Refugee Visa Australia (Subclasses 200, 201, 203 & 204)

Overview

Depending on your circumstances, if you are subject to persecution, face substantial discrimination, human rights abuse in your home country, or if you are looking to seek asylum in Australia, the government of Australia provides you with multiple visa options to apply for, under the Refugee & Humanitarian Visa program.

Below are some of the visa types and their requirements, depending on where you are applying from:

Applying from Inside Australia?

Refugee Visa (Subclass 200, 201, 203 & 204)

With these visas, you can move to Australia if you are subject to persecution in your home country. These visas allow you and your family to live, work and study indefinitely in Australia.

Under this visa you can live, work and study in AustraliaUnder this visa you can live, work and study in Australia
You usually need to be referred to the Australian Government by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The Australian Government will pay for the travel and other costs before you arrive in Australia, including medical examinations and cultural orientation overseas
Stay in Australia permanently with your immediate family
There is no fee for this visa
The decision process could take many months, or even years. The number of applications the government receives for resettlement each year is far greater than available visas

Global Special Humanitarian Visa (Subclass 202)

With this visa you can move to Australia if you face substantial discrimination or human rights abuses, and have a proposer, and stay in Australia permanently with your immediate family.

Under this visa you can live, work and study in Australia
You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa and you must be living outside your home country
You must have a proposer
You must enter Australia by the date on your visa
You and your family members must obey all Australian laws

The government will not pay any travel costs for the visa holder
There is no visa application charge for this visa unless you are proposed under the Community Support Program by an Approved Proposing Organisation.
The decision process could take many months, or even years. The number of applications the government receives for resettlement each year is far greater than available visas

Applying from Outside Australia?

Protection Visa (Subclass 866)

This visa is for people who arrived in Australia on a valid visa and want to seek asylum. It lets you stay in Australia permanently, if you engage Australia’s protection obligations and meet all other requirements for the grant of the visa.

Under this visa you can live, work and study in Australia
You can sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence through the offshore Humanitarian Program
You must apply for the visa in Australia
You can apply to stay in Australia permanently if you arrived legally on a valid visa and ensure Australia's protection obligations
You must engage Australia’s protection obligations (or be a member of the same family unit of someone who does)
You must have arrived legally in Australia on a valid visa
You must meet all other visa requirements including health, character, and security
The cost of this visa is AUD 40

Temporary Protection Visa (Subclass 785)

This visa is for people who arrived in Australia without a visa, and want to seek asylum. It lets you stay in Australia temporarily if you engage in Australia’s protection obligations and meet all other requirements for the grant of the visa.

Under this visa you are allowed to live, work, and study in Australia temporarily for 3 years
You will have access to government services such as Centrelink
You must apply for the visa in Australia
You must ensure Australia's protection obligations (or be a member of the same family unit of someone who does)
You must meet all other visa requirements, such as health, character, identity and security
The processing fee for this visa is AUD40
The processing times for this visa vary

Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (Subclass 790)

This visa is for people who arrived in Australia without a visa and want to seek asylum. It lets you stay in Australia temporarily if you engage in Australia’s protection obligations and meet all other requirements for the grant of the visa.

Under this visa you are allowed to live, work, and study in Australia temporarily for 5 years
You must apply for the visa in Australia
You should engage Australia's protection obligations
You or a member of your immediate family in Australia included in your SHEV application should intend to work or study in a SHEV regional area
You may be able to apply for certain visas in Australia if you meet the SHEV pathway requirements and the requirement for your preferred visa
The processing fee for this visa is AUD40
The processing times for this visa vary

Need guidance? Let us help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Australian visa is best for me?

There are a number of visas being provided by the Government of Australia as listed on the Department of Home Affairs website, however, all visas are not the same, as each visa comes with a set of conditions attached to it. Choosing the right visa that leads to permanent residency, and allows dependents, work, and healthcare rights is the key. It is quite possible that you are applying for a visa that won’t get you too far. Therefore, it is always best to seek the advice of an expert. Speak with us today to find out the visa for you!

What is the process for submitting a visa application?

You can apply for an Australian visa either through an online application or via a paper application. These days, online application is more practical for storing and accessing your information. However, a few nations (or visa sorts) may not be qualified for the online application and in those cases, a paper application through an embassy should be submitted. For each kind of application, there are particular guidelines you have to follow while applying for the visa. Here are the steps that you need to follow in order to apply for an online visa:

Create an online account
Select the visa type
Fill in the Australian visa form
Attach the required documents
Pay the application fee
Submit the application
Wait for the outcome

In order to save time and effort and avoid rejection, we always recommend applying through our Registered Migration Agents.

Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with one of our migration agents to discuss the process further.

What general documents are required for my visa application?

The following documents are generally submitted with your visa application for Australia:

Passport
Australian Visa Form
Paid Visa Fee
National Identity Card
Police Certificate
Family Certificates
Evidence of Financial Capacity
Health Insurance Certificate
Evidence of Temporary/Permanent Stay

How to qualify for a permanent resident visa in Australia?

A permanent visa allows you to remain in Australia indefinitely. If you want to apply for permanent residency, there are a number of requirements you need to meet. You can make an application on humanitarian grounds, as a migrant, or as part of a family unit. For more information about how to become a permanent resident speak with one of our registered migration agents today!

How do I find out if my profession is listed on the skilled occupation list for Permanent Residency in Australia?

In order to ensure genuine skills needs and help businesses continue to grow, the Department of Home Affairs of Australia regularly reviews and updates the Skilled Occupation List. This is mainly comprised of Short-Term Skilled Occupation List, Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List and Regional Occupation List. The latest skills list can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.

What is the benefit of studying and working in Reginal Cities of Australia?

If you plan to live in Australia for the long term and want to migrate, then choosing a regional area for your studies would be a wise decision as it comes with numerous benefits, including a lower cost of living, a laidback lifestyle, the fact that you could get extra points towards permanent residency and a possible opportunity of getting a post-graduate visa for up to 4 years.