Egyptian-American comedian Bassem Youssef has postponed his upcoming Australian tour after being asked to provide background checks as part of his visa application. Ticketholders for his first show in Perth, scheduled for Thursday, were alerted on Tuesday afternoon that the performance had been rescheduled due to circumstances beyond their control, with new dates to be announced. He was also due to perform in Sydney and Melbourne.
Visa requirements and background checks
In a video statement on Wednesday, Youssef said his shows in Australia and New Zealand had been postponed and rescheduled, explaining that new conditions and procedures had been introduced for Australian visa applications for work and performance. He said he had tried as much as possible to fulfil these requirements.
Youssef claimed Australian authorities asked him to provide a background check from the FBI in the US, as well as his criminal record from Egypt. While Australian authorities may request such information when considering visa applications, Youssef said he had not been asked to provide either during his previous visits.
Previous visits and political background
Youssef, a former heart surgeon turned TV host and comedian, has visited Australia without incident before, including a standup tour in 2023 and a keynote speech in 2015 about freedom of expression, satire, and his experiences during the Arab spring. He was forced to flee Egypt after his satirical TV show was taken off the air for mocking the country's Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, and Egypt's military. He has lived in the US since 2014 and is now a US citizen.
Youssef said it was strange to be asked for a criminal record from Egypt, a country he left 12 years ago, but he respects Australian law and immigration laws. Because his Egyptian passport and national ID had expired, his request to Egyptian authorities took much longer to process, and he could not fulfil the requirements in time.
Impact and next steps
Youssef apologised to fans, saying he could not board a plane to Australia without a work permit because he must respect the law of the country he visits. He expressed hope that when his criminal record arrives, they will apply, and he looks forward to being with his audience. New dates will be announced, and ticketholders can apply for refunds. The department of home affairs declined to comment.
