Australia suspends entry for Iranian visitors amid widening Middle East war

The measure applies only to people outside Australia who hold a Visitor Subclass 600 visa linked to an Iranian passport. It does not apply to Iranians already in Australia, people already in transit, spouses, de facto partners or dependent children of Australian citizens or permanent residents, parents of a child under 18 already in Australia, holders of permitted travel certificates, or people on other visa classes. Officials said new visa applications will still be assessed under existing rules, and some affected travellers may be allowed in on a case by case basis through a permitted travel certificate.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the decision was taken in the national interest and argued that permanent stay decisions should be made deliberately by government rather than becoming what he called a random result of a holiday booking. Government figures cited in local reporting said the ban is expected to affect about 6,800 Iranian tourist visa holders, while officials had earlier told parliament there were more than 7,200 temporary visa holders in Iran and more than 40,000 temporary visa holders across the broader conflict affected region.

The move has drawn strong criticism from refugee and migrant advocates, who said Australia was closing off a legal route to safety during a humanitarian crisis. One major asylum advocacy group called the decision a massive betrayal and a breathtaking moral failure, while community representatives said the policy showed a lack of compassion toward people facing war and uncertainty.

The decision also comes after a closely watched episode involving Iran’s women’s football team. According to Australian reporting, seven players and officials were initially offered asylum in Australia during the recent tournament, but five later reversed that decision and returned to Iran, leaving two in Australia. The visa restrictions were announced shortly after that episode.

Australia says it will keep monitoring developments and adjust settings if needed. For now, the government insists the restriction is temporary, targeted, and designed to manage migration risks created by a fast changing war.