Australian Values Statement for public interest criterion 4019: LIN 25/086

The Migration (Australian Values Statement for Public Interest Criterion 4019) Instrument 2025 was signed on 10 September 2025 by Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Immigration, under clause 3.1 of Part 3 of Schedule 4 to the Migration Regulations 1994. It commenced the day after registration; it was registered on 17 September 2025 and has been in force since 18 September 2025. Item 1 of Schedule 3 repealed the previous instrument, LIN 20/166.

The explanatory statement describes public interest criterion 4019 as the requirement that, by signing the values statement, an applicant undertakes to conduct themselves in accordance with Australian values and to obey the laws of Australia during their stay. It records that the statement is signed, or agreed to in an online application, before a visa is granted, and that LIN 25/086 does not make any changes to the content of the values statement approved in LIN 20/166.

Which applications it applies to

Under section 5, the instrument applies to a visa application made on or after its commencement, for a subclass mentioned in a table in Schedule 1. Table 1 lists 29 temporary and provisional subclasses and Table 2 lists 38 permanent subclasses.

Examples from Schedule 1

Table	Number of subclasses	Examples
Table 1	29	Subclasses 300, 309, 407, 417, 462, 482, 485, 491, 494, 500, 820, 870
Table 2	38	Subclasses 100, 101, 103, 143, 186, 189, 190, 801, 851, 858, 866, 887

The explanatory statement records that Table 1 is unchanged from LIN 20/166 and that the Subclass 851 (Resolution of Status) visa was added to Table 2, consistent with subclause 851.225(b) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

The two parts of the statement

Section 7 approves the statement in two forms:

• for the subclasses in Table 1, Part 1 of Schedule 2 (subsection 7(1)); and
• for the subclasses in Table 2, Part 1 combined with Part 2 of Schedule 2 (subsection 7(2)).

In Part 1 the applicant confirms they have read, or had explained to them, Australian Government information on Australian society and values, and states their understanding that Australian society values:

• respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual;
• freedom of religion (including the freedom not to follow a particular religion), freedom of speech and freedom of association;
• commitment to the rule of law;
• parliamentary democracy;
• equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, or national or ethnic origin;
• a ‘fair go’ for all, embracing mutual respect, tolerance, compassion for those in need and equality of opportunity for all; and
• the English language as the national language.

Part 1 ends with an undertaking to conduct themselves in accordance with these values during their stay in Australia and to obey the laws of Australia. Part 2 adds an undertaking to make reasonable efforts to learn English if it is not the applicant’s native language, and an acknowledgement that, if they later qualify for and are approved for Australian citizenship, they will need to pledge loyalty to Australia and its people.

The explanatory statement records that an applicant for a listed subclass must sign the approved statement unless the Minister decides under subclause 4019(2) of Schedule 4 that compelling circumstances exist.