Section 91GMigration Act 1958 (Cth)

Applications made before regulations take effect

(1) Subject to section 91F and subsection (3), if:

(a) this Subdivision applies to a non‑citizen immediately after a regulation prescribing a country as a safe third country takes effect and did not apply to the non‑citizen immediately before that time; and

(b) the regulation prescribes a day as the cut off day; and

(c) during the period (the transitional period) from the beginning of the cut off day until immediately before that regulation takes effect, the non‑citizen made an application for a protection visa;

then:

(d) if the non‑citizen had not been immigration cleared at the time of making the application—that application, and any other application made by the non‑citizen for a visa made during the transitional period, ceases to be a valid application when the regulation takes effect; and

(e) if the non‑citizen had been immigration cleared at the time of making the application—that application, and any other application made by the non‑citizen for a protection visa made during the transitional period, ceases to be a valid application when the regulation takes effect; and

(f) on and after the regulation takes effect, this Act applies as if the non‑citizen had applied for a protection visa immediately after the regulation takes effect.

(2) To avoid doubt:

(a) paragraphs (1)(d) and (e) apply even if an application referred to in the paragraph concerned, or a decision in relation to such an application, is the subject of a review by, or an appeal or application to, the ART, a Federal Court or any other body or court; and

(b) no visa may be granted to the non‑citizen as a direct, or indirect, result of such an application.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a non‑citizen who, before the regulation referred to in that subsection takes effect, has:

(a) been granted a substantive visa as a result of an application referred to in that subsection; or

(b) been determined under this Act to be a non‑citizen who satisfies the criterion mentioned in subsection 36(2).

(4) The cut off day specified in the regulation must not be:

(a) before a day on which the Minister, by notice in the Gazette, announces that he or she intends that such a regulation will be made; or

(b) more than 6 months before the regulation takes effect.

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 May 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.

Related sections

Research how courts apply s 91G

BriefBridge searches Australian caselaw by meaning — every answer cited to the paragraph.

Try BriefBridge free