Subclass 202 Community Support Program Realignment and Selection Priorities

Policy effect

Amends the Migration Regulations 1994 to realign the Community Support Program (CSP) under the Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) visa framework. Introduces a legislative instrument mechanism allowing the Minister to specify annual caps on the number of applicants an Approved Proposing Organisation (APO) may propose in a financial year, including provisions for counting and disregarding applicants. Modifies visa criteria to ensure permanent settlement is consistent with Commonwealth priorities set by legislative instrument, updates provisions regarding proposing organisations and form 1417 submissions, and applies these changes to new applications and/or undecided applications made before or after commencement.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Modifies visa criteria to ensure permanent settlement is consistent with Commonwealth priorities set by legislative instrument, updates provisions regarding proposing organisations and form 1417 submissions, and applies these changes to new applications and/or undecided applications made before or after commencement.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

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. … persons who are proposed by approved proposing organisations for Subclass 202 visas. … (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.

Review method

Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite extraction with independent Gemini 3.8 Flash verification

Other Australia changes operative in 2026

• 2026-01-21Brisbane 2032-accredited participants designated for nil-VAC Subclass 408 treatment
• 2026-03-14Creation of Statutory Arrival Control Determination Powers (Subdivision AGA)
• 2026-03-26Australia creates temporary arrival-control power and applies it to certain Iranian visitor visa holders
• 2026-04-01Remaking and Modernisation of Migration Agents Regulations and Mandatory CPD Standards
• 2026-04-22Online Lodgement Transition for Permanent Parent Visas
• 2026-06-03Removal of Letter of Support Requirement for Luxembourg Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) Applicants
• 2026-06-30Australia-New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Arrangement Wind-Down
• 2026-07-01Reduction of Regional Category Visa Allocation for FY 2026–27
• 2026-07-01Uruguay Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) Annual Quota Increase to 1,500 Places