Migration Act 1958

Australia No. 62, 1958 Compilation: 18 May 2026

Section-by-section reference for the Migration Act 1958. Each page includes the full text of the provision with plain English explanation and practical context.

Browse by Part

Part 1 — Preliminary
Part 2 — Entry and Presence
Part 3 — Migration Agents and Immigration Assistance
Part 5 — Review of Decisions
Part 7 — Review of Protection Decisions
Part 8 — Judicial Review

Sections

s 4 — Section 4 — Object of Act
s 13 — Section 13 — Lawful non-citizens
s 14 — Section 14 — Unlawful non-citizens
s 29 — Section 29 — Visas — what they are
s 30 — Section 30 — Kinds of visas
s 36 — Section 36 — Protection visas — criteria provided for by this Act
s 41 — Section 41 — Conditions on visas
s 45 — Section 45 — Application for visa
s 46 — Section 46 — Valid visa application
s 48 — Section 48 — Non-citizen refused a visa or whose visa cancelled — may only apply for certain visas
s 65 — Section 65 — Decision to grant or refuse to grant visa
s 93 — Section 93 — Applying the points test
s 109 — Section 109 — Cancellation of visa — incorrect information etc.
s 116 — Section 116 — Power to cancel visa
s 189 — Section 189 — Detention of unlawful non-citizens
s 474 — Section 474 — Privative clause decisions
s 499 — Section 499 — Directions by Minister
s 501 — Section 501 — Refusal or cancellation of visa on character grounds
s 504 — Section 504 — Regulations
s 5 — Section 5 — Interpretation
s 351 — Section 351 — Minister may substitute more favourable decision
s 476 — Section 476 — Jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
s 503 — Section 503 — Exclusion of certain persons from Australia
s 7 — Section 7 — Act to apply to all persons
s 18 — Section 18 — Excised offshore places
s 44 — Section 44 — Visa applications — general rule
s 47 — Section 47 — Consideration of a valid visa application
s 48A — Section 48A — Further applications after refusal
s 51 — Section 51 — Priority consideration of visa applications
s 57 — Section 57 — Certain information to be given to applicant
s 66 — Section 66 — Notification of decision
s 68 — Section 68 — Transmission of visa evidence
s 72 — Section 72 — Eligible non-citizen for bridging visa
s 82 — Section 82 — When visa ceases to be in effect
s 84 — Section 84 — Suspension of consideration of applications
s 91 — Section 91 — Safe third country
s 92 — Section 92 — Application after previous refusal — barred classes
s 96 — Section 96 — Minister may request further information
s 97 — Section 97 — Bogus documents — definition
s 103 — Section 103 — Bogus documents — offences
s 117 — Section 117 — Grant of visa subject to conditions
s 119 — Section 119 — Notice of intention to cancel
s 123 — Section 123 — Cancellation of business visas
s 128 — Section 128 — Cancellation of visa — entry to Australia
s 133A — Section 133A — Minister may cancel visa held by person at the border
s 134 — Section 134 — Cancellation of business visas
s 140A — Section 140A — Approval of sponsors
s 140E — Section 140E — Sponsorship obligations
s 140H — Section 140H — Nominations by standard business sponsors
s 141 — Section 141 — Obligations of holders of certain visas
s 145 — Section 145 — Interpretation — student visas
s 147 — Section 147 — Student visa applications
s 155 — Section 155 — Grant of permanent residence to certain persons
s 164A — Section 164A — Purpose of Special Category visa
s 165 — Section 165 — Grant of Special Category visa
s 172 — Section 172 — Interpretation — detention and removal
s 176 — Section 176 — Officer may detain non-citizen on certain grounds
s 188 — Section 188 — Lawful non-citizen to answer questions
s 192 — Section 192 — Detention of visa holders
s 193 — Section 193 — Application of criminal law
s 195A — Section 195A — Minister may grant visa to detainee
s 196 — Section 196 — Duration of detention
s 197AA — Section 197AA — Ministerial direction relating to removal
s 197C — Section 197C — Non-refoulement obligations not relevant to s 198 removal
s 198 — Section 198 — Removal of unlawful non-citizens
s 198AA — Section 198AA — Explanation of Subdivision C of Division 8
s 200 — Section 200 — Deportation of certain non-citizens
s 201 — Section 201 — Deportation of non-citizens convicted of certain offences
s 202 — Section 202 — Deportation of non-citizens whose conduct is detrimental
s 203 — Section 203 — Deportation of non-citizens who are spouses or dependants
s 210 — Section 210 — Recognised countries
s 217 — Section 217 — Obligation to board vessels
s 229 — Section 229 — Carriage of non-citizens without documentation
s 232 — Section 232 — People smuggling
s 233 — Section 233 — Aggravated people smuggling
s 233A — Section 233A — People smuggling causing death or danger
s 236A — Section 236A — Mandatory sentencing for people smuggling
s 261A — Section 261A — Collecting personal identifiers
s 276 — Section 276 — Giving immigration assistance
s 280 — Section 280 — Only registered migration agents to give immigration assistance for a fee
s 289 — Section 289 — Offence: charging fees as an unregistered agent
s 306 — Section 306 — Migration review matters — jurisdiction
s 338 — Section 338 — Reviewable migration decisions
s 338A — Section 338A — Review of cancellation of student visa
s 347 — Section 347 — Application for review of migration decisions
s 348 — Section 348 — ART must review migration decisions
s 349 — Section 349 — ART powers on review
s 363A — Section 363A — Natural justice hearing rule excluded
s 473BB — Section 473BB — Definitions — fast track review
s 501A — Section 501A — Refusal or cancellation of visa — Minister's personal power
s 501B — Section 501B — Refusal or cancellation of visa — mandatory
s 501CA — Section 501CA — Revocation of mandatory cancellation
s 501J — Section 501J — Minister may set aside ART decision on character
s 49 — Section 49 — Withdrawal of visa application
s 67 — Section 67 — Grant and refusal of visa—how and when
s 94 — Section 94 — Initial application of “points” system
s 95 — Section 95 — Applications in pool
s 190 — Section 190 — Non-compliance with immigration clearance or requirement to
s 191 — Section 191 — End of certain detention
s 194 — Section 194 — Detainee to be told of consequences of detention
s 195 — Section 195 — Detainee may apply for visa
s 196A — Section 196A
s 197 — Section 197 — Effect of escape from immigration detention
s 198A — Section 198A
s 198B — Section 198B — Power to bring transitory persons to Australia
s 198C — Section 198C
s 198D — Section 198D
s 199 — Section 199 — Dependants of removed non-citizens
s 204 — Section 204 — Determination of time for sections 201 and 202
s 205 — Section 205 — Dependants of deportee
s 206 — Section 206 — Deportation order to be executed
s 207 — Section 207 — Interpretation
s 208 — Section 208
s 209 — Section 209
s 211 — Section 211
s 212 — Section 212 — Costs of removed or deported spouses, de facto partners and
s 213 — Section 213 — Carriers may be liable for costs of removal and deportation
s 214 — Section 214 — Non-citizens and carriers jointly liable
s 215 — Section 215 — Costs are debts due to the Commonwealth
s 216 — Section 216 — Use of existing ticket for removal or deportation
s 218 — Section 218 — Vessels required to convey deportees or other removees
s 219 — Section 219 — Exemption from complying
s 220 — Section 220 — Waiver of requirement
s 221 — Section 221 — Cost of removal under notice
s 222 — Section 222 — Orders restraining certain non-citizens from disposing etc. of
s 223 — Section 223 — Secretary or Australian Border Force
s 224 — Section 224 — Dealing with seized valuables
s 225 — Section 225 — Production of identity documents and mustering of crew
s 226 — Section 226 — Production of identity documents by persons on board resources
s 227 — Section 227 — Production of identity documents by persons on board sea
s 228 — Section 228 — Master to report absences
s 230 — Section 230 — Carriage of concealed persons to Australia
s 231 — Section 231 — Master of vessel to comply with certain requests
s 234 — Section 234 — False documents and false or misleading information etc.
s 235 — Section 235
s 236 — Section 236 — Offences relating to visas
s 237 — Section 237 — Reason for Subdivision
s 238 — Section 238 — Interpretation
s 239 — Section 239 — Application of Subdivision
s 240 — Section 240 — Offence to arrange marriage to obtain permanent residence
s 241 — Section 241 — Offence to arrange pretended de facto relationship to obtain
s 242 — Section 242
s 243 — Section 243 — Offences relating to application for permanent
s 244 — Section 244
s 245 — Section 245 — Offences of making false or unsupported statements
s 246 — Section 246 — Appointment of boarding stations
s 247 — Section 247 — Vessels to enter ports and be brought to boarding stations
s 248 — Section 248 — Exemption
s 249 — Section 249 — Certain persons may be prevented from entering or landing
s 250 — Section 250 — Detention of suspected offenders
s 251 — Section 251 — Powers of entry and search
s 252 — Section 252 — Searches of detainees etc.—general powers of personal search
s 253 — Section 253 — Detention of deportee
s 254 — Section 254 — Removees and deportees held in other custody
s 255 — Section 255 — Prescribed authorities
s 256 — Section 256 — Person in immigration detention may have access to certain
s 257 — Section 257 — Persons may be required to answer questions
s 258 — Section 258 — Minister may determine that specified persons are
s 259 — Section 259 — Detention of vessel for purpose of search
s 260 — Section 260 — Detention of vessel pending recovery of penalty
s 261 — Section 261 — Disposal of dilapidated vessels etc.
s 262 — Section 262 — Liability to the Commonwealth for the cost of
s 263 — Section 263 — Secretary or Australian Border Force Commissioner able to
s 264 — Section 264 — Garnishee notice
s 265 — Section 265 — Debt from failure to comply with garnishee notice
s 266 — Section 266 — Future debts
s 267 — Section 267 — Secretary or Australian Border Force
s 268 — Section 268 — Application of Division to the Crown
s 269 — Section 269 — Securities
s 270 — Section 270 — Reports of absences of crews of vessels
s 275 — Section 275 — Interpretation
s 277 — Section 277
s 278 — Section 278 — Relation by employment
s 279 — Section 279 — Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914 to apply to this Part
s 281 — Section 281 — Restriction on charging fees for immigration assistance
s 282 — Section 282 — Restriction on charging fees for immigration representations
s 283 — Section 283 — False representation that a person is a registered migration
s 284 — Section 284 — Restriction on self-advertising of the giving of immigration
s 285 — Section 285 — Restriction on other advertising of immigration assistance
s 286 — Section 286
s 287 — Section 287 — Register of Migration Agents
s 288 — Section 288 — Application for registration
s 290 — Section 290 — Applicant must not be registered if not a person of integrity or
s 291 — Section 291 — Applicant must not be registered if registration refused in past
s 292 — Section 292 — Applicant must not be registered if registration cancelled in past
s 293 — Section 293 — Applicant under 18 must not be registered
s 294 — Section 294 — Applicant must not be registered if not an
s 295 — Section 295 — Notice of refusal of application
s 296 — Section 296
s 297 — Section 297
s 298 — Section 298
s 299 — Section 299 — Period of registration
s 300 — Section 300 — Automatic continuation of registration
s 301 — Section 301 — Migration Agents Registration Authority must warn of expiry
s 302 — Section 302 — Automatic deregistration
s 303 — Section 303 — Disciplining registered migration agents
s 304 — Section 304 — Period of suspension
s 305 — Section 305 — Notice of disciplinary decision
s 307 — Section 307
s 308 — Section 308 — Requiring registered migration agents to give information
s 309 — Section 309 — Persons may make submissions
s 310 — Section 310 — Persons may appear before Migration Agents Registration
s 311 — Section 311 — Migration Agents Registration Authority not bound by legal
s 312 — Section 312 — Notification obligations
s 313 — Section 313 — Persons charged for services to be given detailed statement of
s 314 — Section 314 — Code of Conduct for migration agents
s 315 — Section 315 — Migration Agents Registration Authority—nature, powers and
s 316 — Section 316 — Functions of Migration Agents Registration Authority
s 317 — Section 317 — General powers of the Migration Agents Registration Authority
s 318 — Section 318 — Power to refer people to mediation
s 319 — Section 319 — Referral of conduct of certain migration agents to legal
s 320 — Section 320 — Minister may delegate powers and functions
s 321 — Section 321
s 322 — Section 322
s 323 — Section 323
s 324 — Section 324
s 325 — Section 325
s 326 — Section 326
s 327 — Section 327
s 328 — Section 328
s 329 — Section 329
s 330 — Section 330
s 336 — Section 336 — Court may order reparation for loss suffered
s 336P — Section 336P — Interaction with the ART Act
s 337 — Section 337 — Interpretation
s 339 — Section 339 — Conclusive certificates
s 340 — Section 340
s 341 — Section 341
s 342 — Section 342
s 343 — Section 343
s 344 — Section 344
s 345 — Section 345
s 346 — Section 346
s 350 — Section 350 — Review of assessments made under section 93
s 352 — Section 352 — ART to notify Secretary of application for review
s 353 — Section 353 — ART may require Secretary to arrange for investigations etc.
s 354 — Section 354
s 355 — Section 355
s 356 — Section 356
s 357 — Section 357
s 358 — Section 358
s 359 — Section 359
s 360 — Section 360
s 361 — Section 361
s 362 — Section 362
s 363 — Section 363 — Reviews may be combined
s 364 — Section 364
s 365 — Section 365
s 366 — Section 366
s 367 — Section 367 — Certain bridging visa decisions—to be made within prescribed
s 367C — Section 367C — Scope of Division 4A (paper review)
s 367D — Section 367D — Interaction with ART Act (paper review)
s 367E — Section 367E — Exhaustive statement of natural justice hearing rule
s 367F — Section 367F — ART must invite submissions and evidence
s 367G — Section 367G — ART must give adverse information to applicant
s 367H — Section 367H — Content of invitation and adverse information given
s 367J — Section 367J — Applicant to have access to written material before Tribunal
s 367K — Section 367K — Reviews may be combined
s 367L — Section 367L — ART may be reconstituted
s 367M — Section 367M — Dismissing applications to be reviewed on the papers
s 367N — Section 367N — Decision without hearing
s 368 — Section 368 — ART’s decision and written statement etc.
s 369 — Section 369 — Identifying information relating to reviewable protection
s 370 — Section 370
s 371 — Section 371
s 372 — Section 372
s 373 — Section 373
s 374 — Section 374 — How the ART must give certain notices and directions to an
s 375 — Section 375 — Restrictions on disclosure of certain information etc.
s 376 — Section 376 — ART’s discretion in relation to disclosure of certain information
s 377 — Section 377
s 378 — Section 378 — Protected information and documents
s 379 — Section 379
s 411 — Section 411
s 412 — Section 412
s 413 — Section 413
s 414 — Section 414
s 415 — Section 415
s 416 — Section 416
s 417 — Section 417
s 418 — Section 418
s 419 — Section 419
s 420 — Section 420
s 421 — Section 421
s 422 — Section 422
s 423 — Section 423
s 424 — Section 424
s 425 — Section 425
s 426 — Section 426
s 427 — Section 427
s 428 — Section 428
s 429 — Section 429
s 430 — Section 430
s 431 — Section 431
s 432 — Section 432
s 433 — Section 433
s 434 — Section 434
s 435 — Section 435
s 436 — Section 436
s 437 — Section 437
s 438 — Section 438
s 439 — Section 439
s 440 — Section 440
s 441 — Section 441
s 442 — Section 442
s 443 — Section 443
s 444 — Section 444
s 445 — Section 445
s 446 — Section 446
s 447 — Section 447
s 448 — Section 448
s 449 — Section 449
s 450 — Section 450
s 451 — Section 451
s 452 — Section 452
s 453 — Section 453
s 454 — Section 454
s 455 — Section 455
s 456 — Section 456
s 457 — Section 457
s 458 — Section 458
s 459 — Section 459
s 460 — Section 460
s 461 — Section 461
s 462 — Section 462
s 463 — Section 463
s 464 — Section 464
s 465 — Section 465
s 466 — Section 466
s 467 — Section 467
s 468 — Section 468
s 469 — Section 469
s 470 — Section 470
s 471 — Section 471
s 472 — Section 472
s 473 — Section 473
s 475 — Section 475 — This Division not to limit section 474
s 477 — Section 477 — Time limits on applications to the Federal Circuit and Family
s 478 — Section 478 — Persons who may make application
s 479 — Section 479 — Parties to review
s 480 — Section 480 — Intervention by Attorney-General
s 481 — Section 481 — Operation etc. of decision
s 482 — Section 482 — Changing person holding, or performing the duties of, an office
s 483 — Section 483
s 484 — Section 484 — Exclusive jurisdiction of High Court, Federal
s 485 — Section 485
s 486 — Section 486