Sydney-based firm Riverwood Migration reports that the Minister for Home Affairs has issued LIN 26/060, updating the list of Chinese travel agents authorised to lodge Visitor (Subclass 600) visas in the Approved Destination Status (ADS) stream. The revised list—effective 29 September but highlighted to industry on 4 October—adds newly verified agencies, removes those that failed audit and updates several business names. The ADS stream facilitates organised group travel from the People’s Republic of China, a market that delivered more than 1 million visitors annually pre-pandemic. To qualify, applicants must book through an agent named in the legislative instrument; any change in an agent’s status can invalidate pending applications or complicate refunds. Tour operators, hotels and conference organisers should cross-check upcoming bookings to confirm their Chinese partners remain on the approved list. Migration agents advising corporate incentives or MICE groups need to verify agent codes before submitting biometrics appointments to avoid refusal under PIC 4020 (bogus documents). While the update does not alter eligibility criteria, it signals ongoing regulatory scrutiny of ADS intermediaries. The Migration Institute of Australia notes that similar audits are likely each programme year, and that Home Affairs may accelerate digital verification of itineraries using China-based QR codes to curb visa fraud. Travel-risk managers should also watch for broader tourism-visa reforms flagged in the 2026-27 Budget papers, including a planned pilot of pre-departure electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for low-risk ADS groups. If adopted, this could shorten processing times but impose new data-sharing obligations on travel agencies.
Source: Riverwood Migration
