The Australian Government has introduced the Migration (Annual Applicant Limits for Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) Visas) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/035), establishing annual limits on the number of applicants that each Approved Proposing Organisation (APO) may propose under the Community Support Program (CSP).

The instrument specifies that:
• The explanatory statement notes that the reforms are intended to provide a more transparent and predictable framework for managing Community Support Program places while requiring Approved Proposing Organisations to carefully plan and administer their annual allocations.
• Approved Proposing Organisations and migration practitioners involved in humanitarian migration should review the new instrument to ensure future Subclass 202 applications comply with the revised validity requirements.

Key Points:
• Each APO will be subject to an annual applicant allocation for the financial year commencing 1 July 2026.
• Both primary and secondary applicants are counted towards an APO's allocation.
• Where the applicable limit would be exceeded, the Subclass 202 visa application will be invalid and cannot be considered.
• The instrument also clarifies the methodology for counting applicants, including circumstances where responsibility for a proposal is transferred between APOs, ensuring applicants are not counted twice.