Refugee and Humanitarian Visas

Overview

The Australian government provides humanitarian resettlement under the Refugee and Special Humanitarian Program:

• The Refugee Program is for persons who are outside their home country and have a well founded fear of persecution should they return to their home country (usually referred by UNHCR)
• The Special Humanitarian Program is for persons with family or other links to Australia who have been subject to substantial discrimination, amounting to gross violation of human rights, in their home country.

There are no application fees for humanitarian applications.

Who can apply?

Clients from Africa whose application for a Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa is accompanied by a proposal form (Form 681) must lodge their application at the Department’s Sydney office. This applies to people who are lodging a visa for consideration under the Global Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) or as an immediate family member.

See: Lodging Certain Humanitarian Applications in Australia from applicants in Africa

For more information on who is eligible, visa options or fact sheets and forms see: Offshore humanitarian