Australia: Character Considerations for Visa Decisions Strengthened

From October 31, 2026, the Australian government will take a firmer approach to refusing or cancelling visas on character grounds. Decision-makers will give greater weight to protecting the Australian community and less weight to a person’s ties to Australia, including the impact of refusal or cancellation on Australian businesses. They will also consider a broader range of domestic and family violence behaviors and relationships, with greater attention to the impact on victims and children. 

The changes specifically identify hate crimes, hate speech, incitement of violence or racial disharmony, and certain serious drug and property offenses as significant character concerns. The government will also place greater emphasis on extremism, the spread of hatred, compliance with migration laws, a person’s availability for removal and the use of visa conditions to manage risk. 

These restrictions are part of the government’s general policy of restrictiveness in immigration in the last year. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.