Section 210 — Recognised countries
Text of provision
deportation Subject to section 212, a non-citizen who is removed or deported, other than an unlawful non-citizen who came to Australia on a criminal justice visa, is liable to pay the Commonwealth the costs of his or her removal or deportation.
Plain English
Section 210 provides that a "recognised country" for the purposes of the deportation provisions is a country prescribed by regulation, or a country with which Australia has a relevant arrangement. The concept is relevant to the mechanics of deportation — the Government can only deport a person to a country that is willing to receive them or with which Australia has deportation arrangements.
Practical effect
The practical significance of recognised countries is in cases involving stateless persons or persons whose claimed nationality is disputed. Where a person cannot be deported to any country, they may be subject to indefinite detention (subject to the NZYQ limits). The Government maintains bilateral removal arrangements with numerous countries that facilitate the return of their nationals. Persons facing deportation should obtain specialist immigration legal advice to understand the legal framework applicable to their specific citizenship situation.