Also commencing today is LIN 26/060, which completely replaces the list of Chinese travel agencies authorised to organise Approved Destination Status (ADS) group tours to Australia under the Visitor Subclass 600 visa. The amendment follows an annual audit by the Consulate-General in Guangzhou and removes more than 40 agencies while adding 30 new ones. Under Australian migration regulations, Chinese nationals travelling in ADS groups must book through an approved agent whose code appears in Schedule 1 of the instrument. Using an unlisted agent renders the visa application invalid. Tourism Australia says Chinese group travel accounted for AUD 1.2 billion in visitor spend last year; ensuring only vetted agents can package tours is seen as critical to protecting Australia’s tourism reputation and minimising overstay risk. The update comes as direct flights between Beijing and Brisbane resume for the first time since the pandemic, and industry players expect a surge in packaged travel during China’s National Day “Golden Week” holidays beginning 1 October. Travel wholesalers should immediately refresh booking engines and agent databases; airlines have been asked by the Department of Home Affairs to display pop-up warnings at the ticketing stage. Corporate mobility teams moving staff from China on short familiarisation visits need to double-check whether the traveller is part of an ADS group or holds an individual business stream visa. Using an incorrect channel can trigger refusals and derail tight project timetables.
