This instrument is the Migration Amendment (Realigning the Community Support Program) Regulations 2026.

(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	1 July 2026.	1 July 2026

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made.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Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.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 At the end of subitem 1402(3A) of Schedule 1

Add:

; and (d) the application, and any applications by family members combined with that application under paragraph (3)(c), do not cause the approved proposing organisation to exceed the limit (if any) on the number of applicants specified for the organisation in an instrument made under subitem (3D).

2 After subitem 1402(3C) of Schedule 1

Insert:

(3D) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, specify, for an approved proposing organisation, a limit on the number of applicants that the approved proposing organisation may propose in a financial year.

(3E) Without limiting subitem (3D), such an instrument may make provision for working out which applicants are to be counted, and which applicants are to be disregarded, in determining whether the specified limit would be exceeded.

3 Subparagraph 202.111(a)(ii) of Schedule 2

Omit “that it has proposed”, substitute “(whether the applicant was proposed by the organisation or another approved proposing organisation)”.

4 Paragraph 202.212(c) of Schedule 2

Omit “the approved”, substitute “an approved”.

5 Subclause 202.221(2) of Schedule 2

Repeal the subclause, substitute:

(2) If the criteria in clause 202.212 apply to the applicant and there has been no change to the approved proposing organisation proposing the applicant, the applicant continues to satisfy the criteria.

(3) If the criteria in clause 202.212 apply to the applicant but another approved proposing organisation is proposing the applicant:

(a) the applicant continues to satisfy the criteria; and

(b) the other approved proposing organisation has submitted a form 1417 in relation to the applicant.

6 Subclause 202.223(2) of Schedule 2

Repeal the subclause (including the note), substitute:

(2) If the application includes a proposal by an approved proposing organisation, the permanent settlement of the applicant in Australia would be consistent with the priorities of the Commonwealth specified in an instrument made under subclause (3).

(3) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, set out the priorities of the Commonwealth in relation to the permanent settlement in Australia of persons who are proposed by approved proposing organisations for Subclass 202 visas.

7 In the appropriate position in Schedule 13

Insert:

Part 161—Amendments made by the Migration Amendment (Realigning the Community Support Program) Regulations 2026

16101 Operation of amendments

(1) The amendments of item 1402 of Schedule 1 and clause 202.223 of Schedule 2 made by Schedule 1 to the Migration Amendment (Realigning the Community Support Program) Regulations 2026 apply in relation to an application for a visa made on or after the commencement of that Schedule.

(2) The amendments of paragraph 202.212(c) of Schedule 2 and subclauses 202.221(2) and (3) of Schedule 2 made by Schedule 1 to the Migration Amendment (Realigning the Community Support Program) Regulations 2026 apply in relation to an application for a visa:

(a) made, but not finally determined, before the commencement of that Schedule; or

(b) made on or after the commencement of that Schedule.