Australian Immigration Daily News

A new legislative instrument governing the lodgement of certain Child visa applications has been registered.

The Migration (Arrangements for Child Visa Applications) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/081) repeals and replaces the Arrangements for Child Visa Applications 2016/051, which was due to sunset on 1 October 2026.

The new instrument commences on 2 September 2026 and specifies the approved form, manner and place for applications for:

• Child (Migrant) (Class AH) visas;
• Child (Residence) (Class BT) visas; and
• Extended Temporary (Class TK) visas.

The instrument also continues the restrictions affecting Child visa applications based on certain overseas adoptions.

Pakistan remains the only specified country, with no limit on the relevant adoption period. Accordingly, an application for a Child (Migrant) or Child (Residence) visa will not be valid where the applicant seeks to satisfy the relevant visa criteria by claiming to have been adopted in Pakistan.

Transitional arrangements apply to applications received at an address specified under the former instrument. These applications will be taken to have been made in accordance with the new instrument and received on the date they were first received and stamped at that address.

The explanatory statement describes the changes as minor and technical, with the existing application arrangements substantially continuing.

Migration practitioners should ensure that applications for the affected visa classes comply with the form, manner and place requirements specified in LIN 26/081.

Source: Migration-Arrangements-for-Child-Visa-Applications-Instrument-2026.pdf and 

Migration-Arrangements-for-Child-visa-applications-Instrument-2026---EXPLANATORY-STATEMENT.pdf