Conflict in the Middle East: What it Means for Australian Employers and Affected Foreign Nationals

As the conflict in the Middle East develops, questions have been raised regarding the impact on immigration. Visa holders and Australian employers may be affected by the Iran-Israeli conflict, particularly as the Australian Government has introduced measures that restrict the travel of certain visa holders.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) introduced the Migration (Arrival Control) Determination 2026. From 26 March, Iranian offshore visitor visa holders will have their visitor visa temporarily cease if:

• They were outside Australia when the arrival control began on 26 March 2026
• They held a visitor visa (subclass 600) visa, and
• They were recorded by the Department of Home Affairs as having used a passport issued by the Islamic Republic of Iran when applying for the visitor visa
  
  

Exemptions to the Determination apply to the following visitor visa holders with an Iranian passport:

• Spouses, de facto partners or dependent children of an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident holder or an Australian resident who is not subject to a time limitation (such as a New Zealand citizen)
• The parent of a child who is under 18 and in Australia
• A person who was in Australia when the Arrival Control Determination commenced
• A person who has been issued a Permitted Travel Certificate (PTC) that is in force
  
  

Permitted Travel Certificate (PTC)

A Permitted Travel Certificate is issued in very limited circumstances. Applications for a PTC are considered on a case-by-case basis for individuals who:

• Are the parent of an Australian citizen
• Can show they genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily
  
  

A Permitted Travel Request needs to include a strong case and evidence to support the request. Holders of a PTC can continue to travel to Australia if they hold a valid visa but will need to provide evidence that the travel restrictions don’t apply to them before travelling to Australia.

With these measures in place, many questions have arisen from visa holders as well as Australian employers of visa holders.

How are Australian Employers and Foreign Nationals Impacted by the Middle East Conflict?

Many people will be affected by the crisis in the Middle East. This situation will affect those due to leave Australia, those due to arrive in Australia or those with certain conditions on their visa. Individual circumstances will vary and the Department of Home Affairs will take all information into account.

Foreign Nationals

Many visa holders may find their visa is about to expire, however due to the precarious circumstances in the Middle East, some destinations may experience flight cancellations. In these cases, the Department of Home Affairs recognises compelling and compassionate circumstances during active conflicts. The options available to visa holders will depend on whether they are onshore or offshore and whether there are conditions placed on their visa.

Conflicts such as those in the Middle East often leave family members of Australian visa holders stranded. Whether a visa holder is able to bring their family members to Australia will depend on the visa they hold.

Australian Employers

Many Australian employers will be feeling the impacts of the Iran-Israeli conflict. Whether they currently sponsor foreign nationals or they are relying on sponsored employees to commence work in the near future, employers will need to be aware of the effects the issues in the Middle East may present.

As a business sponsor, employers must always ensure they are complying with their sponsorship obligations. The employer must notify the Department of Home Affairs of any issues that may breach sponsorship obligations. With cancelled flights an issue, sponsored employees may not be able to return home as per their visa conditions. Depending on the circumstances, there may be options available, however the Department of Home Affairs needs to be advised of any changes.

In the case of a sponsored employee’s visa expiring and they can’t travel safely out of Australia, if their employment is ongoing, they may be able to apply for another Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. If employment has concluded, then they may be able to apply for another temporary visa that will allow them to remain in Australia until it is safe to return home.

There may be circumstances where an employee is on a bridging visa. If this is the case, then their travel to and from Australia may be affected. If they have temporarily left Australia, their plans to return to Australia may be affected.

As the conflict in the Middle East continues so do business operations in Australia. Employers may still need to hire overseas workers especially for critical projects. The Department of Home Affairs will still continue to process applications for overseas skilled migrants from impacted areas, however their travel to Australia once the visa is granted may be dependent on available flights from that region.

It’s important that employers and foreign nationals understand that any effects that the conflict in the Middle East has on abiding by visa conditions must be reported to the Department of Home Affairs as soon as possible. Breaching visa conditions including overstaying can carry long-term effects for future visa applications. Employers should contact DHA and work with the employee to ensure they remain lawful.

Visa Solutions Australia can assist Australian employers and their sponsored workers in resolving any visa issues that arise due to the Middle East conflict. The Visa Solutions team will look at the individual circumstances of each case and present relevant visa options and solutions to any issues that may develop. Seeking assistance as soon as issues come to light ensures a more favourable outcome.

New Visas for the Cause

At this stage, the Australian Government hasn’t introduced a special visa for people impacted by the Iran-Israeli conflict however there is a temporary humanitarian visa available for Palestinians and Israelis impacted by the conflict in Palestine.

Visa Solutions Australia will continue to provide updates to their clients as information is released from the Australian Government. To speak with a registered migration agent about your individual circumstances, contact Visa Solutions Australia.