Part 3 of the Act.









               Australian relative, for an applicant, means a relative of the applicant who is an
               Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand
               citizen.
               Australian study requirement has the meaning given by regulation 1.15F.
               Australia Travel Declaration, in relation to the arrival of a person in Australia,
               means the digital declaration known by that name that is:
                (a) submitted by the person in respect of that arrival to the departmental
                    system that processes such declarations; or
                (b) if the person has submitted one or more subsequent digital declarations in
                    respect of that arrival—the most recently submitted declaration.
               authorised officer means an officer authorised by the Secretary for the purposes
               of the provision in which it occurs.
               award course means a course of education or training leading to:
                (a) the completion of a primary or secondary education program; or
                (b) a degree, diploma, trade certificate or other formal award.
               balance of family test has the meaning set out in regulation 1.05.
               base application charge means the charge explained in subregulation 2.12C(3).
               bilateral adoption arrangement means an arrangement between Australia and
               another country that allows the adoption of a child from the other country to be
               recognised in Australia under the Family Law (Bilateral Arrangements—
               Intercountry Adoption) Regulations 2023.
               British National (Overseas) passport means a passport issued by the United
               Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to a person who is identified in
               the passport as having a form of British nationality described as British National
               (Overseas).
               business innovation and investment points test means the test set out in
               Schedule 7A.
               Note:    This test relates to Business Skills (Provisional) (Class EB) visas.

               business visitor activity:
                (a) means any of the following activities undertaken by a person:
                      (i) making a general business or employment enquiry;
                     (ii) investigating, negotiating, entering into, or reviewing a business
                          contract;
                    (iii) an activity carried out as part of an official government to government
                          visit;
                    (iv) participation in a conference, trade fair or seminar in Australia unless
                          the person is being paid by an organiser for participation; but
                (b) does not include either of the following activities:
                      (i) an activity that is, or includes, undertaking work for, or supplying
                          services to, an organisation or other person based in Australia;







                       (ii) an activity that is, or includes, the sale of goods or services directly to
                            the general public.
               Note:      An example for paragraph (b) is making a general business enquiry of an organisation
                          based in Australia and also undertaking work for the organisation as part of
                          investigating a business opportunity.

               carer has the meaning given by regulation 1.15AA.
               carried out for an excluded employer: see subregulation 1.15FB(1).
               CEO of Austrade means the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Trade and
               Investment Commission referred to in section 7B of the Australian Trade and
               Investment Commission Act 1985.
               certifying entity has the meaning given by subregulation 1.15R(1).
               clearance officer has the meaning given by section 165 of the Act.
               Note:      the definition is:
                          clearance officer means an officer, or other person, authorised by the Minister to
                          perform duties for the purposes of [Division 5 of Part 2 of the Act].

               client number means a client identification number generated by an electronic
               system maintained by or on behalf of Immigration.
               close relative, in relation to a person, means:
                 (a) the spouse or de facto partner of the person; or
                 (b) a child, parent, brother or sister of the person; or
                 (c) a step-child, step-brother or step-sister of the person.
               CNI number means a central names index number generated by the National
               Automated Fingerprint Identification System maintained by or on behalf of the
               Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
               Commissioner means a Commissioner appointed under section 203 of the Act.
               Commonwealth country means each of the following countries:
                 (a) Antigua;
                 (b) Bahamas;
                 (c) Barbados;
                 (d) Belize;
                 (e) Canada;
                  (f) Grenada;
                 (g) Jamaica;
                 (h) Mauritius;
                  (j) New Zealand;
                 (k) Papua New Guinea;
                  (l) Saint Lucia;
                (m) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
                 (n) Solomon Islands;







                 (p) St Christopher and Nevis;
                 (q) Tuvalu;
                  (r) the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
               Commonwealth forces member means a person who:
                (a) is a member of the armed forces of a Commonwealth country; and
                (b) is travelling to Australia, or is in Australia, in the course of his or her duty;
                    and
                (c) holds military identity documents and movement orders issued from an
                    official source of the relevant country.
               Commonwealth Medical Officer means a medical practitioner employed or
               engaged by the Australian government.
               community safety order has the same meaning as in Division 395 of the
               Criminal Code.
               community services includes the provision of an Australian social security
               benefit, allowance or pension.
               compelling need to work has the meaning set out in regulation 1.08.
               competent authority, in relation to an adoption (including a prospective
               adoption), means:
                 (a) for Australia:
                       (i) in the case of an adoption to which the Adoption Convention
                           applies—a State Central Authority within the meaning of the Family
                           Law (Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption) Regulations 1998;
                           and
                      (ii) in the case of an adoption to which a bilateral adoption arrangement
                           applies—a competent authority within the meaning of paragraph (b)
                           of the definition of competent authority in subsection 4(1) of the
                           Family Law (Bilateral Arrangements—Intercountry Adoption)
                           Regulations 2023; and
                     (iii) in any other case—the child welfare authorities of an Australian State
                           or Territory; and
                (b) for an Adoption Convention country—a Central Authority within the
                     meaning of the Family Law (Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption)
                     Regulations 1998; and
                 (c) for an overseas jurisdiction that is declared under section 5 of the Family
                     Law (Bilateral Arrangements—Intercountry Adoption) Regulations 2023 to
                     be a prescribed overseas jurisdiction for the purposes of that instrument—a
                     person, body or office in the prescribed overseas jurisdiction responsible
                     for approving the adoption of children; and
                (d) for any other overseas country—a person, body or office in that overseas
                     country responsible for approving the adoption of children.
               competent English has the meaning given by regulation 1.15C.








               complying entrepreneur activity: see regulation 5.19E.
               complying investment—see regulation 5.19B.
               complying premium investment: see regulation 5.19D.
               complying significant investment: see regulation 5.19C.
               concession period: see regulation 1.15N.
               condition means a condition set out in a clause of Schedule 8, and a reference to
               a condition by number is a reference to the condition set out in the clause so
               numbered in that Schedule.
               confirmation of enrolment, in relation to a student and a registered provider
               (within the meaning of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000),
               means a confirmation by the registered provider that the student is enrolled in a
               registered course provided by the registered provider, as required by section 19
               of that Act.
               contact hours, for a course for a period, means the total number of hours in the
               period for which students enrolled in the course are scheduled to attend classes
               for teaching purposes, course-related information sessions, supervised study
               sessions and examinations.
               contributory parent newborn child means:
                 (a) a child (other than an adopted child) of a parent, born at a time when that
                     parent holds:
                       (i) a Subclass 173 (Contributory Parent (Temporary)) visa; or
                      (ii) a bridging visa if the last substantive visa held by that parent was a
                           Subclass 173 (Contributory Parent (Temporary)) visa; or
                (b) a child (other than an adopted child) of a parent, born at a time when that
                     parent holds:
                       (i) a Subclass 884 (Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)) visa; or
                      (ii) a bridging visa if the last substantive visa held by that parent was a
                           Subclass 884 (Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)) visa.
               core skills income threshold means $73,150.
               Note:     This amount is indexed under regulation 5.42A.

               COVID-19 affected visa means an offshore COVID-19 affected visa or an
               onshore COVID-19 affected visa.
               criminal detention has the meaning set out in regulation 1.09.
               critical technology means:
                 (a) technology of a kind specified for the purposes of this definition by the
                     Minister under subregulation 1.15Q(2); or
                (b) property of every description (whether tangible or intangible) that is:
                       (i) part of; or








                      (ii) a result of; or
                     (iii) used for the purposes of researching, testing, developing or
                           manufacturing;
               any technology of a kind specified for the purposes of this definition by the
               Minister under subregulation 1.15Q(2).
               custody, in relation to a child, means:
                (a) the right to have the daily care and control of the child; and
                (b) the right and responsibility to make decisions concerning the daily care and
                    control of the child.
               Defence means the Department of Defence.
               Defence Minister means the Minister for Defence.
               Defence student has the meaning given in regulation 1.04B.
               dependent has the meaning given by regulation 1.05A.
               dependent child, of a person, means the child or step-child of the person (other
               than a child or step-child who is engaged to be married or has a spouse
               or de facto partner), being a child or step-child who:
                 (a) has not turned 18; or
                 (b) has turned 18 and:
                       (i) is dependent on that person; or
                      (ii) is incapacitated for work due to the total or partial loss of the child’s
                           or step-child’s bodily or mental functions.
               designated APEC economy means an APEC economy specified in a legislative
               instrument made by the Minister for the purposes of this definition.
               designated area means an area specified as a designated area by the Minister in
               an instrument in writing for this definition.
               designated city or major regional centre has the meaning given by
               subregulation 1.15M(1).
               designated foreign dignitary means a person to whom subregulation 3.06A(1) or
               (5) applies.
               designated regional area means:
                (a) a designated city or major regional centre; or
                (b) a regional centre or other regional area.
               earnings has a meaning affected by regulation 2.57A.
               Education means the Department administered by the Education Minister.
               Education Minister means the Minister administering the Australian Education
               Act 2013.









               education provider, for a registered course in a location, means each institution,
               body or person that is a registered provider of the course in that location, for the
               Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.
               electronic communication has the same meaning as in the Electronic
               Transactions Act 1999.
               ELICOS means an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students
               that is a registered course.
               eligible business has the meaning given to it in subsection 134(10) of the Act.
               eligible New Zealand citizen means a New Zealand citizen who is a protected
               SCV holder within the meaning of section 7 of the Social Security Act 1991.
               Employment Minister means the Minister responsible for employment policy,
               including employment services.
               entertainment sponsor means a person who:
                (a) is an approved work sponsor; and
                (b) is approved as a work sponsor in relation to the entertainment sponsor class
                     by the Minister under subsection 140E(1) of the Act, on the basis of an
                     application made before 19 November 2016.
               entry permit has the meaning given by subsection 4(1) of the Act as in force
               immediately before 1 September 1994, and includes an entry visa operating as an
               entry permit.
               entry visa has the meaning given by subsections 4(1) and 17(5) of the Act as in
               force immediately before 1 September 1994.
               ETA-eligible passport has the meaning given in regulation 1.11B.
               eVisitor eligible passport has the meaning given by regulation 1.11C.
               financial institution means a body corporate that, as part of its normal activities,
               takes money on deposit and makes advances of money:
                 (a) under a regulatory regime:
                       (i) governed by the central bank (or its equivalent) of the country in
                           which the body corporate operates; and
                      (ii) that the Minister is satisfied provides effective prudential assurance;
                           and
                 (b) in a way that the Minister is satisfied complies with effective prudential
                     assurance requirements.
               fiscal year, in relation to a business or investment, means:
                 (a) if there is applicable to the business or investment by law an accounting
                     period of 12 months—that period; or
                 (b) in any other case—a period of 12 months approved by the Minister in
                     writing for that business or investment.








               Foreign Affairs means the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
               Foreign Affairs recipient: see subregulation 1.04A(2).
               Foreign Affairs student: see subregulation 1.04A(3).
               foreign armed forces dependant means a person who:
                 (a) is the spouse or de facto partner of, or a dependent relative of:
                       (i) an Asia-Pacific forces member; or
                      (ii) a Commonwealth forces member; or
                     (iii) a SOFA forces member, other than one who is, for the purposes of a
                           Status of Forces Agreement between Australia and Japan, a member
                           of the armed forces of Japan; or
                     (iv) a SOFA forces civilian component member, other than one who is, for
                           the purposes of a Status of Forces Agreement between Australia and
                           Japan, a member of the civilian component of the armed forces of
                           Japan; and
                 (b) holds a valid national passport and a certificate that he or she is the spouse
                     or de facto partner, or a dependent relative, of a person referred to in
                     subparagraph (a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv); and
                 (c) is accompanying or joining a person of that kind.
               Foreign Minister means the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
               foreign naval forces member means a person who forms part of the complement
               of a ship of the regular armed forces of a foreign government and is on board the
               ship.
               funded aged care service has the same meaning as in the Aged Care Act 2024.
               gateway airport has the meaning given by subregulation 5.41C(3).
               General Skilled Migration visa means a Subclass 175, 176, 189, 190, 475, 476,
               485, 487, 489, 491, 885, 886 or 887 visa, granted at any time.
               government entity means:
                (a) a Department, agency or authority of the Commonwealth, a State or a
                    Territory; or
                (b) a person who holds an office or appointment under a law of the
                    Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.
               guardian, in relation to a child, means a person who:
                (a) has responsibility for the long-term welfare of the child; and
                (b) has, in relation to the child, all the powers, rights and duties that are vested
                    by law or custom in the guardian of a child, other than:
                      (i) the right to have the daily care and control of the child; and
                     (ii) the right and responsibility to make decisions concerning the daily
                          care and control of the child.
               guest of Government means:







                 (a) an official guest of the Australian government; or
                 (b) a member of the immediate family of the official guest of the Australian
                     Government, who is accompanying the official guest.
               has an outstanding public health debt has the meaning given by
               regulation 1.15K.
               home country, in relation to a person, means:
                (a) the country of which the person is a citizen; or
                (b) if the person is not usually resident in that country, the country of which
                    the person is usually a resident.
               Hong Kong means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the
               People’s Republic of China.
               Hong Kong passport means a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the
               People’s Republic of China passport.
               human trafficking includes activities such as trafficking in persons, organ
               trafficking and debt bondage.
               IELTS test means the International English Language Testing System test.
               Immigration means the Department administered by the Minister administering
               the Migration Act 1958.
               in Australia means in the migration zone.
               international air carrier has the meaning given by subsection 504(6) of the Act.
               international traveller has the meaning given by subregulation 5.41C(3).
               Internet application means an application for a visa made using a form
               mentioned in paragraph 1.18(2)(b) that is sent to Immigration by electronic
               transmission using a facility made available at an Internet site mentioned in
               subparagraph 1.18(2)(b)(ii), in a way authorised by that facility.
               labour agreement has the meaning given by subregulation 2.75C(1).
               long stay activity sponsor means a person who:
                 (a) is an approved work sponsor; and
                 (b) is approved as a work sponsor in relation to the long stay activity sponsor
                     class by the Minister under subsection 140E(1) of the Act, on the basis of
                     an application made before 19 November 2016.
               long-term partner relationship, in relation to an applicant for a visa, means a
               relationship between the applicant and another person, each as the spouse
               or de facto partner of the other, that has continued:
                 (a) if there is a dependent child (other than a step-child) of both the applicant
                      and the other person—for not less than 2 years; or
                 (b) in any other case—for not less than 3 years.








               Macau means the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s
               Republic of China.
               main business has the meaning set out in regulation 1.11.
               managed fund means an investment to which all of the following apply:
                (a) the investment is made by a member:
                      (i) acquiring interests in a managed investment scheme (within the
                          meaning of the Corporations Act 2001); or
                     (ii) acquiring a financial product mentioned in paragraph 764A(1)(d), (e)
                          or (f) of the Corporations Act 2001 that may result in a payment from
                          an approved benefit fund (within the meaning of the Life Insurance
                          Act 1995), or a statutory fund maintained under the Life Insurance Act
                          1995;
                (b) the investment is not able to be traded on a financial market (within the
                    meaning of section 767A of the Corporations Act 2001);
                (c) if the investment is interests in a managed investment scheme—no
                    representation has been made to any member of the scheme that the
                    interests will be able to be traded on a financial market;
                (d) the issue of the interest or the financial product is covered by an Australian
                    financial services licence issued under section 913B of the Corporations
                    Act 2001.
               Medical Officer of the Commonwealth means a medical practitioner appointed
               by the Minister in writing under regulation 1.16AA to be a Medical Officer of
               the Commonwealth for the purposes of these Regulations.
               member of the crew, in relation to a non-military ship or superyacht:
                (a) means any of the following persons:
                      (i) a person who is involved in the usual day to day routine maintenance
                          or business of the ship or superyacht while it is at sea, including a
                          supernumerary member of the crew;
                     (ii) for a ship described in subparagraph (a)(ii) of the definition of
                          non-military ship—a person who is engaged in scientific research
                          conducted on or from the ship;
                    whether the person works as an employee, a contractor or in another
                    capacity; but
                (b) does not include a person who only works on a ship or superyacht while it
                    is in port or dry dock unless that person:
                      (i) travelled with the ship or superyacht to reach the port or dry dock; or
                     (ii) travels with the ship or superyacht after completing the work in port
                          or dry dock.
               member of the family unit has the meaning set out in regulation 1.12.
               Note:    For member of the same family unit, see subsection 5(1) of the Act.

               member of the immediate family has the meaning given by regulation 1.12AA.









               member of the Royal Family means a member of the Sovereign’s immediate
               family.
               member of the Royal party includes:
                (a) a member of the personal staff of the Sovereign who is accompanying the
                    Sovereign in Australia; and
                (b) a member of the personal staff of a member of the Royal Family, being a
                    staff member who is accompanying that member of the Royal Family in
                    Australia; and
                (c) a media representative accompanying the official party of the Sovereign or
                    of a member of the Royal Family in Australia; and
                (d) a person who is accompanying the Sovereign or a member of the Royal
                    Family in Australia as a member of the official party of the Sovereign or
                    the member of the Royal Family.
               Migration (1959) Regulations means the Regulations comprising Statutory
               Rules 1959 No. 35 and those Regulations as amended from time to time.
               Migration (1989) Regulations means the Regulations comprising Statutory
               Rules 1989 No. 365 and those Regulations as amended from time to time.
               Migration (1993) Regulations means the Regulations comprising Statutory
               Rules 1992 No. 367 and those Regulations as amended from time to time.
               Note:    The Migration (1993) Regulations are listed in full in Part 1 of the Schedule to the
                        Migration Reform (Transitional Provisions) Regulations. They are repealed by
                        regulation 42 of those Regulations but continue to apply to certain matters.

               nomination end day, in relation to a nomination under subsection 140GB(1) of
               the Act, means the day 3 months after the sponsorship end day in relation to the
               nomination.
               nominator has the meaning given by regulation 1.13.
               non-award course means a course of education or training that is not an award
               course.
               non-Internet application charge means the charge explained in
               subregulations 2.12C(7) to (9).
               non-military ship:
                (a) means a ship:
                      (i) that is engaged in:
                              (A) commercial trade; or
                              (B) the carriage of passengers for reward; or
                     (ii) that is owned and operated by a foreign government for the purposes
                          of scientific research; or
                    (iii) that has been accorded public vessel status by Foreign Affairs; or
                    (iv) that:
                              (A) has been imported under section 49A of the Customs Act
                                   1901; and







                               (B) is registered in the Australian International Shipping Register;
                                   or
                      (v) that:
                               (A) has been entered for home consumption under section 71A of
                                   that Act; and
                               (B) is registered in the Australian International Shipping Register;
                                   and
                 (b) does not include a ship:
                       (i) that:
                               (A) has been imported under section 49A of the Customs Act
                                   1901; and
                               (B) is not registered in the Australian International Shipping
                                   Register; or
                      (ii) that:
                               (A) has been entered for home consumption under section 71A of
                                   that Act; and
                               (B) is not registered in the Australian International Shipping
                                   Register.
               non-monetary benefits has the meaning given by subregulation 2.57A(3).
               office of Immigration includes an office occupied by an officer of Immigration
               at an airport or a detention centre.
               offshore COVID-19 affected visa means:
                 (a) a Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa, or a Subclass 462 (Work and
                     Holiday) visa, covered by subregulation 1.15P(1); or
                (b) a Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa, or a Subclass 462 (Work and
                     Holiday) visa, of a kind specified for the purposes of this definition by the
                     Minister under subregulation 1.15P(2).
               onshore COVID-19 affected visa means:
                (a) a Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa, or a Subclass 462 (Work and
                    Holiday) visa, covered by subregulation 1.15P(2A); or
                (b) a Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa, or a Subclass 462 (Work and
                    Holiday) visa, of a kind specified for the purposes of this definition by the
                    Minister under subregulation 1.15P(2B).
               oral application, in relation to a visa, means an application made in accordance
               with regulation 2.09.
               orphan relative has the meaning set out in regulation 1.14.
               outside Australia means outside the migration zone.
               outstanding: a parent visa application is outstanding if none of the following has
               occurred:
                (a) the application has been withdrawn;








                 (b) each decision that has been made in respect of the application is not, or is
                     no longer, subject to any form of review by the ART or judicial review
                     proceedings (including proceedings on appeal);
                 (c) a decision that has been made in respect of the application was subject to
                     review by the ART or judicial review proceedings (including proceedings
                     on appeal) but the period within which such a review or such review
                     proceedings could be instituted has ended without a review or review
                     proceedings having been instituted as prescribed.
               overseas business sponsor means a standard business sponsor who was lawfully
               operating a business outside Australia and was not lawfully operating a business
               in Australia at the time:
                 (a) the approval as a standard business sponsor was granted; or
                 (b) if a term of the approval as a standard business sponsor has been varied—
                     of the most recent variation.
               overseas flight has the meaning given by subregulation 5.41C(3).
               overseas passenger means:
                (a) in relation to a vessel arriving at a port in Australia in the course of, or at
                    the conclusion of, an overseas voyage—a passenger:
                      (i) who:
                              (A) was on board the vessel when it left a place outside Australia
                                   at the commencement of, or during the course of, the voyage;
                                   and
                              (B) whose journey in the vessel ends in Australia; or
                     (ii) who:
                              (A) was on board the vessel when it left a place outside Australia
                                   at the commencement of, or during the course of, the voyage;
                                   and
                              (B) intends to journey in the vessel to a place outside Australia;
                                   and
                (b) in relation to a vessel leaving a port in Australia and bound for or calling at
                    a place outside Australia—a passenger on board the vessel who:
                      (i) joined the vessel at a port in Australia; and
                     (ii) intends to journey in the vessel to or beyond that place outside
                          Australia.
               Note:     Under the Act, vessel includes an aircraft, and port includes an airport.

               overseas voyage, in relation to a vessel, means a voyage that commenced at, or
               during which the vessel called at, a place outside Australia.
               ownership interest has the meaning given to it in subsection 134(10) of the Act.
               parenting order has the meaning given by subsection 64B(1) of the Family Law
               Act 1975.
               parent sponsor means a person who has been approved as a family sponsor in
               relation to the parent sponsor class under subsection 140E(1A) of the Act.







               parent visa means a visa of a class that is specified in Schedule 1 using the word
               ‘parent’ in the title of the visa.
               parole means conditional release from prison before the completion of a sentence
               of imprisonment.
               passenger card means a card of the kind referred to in section 506 of the Act.
               periodic detention means a system of restriction of liberty by which periods at
               liberty alternate with periods in prison, and includes the systems of intermittent
               imprisonment known as day release and weekend release.
               permanent humanitarian visa means:
                 (a) a Subclass 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 215, 216, 217
                     or 866 visa; or
                (aa) a Resolution of Status (Class CD) visa; or
                 (b) a Group 1.3 or Group 1.5 (Permanent resident (refugee and humanitarian))
                     visa or entry permit within the meaning of the Migration (1993)
                     Regulations; or
                 (c) a humanitarian visa, or equivalent entry permit, within the meaning of the
                     Migration (1989) Regulations; or
                 (d) a transitional (permanent) visa, within the meaning of the Migration
                     Reform (Transitional Provisions) Regulations, being:
                       (i) such a visa granted on the basis of an application for a visa, or entry
                           permit, of a kind specified in paragraph (b) or (c); or
                      (ii) a visa or entry permit of a kind specified in paragraph (b) or (c)
                           having effect under those Regulations as a transitional (permanent)
                           visa.
               personal identifier has the meaning given by section 5A of the Act.
               petroleum has the same meaning as in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse
               Gas Storage Act 2006.
               petroleum export tanker crew member: a person is a petroleum export tanker
               crew member if:
                 (a) the person is a member of the crew of a non-military ship; and
                (b) the person enters one or more areas while on board the ship to participate
                     in, or support, an offshore resources activity in relation to that area or those
                     areas involving the recovery of petroleum; and
                 (c) under subsection 9A(1) of the Act, the person is taken, for the purposes of
                     the Act, to be in the migration zone while the person is in the area or those
                     areas to participate in, or support, such an activity; and
                (d) before the person so enters the area, or the first of the areas, the ship’s last
                     port of departure was a port outside Australia; and
                 (e) the recovered petroleum will be received by the ship for export; and
                 (f) the person will depart from the area, or the last of the areas, on board the
                     ship for a port outside Australia.








               points system means the system of assessment under Subdivision B of Division 3
               of Part 2 of the Act.
               PRC means the People’s Republic of China.
               prescribed form means a form set out in Schedule 10, and a reference to a
               prescribed form by number is a reference to the form so numbered in that
               Schedule.
               primary sponsored person has the meaning given by subregulation 2.57(1).
               professional development sponsor means a person who:
                (a) is an approved work sponsor; and
                (b) is approved as a work sponsor in relation to the professional development
                    sponsor class by the Minister under subsection 140E(1) of the Act, on the
                    basis of an application made before 19 November 2016.
               proficient English has the meaning given by regulation 1.15D.
               program of seasonal work means arrangements for the performance of seasonal
               work in Australia that have been approved, in writing, by the Secretary of a
               Commonwealth Department as a program of seasonal work for the purposes of
               this definition.
               prohibited non-citizen means a person who, on or before 18 December 1989,
               was a prohibited non-citizen within the meaning of the Act as in force at that
               time.
               proliferation of weapons of mass destruction includes directly or indirectly
               assisting in the development, production, trafficking, acquisition or stockpiling
               of:
                 (a) weapons that may be capable of causing mass destruction; or
                (b) missiles or other devices that may be capable of delivering such weapons.
               protection visa has the meaning given by section 35A of the Act.
               Note:    Section 35A of the Act covers the following:
                        (a) permanent protection visas (classified by these Regulations as Protection (Class
                             XA) visas when this definition commenced);
                        (b) other protection visas formerly provided for by subsection 36(1) of the Act;
                        (c) temporary protection visas (classified by these Regulations as Temporary
                             Protection (Class XD) visas when this definition commenced);
                        (d) any additional classes of permanent or temporary visas that are prescribed as
                             protection visas by the regulations.
                        See also section 36 and Subdivision AL of Division 3 of Part 2 of the Act.

               public interest criterion means a criterion set out in a clause of Part 1 of
               Schedule 4, and a reference to a public interest criterion by number is a reference
               to the criterion set out in the clause so numbered in that Part.
               qualifying business means an enterprise that:









                 (a) is operated for the purpose of making profit through the provision of goods,
                     services or goods and services (other than the provision of rental property)
                     to the public; and
                 (b) is not operated primarily or substantially for the purpose of speculative or
                     passive investment.
               regional centre or other regional area has the meaning given by
               subregulation 1.15M(2).
               regional provisional visa means:
                 (a) a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa; or
                 (b) a Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visa.
               registered course means a course of education or training provided by an
               institution, body or person that is registered, under Division 3 of Part 2 of the
               Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000, to provide the course to
               overseas students.
               Note:     A current list of registered courses appears in the Commonwealth Register of
                         Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students kept under section 14A of the
                         Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.

               registered provider has the same meaning as in the Aged Care Act 2024.
               relative, in relation to a person, means:
                 (a) in the case of an applicant for a Subclass 200 (Refugee) visa or a protection
                     visa:
                       (i) a close relative; or
                      (ii) a grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew, or a
                           step-grandparent, step-grandchild, step-aunt, step-uncle, step-niece or
                           step-nephew; or
                     (iii) a first or second cousin; or
                 (b) in any other case:
                       (i) a close relative; or
                      (ii) a grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew, or a
                           step-grandparent, step-grandchild, step-aunt, step-uncle, step-niece or
                           step-nephew.
               Note:     Close relative is defined in this regulation: see above.

               relevant assessing authority means a person or body specified under
               regulation 2.26B.
               religious institution means a body:
                 (a) the activities of which reflect that it is a body instituted for the promotion
                     of a religious object; and
                 (b) the beliefs and practices of the members of which constitute a religion due
                     to those members:
                       (i) believing in a supernatural being, thing or principle; and









                      (ii) accepting the canons of conduct that give effect to that belief, but that
                           do not offend against the ordinary laws; and
                 (c) that meets the requirements of section 50-50 of the Income Tax Assessment
                     Act 1997; and
                 (d) the income of which is exempt from income tax under section 50-1 of that
                     Act.
               remaining relative has the meaning set out in regulation 1.15.
               Schedule 3 criterion means a criterion set out in a clause of Schedule 3, and a
               reference to a Schedule 3 criterion by number is a reference to the criterion set
               out in the clause so numbered in that Schedule.
               school-age dependant, in relation to a person, means a member of the family
               unit of the person who has turned 5, but has not turned 18.
               score, in relation to a language test, means any score or result, however
               described, from the test, including any combination of scores or results from the
               test or components of the test.
               secondary exchange student means an overseas secondary school student
               participating in a secondary school student exchange program approved by the
               State or Territory education authority that administers the program.
               secondary sponsored person has the meaning given by subregulation 2.57(1).
               Secretary of Social Services means the Secretary of the Department that is
               administered by the Minister administering section 1061ZZGD of the Social
               Security Act 1991.
               settled, in relation to an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or
               an eligible New Zealand citizen, means lawfully resident in Australia for a
               reasonable period.
               skilled occupation has the meaning given by regulation 1.15I.
               Skills Assessment Department means the Department administered by the Skills
               Assessment Minister.
               Skills Assessment Minister means the Minister responsible for skills assessment
               services.
               Skills Assessment Secretary means the Secretary of the Skills Assessment
               Department.
               SOFA forces civilian component member means a person who:
                (a) is, for the purposes of a Status of Forces Agreement between Australia and
                    France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic
                    of the Philippines, Singapore, Turkey or the United States of America, a
                    member of the civilian component of the armed forces of one of those
                    countries; and









                 (b) holds a national passport that is in force and a certificate that he or she is a
                     member of the civilian component of the armed forces of the relevant
                     country.
               SOFA forces member means a person who:
                (a) is, for the purposes of a Status of Forces Agreement between Australia and
                    France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic
                    of the Philippines, Singapore, Turkey or the United States of America, a
                    member of the armed forces of one of those countries; and
                (b) holds military identity documents and movement orders issued from an
                    official source of the relevant country.
               specialist skills income threshold means $135,000.
               Note:     This amount is indexed under regulation 5.42A.

               special processing area has the meaning given by subregulation 5.41C(3).
               special program sponsor means a person who:
                 (a) is an approved work sponsor; and
                (b) is approved as a work sponsor in relation to the special program sponsor
                     class by the Minister under subsection 140E(1) of the Act, on the basis of
                     an application made before 19 November 2016.
               special return criterion means a criterion set out in a clause of Schedule 5, and a
               reference to a special return criterion by number is a reference to the criterion set
               out in the clause so numbered in that Schedule.
               specified Subclass 417 work means work that:
                 (a) was carried out in one or more areas of Australia specified for the purposes
                     of this definition by the Minister under regulation 1.15FAA; and
                (b) was of one or more kinds specified for the purposes of this definition by
                     the Minister under regulation 1.15FAA.
               specified Subclass 462 work means work that:
                 (a) was carried out in one or more areas of Australia specified for the purposes
                     of this definition by the Minister under regulation 1.15FA; and
                (b) was of one or more kinds specified for the purposes of this definition by
                     the Minister under regulation 1.15FA.
               sponsor has the meaning given by subregulation 1.20(1).
               sponsorship means an undertaking of the kind referred to in regulation 1.20 to
               sponsor an applicant.
               sponsorship end day, in relation to a nomination under subsection 140GB(1) of
               the Act, means the day on which the approval as a standard business sponsor of
               the person who made the nomination ceases.
               standard business sponsor means a person who:
                 (a) is an approved work sponsor; and








                 (b) is approved as a work sponsor in relation to the standard business sponsor
                     class by the Minister under subsection 140E(1) of the Act.
               statutory function has the meaning given by subregulation 5.41C(3).
               step-child, in relation to a parent, means:
                 (a) a person who is not the child of the parent but who is the child of the
                     parent’s current spouse or de facto partner; or
                 (b) a person who is not the child of the parent but:
                       (i) who is the child of the parent’s former spouse or
                           former de facto partner; and
                      (ii) who has not turned 18; and
                     (iii) in relation to whom the parent has:
                               (A) a parenting order in force under the Family Law Act 1975
                                     under which the parent is the person with whom a child is to
                                     live, or who is to be responsible for the child’s long-term or
                                     day-to-day care, welfare and development; or
                               (B) guardianship or custody, whether jointly or otherwise, under a
                                     Commonwealth, State or Territory law or a law in force in a
                                     foreign country.
               student visa means any of the following subclasses of visa:
                (aa) a Subclass 500 (Student) visa;
                 (a) a Subclass 570 (Independent ELICOS Sector) visa;
                 (b) a Subclass 571 (Schools Sector) visa;
                 (c) a Subclass 572 (Vocational Education and Training Sector) visa;
                 (d) a Subclass 573 (Higher Education Sector) visa;
                 (e) a Subclass 574 (Postgraduate Research Sector) visa;
                  (f) a Subclass 575 (Non-Award Sector) visa;
                 (g) a Subclass 576 (Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector) visa.
               Subclass 420 (Entertainment) visa includes a Subclass 420 (Temporary Work
               (Entertainment)) visa.
               Note:     Amendments of these Regulations that commenced on 24 November 2012 renamed the
                         Subclass 420 (Entertainment) visa.

               Subclass 576 (Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector) visa includes a Subclass 576
               (AusAID or Defence Sector) visa.
               Note:     Amendments of these Regulations that commenced on 1 July 2014 renamed the
                         Subclass 576 (AusAID or Defence Sector) visa.

               subsequent temporary application charge means the charge explained in
               subregulations 2.12C(5) and (6).
               substituted Subclass 600 visa means:
                 (a) a Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa that was granted following a decision by the
                     Minister to substitute a more favourable decision under section 351 or
                     501J, or repealed section 417, of the Act; or







                 (b) a Subclass 676 (Tourist) visa that was granted, before 23 March 2013,
                     following a decision by the Minister to substitute a more favourable
                     decision under section 351 or 501J, or repealed section 417, of the Act.
               Note:     Before these Regulations were amended on 23 March 2013, a visa described in
                         paragraph (b) was referred to as a “substituted Subclass 676 visa”.

               superior English has the meaning given by regulation 1.15EA.
               superyacht means a sailing ship or motor vessel of a kind that is specified by the
               Minister under regulation 1.15G to be a superyacht.
               superyacht crew sponsor means a person who:
                 (a) is an approved work sponsor; and
                (b) is approved as a work sponsor in relation to the superyacht crew sponsor
                     class by the Minister under subsection 140E(1) of the Act, on the basis of
                     an application made before 19 November 2016.
               temporary activities sponsor means a person who:
                 (a) is an approved work sponsor; and
                 (b) is approved as a work sponsor in relation to the temporary activities
                     sponsor class by the Minister under subsection 140E(1) of the Act.
               temporary work sponsor means any of the following:
                 (a) a special program sponsor;
                 (b) an entertainment sponsor;
                 (c) a superyacht crew sponsor;
                 (d) a long stay activity sponsor;
                 (e) a training and research sponsor.
               the Act means the Migration Act 1958.
               tourism means participation in activities of a recreational nature including
               amateur sporting activities, informal study courses, relaxation, sightseeing and
               travel.
               TPV/SHEV transition day means the day Schedule 1 to the Migration
               Amendment (Transitioning TPV/SHEV Holders to Resolution of Status Visas)
               Regulations 2023 commences.
               training and research sponsor means a person who:
                 (a) is an approved work sponsor; and
                 (b) is approved as a work sponsor in relation to the training and research
                     sponsor class by the Minister under subsection 140E(1) of the Act, on the
                     basis of an application made before 19 November 2016.
               transitional 457 worker means a person who held a Subclass 457 (Temporary
               Work (Skilled)) visa at any time occurring on or after 18 April 2017.
               transitional 482 worker means a person who on 20 March 2019:









                 (a) held a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa in the Medium-term
                     stream; or
                 (b) was an applicant for a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa in the
                     Medium-term stream that was subsequently granted.
               transit passenger means a person who:
                 (a) enters Australia by aircraft; and
                 (b) holds a confirmed onward booking to leave Australia to travel to a third
                     country on the same or another aircraft within 8 hours of the person’s
                     arrival in Australia; and
                 (d) holds documentation necessary to enter the country of his or her
                     destination.
               unwanted transfer of critical technology has the meaning given by
               subregulation 1.15Q(1).
               vocational English has the meaning given in regulation 1.15B.
               weapons of mass destruction determination means a determination mentioned
               in any of the following provisions:
                 (a) sub-subparagraph 2.43(1)(a)(i)(B);
                 (b) subparagraph 2.43(1)(a)(ii);
                 (c) paragraph (b) of public interest criterion 4003;
                 (d) public interest criterion 4003A.
               work means an activity that, in Australia, normally attracts remuneration.
               working age means:
                (a) in the case of a female, under 60 years of age; and
                (b) in the case of a male, under 65 years of age.
               workplace exploitation matter has the meaning given by subregulation 1.15R(2).
