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Australia on Thursday prohibited visitors from Iran, stating that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East had heightened the likelihood that some individuals might decline to return home once their short-term visas lapse.
The Department of Home Affairs announced that, for the next six months, holders of Iranian passports will be unable to travel to Australia for tourism or employment purposes.
“The conflict in Iran has increased the risk that some temporary visa holders may be unable or unlikely to depart Australia when their visas expire,” it said in a statement.
The department noted that certain exemptions would be considered on a case-by-case basis, including cases involving parents of Australian citizens.
“There are many visitor visas which were issued before the conflict in Iran which may not have been issued if they were applied for now,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.
“Decisions about permanent stays in Australia should be deliberate decisions of the government, not a random consequence of who booked a holiday.”
According to official figures, more than 85,000 Australian residents were born in Iran, with active diaspora communities in major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
Earlier this month, Australia drew criticism from Iran after granting asylum to seven members of the visiting women’s football team.
The players were labelled “traitors” in their home country after declining to sing the national anthem before an Asian Cup match — an action widely interpreted as defiance against the Islamic Republic.
Five of the seven subsequently withdrew their asylum applications in Australia, raising concerns that their families may have faced intimidation.
