Australia has temporarily banned visitors from Iran from entering the country as of Thursday, March 26.

The Australian government says that the Iran war "has increased the risk that some temporary visa holders may be unable or unlikely to depart Australia when their visas expire."

For the next six months, people with a certain type of visitors visa linked to an Iranian passport will be barred from entering Australia, the Department of Home Affairs announced on Wednesday.

Some exceptions apply, such as for those married to an Australian or those with a child under 18 who is in Australia. 

How did Australia come to this decision?

In a statement on its website, the Home Affairs Department said issued Australian visas "temporarily ceased to be in effect" as of Thursday in case of:

• Australian visitor visa holders who applied with an Iranian passport
• Who are currently outside Australia

"There are many visitor visas which were issued before the conflict in Iran which may not have been issued if they were applied for now," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

"Decisions about permanent stays in Australia should be deliberate decisions of the government, not a random consequence of who booked a holiday."

On Wednesday, ​the Australian Home Affairs Department said the measure ​was ​to protect ​the integrity of ‌its immigration ​system, according to the Reuters news agency.

Australia's Asylum Seeker Resource Center condemned the "heartless" move, saying it adds "unnecessary trauma and harm" to Iranians already facing war.

"This is a massive betrayal of the Iranian community. Just when people most need safety, the Albanese Government is slamming the door closed," ASRC said on X.

Politician David Shoebridge said that Iranians had few options to apply.

Australian-Iranian relations under the spotlight

Nearly 86,000 people living in Australia were born in Iran, according to 2023 figures from the Department for Home Affairs. Over the years, they have built lively diaspora communities, with the largest populations in Sydney and Melbourne.

Earlier this month, Australia was at the center of a diplomatic row with Iran, when it granted asylum to seven women's football team players and officials who were visiting for the Asian Cup.

 The players faced backlash at home and were labeled as "traitors" for refusing to sing the national anthem before a match. The move was seen widely as an act of quiet defiance against the Islamic Republic.

Five of those seven back-pedaled on their decisions to seek refuge in Australia, prompting concerns about whether their families had come under pressure.

Kate Hairsine contributed to this article, which was edited by Rana Taha.