EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Migration Regulations 1994
TRAVEL AGENTS FOR PRC CITIZENS APPLYING FOR TOURIST VISAS
(REGULATION 1218(1)(b)(iii))
- This Instrument is made under Regulation 1.17 and subparagraph 1218(1)(b)(iii) of Schedule 1 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (‘the Regulations’).
- Regulation 1.17 of the Regulations provides that the Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, specify matters required by individual provisions of the Regulations to be specified for the purposes of those provisions.
- Subparagraph 1218(1)(b)(iii) of Schedule 1 of the Regulations provides that where Tourist visa (subclass 676) applicants from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) intend to travel to Australia as a member of tour group, the tour must be organised by a travel agent specified in a Gazette Notice.
- The purpose of the Instrument is to specify approved travel agents for the purposes of subparagraph 1218(1)(b)(iii) of Schedule 1 of the Regulations.
- The Instrument lists, at Schedule 1, the travel agents in Australia who are approved to escort PRC tour groups who travel to Australia under the Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme. Schedule 2 to the Instrument lists the travel agents in the PRC who are able to lodge Tourist visa applications under the ADS scheme.
- The Instrument has been amended to include fourteen additional PRC agents in Schedule 2. These agents were selected following receipt of detailed expressions of interest and are considered suitable to join the ADS scheme due to their immigration application history and their commitment to promotion of the Australian tourism industry.
- No amendments have been made to the list of Australian ADS agents at Schedule 1.
- Consultation with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, which manages the ADS scheme in conjunction with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and Tourism Australia, was undertaken before the Instrument was made.
- The Instrument, IMMI 07/059 commences on the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.