This instrument is the Migration Amendment (Australian Agriculture Workers) Regulations 2021.

(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provisions	Commencement	Date/Details
1. The whole of this instrument	Immediately after this instrument is registered.	2.38 pm (A.C.T.) 30 September 2021

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.

(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.

3 Authority

This instrument is made under the Migration Act 1958.

4 Schedules

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendments

Migration Regulations 1994

1 After paragraph 2.56(baa)

Insert:

(bab) the Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream;

2 Paragraph 1234(3)(b) of Schedule 1

Omit “and (caa)”, substitute “, (caa) and (cac)”.

3 After paragraph 1234(3)(cab) of Schedule 1

Insert:

(cac) If:

(i) an applicant is seeking to satisfy the criteria for a Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream; and

(ii) the applicant does not hold a Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream when the application is made; and

(iii) if the last substantive visa held by the applicant was a Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream—that visa expired more than 28 days before the application is made;

the applicant must be outside Australia.

(cad) If an applicant is seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for a Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream, the applicant must meet the requirement in subitem (3D).

4 Subitem 1234(3) of Schedule 1 (note)

After “the Pacific Labour Scheme stream”, insert “, the Australian Agriculture Worker stream”.

5 After subitem 1234(3C) of Schedule 1

Insert:

(3D) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(cad), an applicant meets the requirement in this subitem if:

(a) the applicant is participating, as a worker, in the Australian Agriculture Worker Program administered by Foreign Affairs; and

(b) the applicant specifies in the application a person who has agreed to be the applicant’s sponsor in relation to the application and the person is:

(i) a temporary activities sponsor or a person who has applied for approval as a temporary activities sponsor but whose application has not yet been decided; and

(ii) participating, as an employer, in the Australian Agriculture Worker Program administered by Foreign Affairs.

6 Clause 403.111 of Schedule 2 (note)

After “For”, insert “Foreign Affairs and”.

7 Division 403.2 of Schedule 2 (note to the heading)

Omit “403.27” (wherever occurring), substitute “403.28”.

8 At the end of Division 403.2 of Schedule 2

Add:

403.28—Criteria for the Australian Agriculture Worker stream

Note: These criteria are only for applicants being assessed against the primary criteria for a Subclass 403 visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream.

403.281

Each of the following applies:

(a) the applicant is participating, as a worker, in the Australian Agriculture Worker Program administered by Foreign Affairs;

(b) an approved sponsor has agreed to be the sponsor of the applicant and the sponsor is:

(i) a temporary activities sponsor; and

(ii) participating, as an employer, in the Australian Agriculture Worker Program administered by Foreign Affairs;

(d) the sponsor has not ceased to be the sponsor of the applicant;

(e) either:

(i) there is no adverse information known to Immigration about the sponsor or a person associated with the sponsor; or

(ii) it is reasonable to disregard any adverse information known to Immigration about the sponsor or a person associated with the sponsor;

(f) the applicant:

(i) is seeking to enter Australia for the purposes of the Australian Agriculture Worker Program; or

(ii) is in Australia and holds, or the last substantive visa held by the applicant was, a Subclass 403 visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream;

(g) the applicant satisfies public interest criteria 4005 and 4019.

9 After subclause 403.411(2A) of Schedule 2

Insert:

(2B) An applicant who satisfies the primary criteria for the grant of a Subclass 403 visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream:

(a) if the applicant holds, or the last substantive visa held by the applicant was, a Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream—may be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when the visa is granted; or

(b) otherwise—must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

10 Subclause 403.411(3) of Schedule 2

Omit “or (2A)”, substitute “, (2A) or (2B)”.

11 At the end of Division 403.6 of Schedule 2

Add:

403.616

(1) This clause applies to an applicant who satisfies the primary criteria for the grant of a Subclass 403 visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream.

(2) The visa is subject to:

(a) conditions 8303, 8501 and 8611; and

(b) if specified by the Minister—one of the following conditions:

(i) condition 8575;

(ii) condition 8576.

(3) Conditions 8301, 8502, 8503, 8516, 8525 and 8578 may be imposed.

12 At the end of Schedule 8

Add:

8611 If the visa is a Subclass 403 visa in the Australian Agriculture Worker stream, the holder:

(a) must not work other than:

(i) for the holder’s sponsor in relation to the visa; or

(ii) for another person in accordance with an arrangement endorsed by Foreign Affairs; and

(b) must not engage in work on the holder’s own account.