Migration (Nil VAC Arrangements and Other Matters) Instrument 2026

I, Julian Hill, Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, make the following instrument.

Dated  26 June 2026

Julian Hill

Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary

1  Name

2  Commencement

3  Authority

4  Schedules

5  Definitions

Part 2—Nil VAC arrangements

Division 1—Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

6  Definitions

7  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 400 visa—all streams

8  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 600 visa—Business Visitor and Tourist streams

9  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 408 visa—Invited Participant in an event

Division 2—Workplace Justice visa

10  Class of persons—Workplace Justice visa applicants

Division 3—2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup

11  Definitions

12  Specified event for paragraph 408.229(b)

13  Specified class of persons for paragraph 408.229(c)

14  Visa application charge

15  Repeal

Division 4—Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Subdivision 1—Definitions

16  Definitions

Subdivision 2—Subclass 600 visa

17  Class of persons for nil VAC—Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Subdivision 3—Subclass 408 visa

18  Specified event for paragraph 408.229(b)

19  Specified class of persons for paragraph 408.229(c)

20  Visa application charge

21  Repeal

Division 5—Other nil VAC arrangements

Subdivision 1—Pacific Australia Card

22  Definitions

23  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 600 visa—Business Visitor and Tourist streams

Subdivision 2—Family of passengers or crew of MH370

24  Definitions

25  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 600 visa—Tourist stream

Subdivision 3—Eligible sponsor and supporter

26  Definitions

27  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 408 visa—Entertainment stream

Subdivision 4—Emergency services

28  Class of persons for nil VAC – subclass 400 visa—all streams

Part 3—Application and transitional provisions

29  Application of Part 2

Schedule 1—Repeals

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC for Subclass 600 (Visitor) Visa Applications—Pacific Australia Card Holders) Specification 2025

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—CCAMLR) Instrument (LIN 24/036) 2024

Migration (2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup—Class of Persons for Nil VAC) Instrument 2025

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—Workplace Justice Visa) Instrument (LIN 24/056) 2024

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC for Subclass 408 Visas—Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games) Instrument 2025

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—LIN 24/008) Specification 2024

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC for Subclass 600 (Visitor) Visa Applications—Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games) Specification 2025

Migration (Class of Persons for Class GG visa and Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa) Instrument 2019/193

Class of Persons for Reduced Visa Application Charge for Temporary Activity (Class GG) Visa 2016/117

Specification of Class of Persons (Emergency Services) 2016/114

Schedule 2—Amendments

Migration (IMMI 18/033: Specification of Income Threshold and Annual Earnings and Methodology of Annual Market Salary Rate) Instrument 2018

Part 1—Preliminary

1  Name

  This instrument is the Migration (Nil VAC Arrangements and Other Matters) Instrument 2026.

2  Commencement

 (1)  Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.

3  Authority

  This instrument is made under the Migration Regulations 1994, including the following provisions:

 (a) subregulation 2.07(5) for sub-subparagraph 1231(2)(a)(iv)(A) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations;

 (b) subregulation 2.07(5) for subparagraph 1236(2)(a)(ii) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations;

 (c) subregulation 2.07(5) for subparagraph 1237(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations;

 (d) paragraphs 408.229(b) and 408.229(c) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

4  Schedules

  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

5  Definitions

Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Migration Act 1958 or the Migration Regulations 1994, including the following:

(a) member of the family unit;

(b) visa application charge.

  In this instrument:

Migration Regulations means the Migration Regulations 1994.

subclass 400 visa means a Subclass 400 (Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)) visa.

subclass 408 visa means a Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa.

subclass 600 visa means a Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa.

VAC means visa application charge.

Part 2—Nil VAC arrangements

Division 1—Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

6  Definitions

  In this Part:

CCAMLR means the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

CCAMLR applicant means an applicant for a visa who has official business with CCAMLR, including subsidiary bodies established by CCAMLR and the Scientific Committee, as:

 (a) a representative of a Party; or

 (b) a staff member of CCAMLR; or

 (c) an expert or consultant on missions for CCAMLR; or

 (d) an observer to CCAMLR.

Convention means the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources drawn up at Canberra on 20 May 1980, which entered into force on 7 April 1982.

Expert means a person performing short term or temporary projects on behalf of CCAMLR and includes a person serving on the Scientific Committee or on another committee of CCAMLR or participating in the work of or performing a mission on behalf of CCAMLR or the Scientific Committee, without necessarily receiving remuneration from CCAMLR or the Scientific Committee, but does not include staff members.

family member means a person who is a member of the family unit of a person mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of CCAMLR applicant.

Observer to CCAMLR means a person who:

 (a) has been invited by CCAMLR or the Scientific Committee to attend their meetings or the meetings of their subsidiary bodies; and

 (b) is so invited as a representative of an organisation, including an intergovernmental or non-governmental organisation.

Party means a Party to the Convention.

Representative of a Party means a representative of a Party to the Convention in attendance at Conferences or meetings convened by CCAMLR or subsidiary bodies established by CCAMLR or the Scientific Committee and includes delegates, alternates, advisers, technical experts, and secretaries of delegations.

Scientific Committee means the Scientific Committee of CCAMLR and subsidiary bodies established by the Scientific Committee.

staff member means the Executive Secretary and all persons appointed or recruited for full-time employment with CCAMLR and subject to its staff regulations, but does not include:

 (a) experts; or

 (b) persons recruited locally and assigned to hourly rates of pay.

7  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 400 visa—all streams

  For sub-subparagraph 1231(2)(a)(iv)(A) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, a CCAMLR applicant or family member is specified.

8  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 600 visa—Business Visitor and Tourist streams

  For subparagraph 1236(2)(a)(ii) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, a CCAMLR applicant or family member who is seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for a subclass 600 visa in one of the following streams is specified:

 (a) the Business Visitor stream; or

 (b) the Tourist stream.

9  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 408 visa—Invited Participant in an event

  For subparagraph 1237(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations:

 (a) a CCAMLR applicant or family member who is seeking to satisfy the criterion in clause 408.219A of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations on the basis of clause 408.221 of that Schedule is specified; or

 (b) an applicant who is seeking to satisfy the secondary criteria for the grant of a subclass 408 visa on the basis that the applicant is a family member of a person who:

 (i) holds a subclass 408 visa; and

 (ii) at the time of applying for the visa, the person was in the class of persons covered by paragraph (a) as a CCAMLR applicant.

Division 2—Workplace Justice visa

10  Class of persons—Workplace Justice visa applicants

  For the purposes of subparagraph 1237(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, an applicant who is seeking to satisfy the criterion in clause 408.219A of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations on the basis of clause 408.228A (Workplace Justice) of that Schedule is specified.

Division 3—2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup

11  Definitions

  In this Division:

2027 Men's Rugby World Cup means the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup hosted by Australia from 1 October 2027 to 13 November 2027.

local organising committee means Rugby World Cup (Australia) Pty Ltd (ABN: 33 666 859 641), which is the entity responsible for the operational delivery of the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup.

Rugby World Cup Limited means the wholly-owned subsidiary of World Rugby that is responsible for the organisation of the Rugby World Cup.

World Rugby means the global governing body for the sport of rugby union, whose headquarters is located in Dublin, Ireland.

12  Specified event for paragraph 408.229(b)

  For paragraph 408.229(b) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations, the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup is a specified event.

13  Specified class of persons for paragraph 408.229(c)

  For paragraph 408.229(c) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations, the class of persons specified, in relation to the event specified in section 12, is a person who is:

 (a) approved for accreditation for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup by the local organising committee; and

 (b) any of the following persons:

 (i) Rugby World Cup Limited personnel;

 (ii) 2027 Rugby World Cup personnel;

 (iii) a member of a competing team;

 (iv) a tournament official;

 (v) other accredited persons required to perform certain tournament functions in Australia.

14  Visa application charge

  For subparagraph 1237(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, the specified class of persons is a person who is:

 (a) seeking to satisfy clause 408.229 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations; and

 (b) in the class of persons specified in section 13.

15  Repeal

  This Division is repealed on 14 November 2027.

Division 4—Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Subdivision 1—Definitions

16  Definitions

  In this Division:

Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games means the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games being hosted by Brisbane, Australia from 23 July 2032 to 5 September 2032.

Organising Committee means the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games (ABN: 49 672 341 604), which is the entity responsible for the organisation and operational delivery of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Subdivision 2—Subclass 600 visa

17  Class of persons for nil VAC—Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

  For subparagraph 1236(2)(a)(ii) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, a person is specified to be in a class of persons if:

 (a) the person seeks to satisfy the primary criteria for the grant of a subclass 600 visa:

 (i) in the Tourist stream as set out in Subdivision 600.22 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations; or

 (ii) in the Business Visitor stream as set out in Subdivision 600.24 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations; and

 (b) the person is invited by the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee to attend meetings and for purposes relating to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Subdivision 3—Subclass 408 visa

18  Specified event for paragraph 408.229(b)

  For paragraph 408.229(b) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations, the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a specified event.

19  Specified class of persons for paragraph 408.229(c)

  For paragraph 408.229(c) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations, the class of persons specified in relation to the event specified in section 18 is a person who is:

 (a) approved for accreditation for the event by the Organising Committee; and

 (b) a member or personnel of any of the following:

 (i) the International Olympic Committee (IOC);

 (ii) IOC Controlled entities;

 (iii) National Olympic Committees;

 (iv) International Federations;

 (v) Rights-Holding Broadcasters;

 (vi) the Official Timekeeper;

 (vii)  IOC Marketing Partners;

 (viii)  Media.

20  Visa application charge

  For subparagraph 1237(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, the specified class of persons is a person who is:

 (a) seeking to satisfy clause 408.229 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations; and

 (b) in the class of persons specified in section 19.

21  Repeal

  This Subdivision is repealed on 6 September 2032.

Division 5—Other nil VAC arrangements

Subdivision 1—Pacific Australia Card

22  Definitions

  In this Subdivision:

Pacific Australia Card means a card by that name issued to a person by the Government of Australia.

23  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 600 visa—Business Visitor and Tourist streams

  For subparagraph 1236(2)(a)(ii) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, a person (the applicant) is specified to be in a class of persons if:

 (a) the person holds a valid Pacific Australia Card; and

 (b) the person seeks to satisfy the primary criteria for the grant of a subclass 600 visa:

 (i) in the Tourist stream as set out in Subdivision 600.22 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations; or

 (ii) in the Business Visitor stream as set out in Subdivision 600.24 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations; and

 (c) the person is outside Australia at the time of application.

Subdivision 2—Family of passengers or crew of MH370

24  Definitions

  In this Subdivision:

member of the family unit has the same meaning as in subregulation 1.12(2) of the Migration Regulations.

MH370 means Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (aircraft registration 9M‑MRO).

25  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 600 visa—Tourist stream

  An applicant for a subclass 600 visa in the Tourist stream who is:

 (a) a member of the family unit of a passenger or member of the crew on board MH370; or

 (b) a representative of the family of a passenger or member of the crew on board MH370, who is:

 (i) approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China; or

 (ii) approved by the Department of Home Affairs and Malaysia Airlines;

is in a class of persons specified for subparagraph 1236(2)(a)(ii) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations.

Subdivision 3—Eligible sponsor and supporter

26  Definitions

  In this Subdivision:

eligible sponsor has the same meaning as defined in subclause 408.229A(9) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations.

eligible supporter has the same meaning as defined in subclause 408.229A(10) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations.

27  Class of persons for nil VAC—subclass 408 visa—Entertainment stream

  For the purposes of subparagraph 1237(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, the specified class of persons is:

 (a) a person (the applicant) who is seeking to satisfy clause 408.219A of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations on the basis of clause 408.229A of Schedule 2 to the Regulations; and

 (b) a person in relation to whom there is an eligible sponsor or eligible supporter who is one of the following:

 (i) a charity registered by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission;

 (ii) an agency of the Commonwealth;

 (iii) an agency of a State;

 (iv) an agency of a Territory;

 (v) an agency, Embassy or Consulate of a foreign government;

 (vi) the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art;

 (vii) the Australian Grand Prix, where the sponsorship or support relates to the Formula One Australian Grand Prix or the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix;

 (viii) PI SBK Pty Ltd, where the sponsorship or support relates to Superbike events;

 (ix) Major Brisbane Festivals Pty Ltd;

 (x) DarkLab Pty Ltd, where the sponsorship or support relates to the Dark Mofo Festival;

 (xi) Moorilla Estate Pty Ltd, where the sponsorship or support relates to the Mona Foma; and

 (c) a person who will only engage in entertainment activities that are organised by or on behalf of an eligible sponsor or eligible supporter listed in paragraph (b).

Subdivision 4—Emergency services

28  Class of persons for nil VAC – subclass 400 visa—all streams

  For sub-subparagraph 1231(2)(a)(iv)(A) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, the specified class of persons is a person who has been invited to Australia by the Australian Government, or by an Australian State or Territory government, to assist in providing emergency services in connection with a disaster or emergency.

Part 3—Application and transitional provisions

29  Application of Part 2

  Part 2 of this instrument applies in relation to a visa application made on or after 1 July 2026.

Schedule 1—Repeals

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC for Subclass 600 (Visitor) Visa Applications—Pacific Australia Card Holders) Specification 2025

1  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—CCAMLR) Instrument (LIN 24/036) 2024

2  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Migration (2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup—Class of Persons for Nil VAC) Instrument 2025

3  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—Workplace Justice Visa) Instrument (LIN 24/056) 2024

4  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC for Subclass 408 Visas—Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games) Instrument 2025

5  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—LIN 24/008) Specification 2024

6  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC for Subclass 600 (Visitor) Visa Applications—Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games) Specification 2025

7  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Migration (Class of Persons for Class GG visa and Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa) Instrument 2019/193

8  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Class of Persons for Reduced Visa Application Charge for Temporary Activity (Class GG) Visa 2016/117

9  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Specification of Class of Persons (Emergency Services) 2016/114

10  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Schedule 2—Amendments

Migration (IMMI 18/033: Specification of Income Threshold and Annual Earnings and Methodology of Annual Market Salary Rate) Instrument 2018

1  Subsection 1(1)

Omit “Income Threshold and”.

2  Section 3

Repeal paragraph 3(d).

3  Part 2 (heading)

Omit “Income Threshold and”.

4  Section 6

Repeal the section.