{"id":"F2024L00384","name":"Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—LIN 24/008) Specification 2024","slug":"migration-class-of-persons-for-nil-vac-lin-24-008-specification-2024","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":442345,"registerId":"F2024L00384-fast-fetch-1775957370976","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—LIN 24/008) Specification 2024","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nLIN 24/008\n\n \n\nMigration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—LIN 24/008) Specification 2024\n\nI, Andrew Giles, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, make the following specification.\n\nDated 25 March 2024\n\nAndrew Giles\n\nMinister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1  Name\n\n2  Commencement\n\n3  Authority\n\n4  Definitions\n\n5  Repeal\n\n6  Class of persons for nil VAC—Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Migration (Class of Persons for Nil VAC—LIN 24/008) Specification 2024.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under subparagraph 1236(2)(a)(iv) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations.\n\n4  Definitions\n\nNote: The following expression used in this instrument is defined in section 5 of the Migration Act 1958:\n\n(a)      visa application charge\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nmember of the family unit has the same meaning as in subregulation 1.12(2) of the Migration Regulations.\n\nMH370 means Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (aircraft registration 9M-MRO).\n\nMigration Regulations means the Migration Regulations 1994.\n\nVAC means visa application charge.\n\n5  Repeal\n\n  Migration Regulations 1994 – Class of Persons – IMMI 14/032 (F2014L00344) is repealed.\n\n6  Class of persons for nil VAC—Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa\n\n  An applicant for a Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa in the Tourist stream who is:\n\n (a) a member of the family unit of a passenger or member of the crew on board MH370; or\n\n (b) a representative of the family of a passenger or member of the crew on board MH370, who is:\n\n (i) approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China; or\n\n (ii) approved by the Department of Home Affairs and Malaysia Airlines;\n\n  is in a class of persons specified for subparagraph 1236(2)(a)(iv) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations.\n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument maintains the same narrow, compassionate scope as its 2014 predecessor (IMMI 14/032). It has not expanded beyond the original purpose of providing fee-free visitor visas for MH370 families. The 2024 version appears to be a routine re-enactment or consolidation of the 2014 instrument, with identical substantive coverage."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (6 sections, ~250 words)","Only 4 defined terms, 3 of which are straightforward (MH370, Migration Regulations, VAC)","Single operative provision (section 6) with simple two-part test","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond basic 'and/or' structure","Repeals only one previous instrument with direct replacement","Relies on external definitions (Migration Act, Migration Regulations) rather than creating new complex definitions"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument creates a free Visitor (Subclass 600) visa category by waiving the visa application charge for people connected to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. It applies to family members of passengers and crew and to officially approved family representatives, easing travel for those affected. The measure is a compassionate replacement of a 2014 instrument, removing a financial barrier for families seeking to visit Australia."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the prior class specification IMMI 14/032 (s5) and re-defines the class of persons entitled to a nil VAC for Subclass 600 Visitor (Tourist) to include MH370 family members and specified approved representatives (s6). Determining whether coverage is broader or narrower than the repealed instrument requires comparing the repealed instrument’s text to this new specification."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow beneficiary group limited to MH370 passengers/crew family members and approved representatives (s6) — reduces breadth.","Cross-references to the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994 for defined terms and authority (s3, s4) — requires reading external provisions.","Approval by external actor (People’s Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and joint approval by Department of Home Affairs and Malaysia Airlines (s6) — adds administrative coordination and discretion.","Repeal of an earlier instrument (IMMI 14/032) (s5) — necessitates comparison to prior text to know substantive change.","Uses defined terms (member of the family unit; VAC) that are located in other provisions (s4) — increases cross-referencing.","Immediate commencement on registration (s2) — short operational lead time for implementation."],"plain_english_summary":"Specifies that certain Subclass 600 (Visitor) — Tourist stream — applicants pay no visa application charge (VAC): family members of passengers or crew of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, and representatives of those families approved by the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by the Department of Home Affairs together with Malaysia Airlines (s6). The instrument also repeals an earlier class specification (s5). Who pays: the VAC is waived for these applicants; who decides: approval is by the foreign ministry or by the Department and airline (s6)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/migration-class-of-persons-for-nil-vac-lin-24-008-specification-2024","history":"/api/acts/migration-class-of-persons-for-nil-vac-lin-24-008-specification-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/migration-class-of-persons-for-nil-vac-lin-24-008-specification-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/migration-class-of-persons-for-nil-vac-lin-24-008-specification-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/migration-class-of-persons-for-nil-vac-lin-24-008-specification-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/migration-class-of-persons-for-nil-vac-lin-24-008-specification-2024/documents"}}