Australian Immigration Daily News

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 travel from the People’s Republic of China to Australia.

Under 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.

The approved status of the organising travel agent is therefore an important requirement for ADS stream applications.

Changes to the Approved Travel Agent List

LIN 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.

The revised table:

• removes unverified travel agents following an audit exercise;

• adds travel agents verified through a recruitment process;

• retains existing agents that successfully passed the audit;

• updates the current business names of approved travel agents in China; and

• identifies each approved agent’s code and relevant province or municipality.

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.

Practical Implications

Migration professionals assisting with ADS stream applications should confirm that the tour is being organised by a travel agent appearing on the updated list.

Reliance on an agent that has been removed from the approved list may prevent the applicant from satisfying the relevant requirement for the ADS stream.

Practitioners should also check that the travel agent’s current business name, identifying code and location correspond with the details specified in the amended instrument.

The update is intended to ensure that the approved agent list remains accurate and supports the ongoing integrity of the ADS scheme.

Source: Migration-Arrangements-for-Visitor-Class-FA-visa-applications-Amendment-instrument-2026.pdf and

Migration-Arrangements-for-Visitor-Class-FA-visa-applications-Amendment-instrument-2026---explanatory-statemement.pdf