The Australian Government has registered the Migration (Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument 2026 (LIN 26\/060).
\nThe instrument commences on 29 September 2026 and updates the approved travel agents for Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa applications in the Approved Destination Status (ADS) stream.
\nApproved Destination Status Stream
\nThe ADS stream facilitates organised group travel from the People\u2019s Republic of China to Australia.
\nUnder item 3 of the table in subitem 1236(6) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations 1994, an applicant seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for a Subclass 600 visa in the ADS stream must intend to travel to Australia as a member of a tour organised by a travel agent specified by the Minister.
\nThe approved status of the organising travel agent is therefore an important requirement for ADS stream applications.
\nChanges to the Approved Travel Agent List
\nLIN 26\/060 amends the Migration (Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) Visa Applications) Instrument 2021 (LIN 21\/056) by repealing and replacing the existing table of approved ADS travel agents.
\nThe revised table:<\/p>\n
removes unverified travel agents following an audit exercise;<\/p>\n
adds travel agents verified through a recruitment process;<\/p>\n
retains existing agents that successfully passed the audit;<\/p>\n
updates the current business names of approved travel agents in China; and<\/p>\n
identifies each approved agent\u2019s code and relevant province or municipality.<\/p>\n
The changes reflect the outcomes of the annual audit and recruitment process undertaken by the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou. External consultation was also conducted with Austrade and Tourism Australia.
\nPractical Implications
\nMigration professionals assisting with ADS stream applications should confirm that the tour is being organised by a travel agent appearing on the updated list.
\nReliance on an agent that has been removed from the approved list may prevent the applicant from satisfying the relevant requirement for the ADS stream.
\nPractitioners should also check that the travel agent\u2019s current business name, identifying code and location correspond with the details specified in the amended instrument.
\nThe update is intended to ensure that the approved agent list remains accurate and supports the ongoing integrity of the ADS scheme.
\nSource:\u00a0Migration-Arrangements-for-Visitor-Class-FA-visa-applications-Amendment-instrument-2026.pdf\u00a0and
\nMigration-Arrangements-for-Visitor-Class-FA-visa-applications-Amendment-instrument-2026—explanatory-statemement.pdf
\nRead more<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Australian Government has registered the Migration (Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument 2026 (LIN 26\/060). The instrument commences on 29 September 2026 and updates the approved travel agents for Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa applications in the Approved Destination Status (ADS) stream. Approved Destination Status Stream The ADS stream facilitates organised group […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2126","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n