# Notification of decision on visa application

> reg-2.16 — as in force on 2026-06-01 — F2026C00497 · Compilation No. 287 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026C00497/latest/text

2.16 Notification of decision on visa application
          (1) For subsections 66(1) and 501G(3) of the Act (which deal with giving notice of
              decisions), this regulation sets out the way of notifying a person of a decision to
              grant or refuse to grant a visa.

               Grant of visa
          (2) If the visa is a bridging visa granted at the same time as a substantive visa, the
              Minister must notify the applicant of the grant of the bridging visa by notifying
              the applicant of the grant of the substantive visa.
        (2A) If the visa:
               (a) is a special category visa; and
               (b) has been granted using an authorised system in accordance with an
                    arrangement made under subsection 495A(1) of the Act;
             the Minister must notify the applicant of the grant of the visa by a general notice
             in immigration clearance.
        (2D) If neither subregulation (2) nor subregulation (2A) applies, the Minister must
             notify the applicant of the grant of the visa by:
               (a) telling the applicant orally that the visa has been granted; or
               (b) notifying the applicant by one of the methods specified in section 494B of
                    the Act.
               Note:      If the Minister gives a person a document by a method specified in section 494B of the
                          Act, the person is taken to have received the document at the time specified in
                          section 494C of the Act in respect of the method.








               Refusal to grant visa
          (3) The Minister must notify an applicant of a decision to refuse to grant a visa by
              one of the methods specified in section 494B of the Act.
               Note:    If the Minister gives a person a document by a method specified in section 494B of the
                        Act, the person is taken to have received the document at the time specified in
                        section 494C of the Act in respect of the method.









Division 2.5—Bridging visas