Australian Global Special Humanitarian Visa
Are you facing severe human rights abuses in your home country and seeking a safe haven? Do you want to build a secure future in a country that offers permanent residency, high-quality healthcare, and educational opportunities from day one? The Australian Global Special Humanitarian Visa (Subclass 202) provides a vital pathway to safety and a new life in Australia—and it might be exactly what you need to protect your family.
The Subclass 202 visa is a core component of the Australian Government’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program. It allows individuals who are subject to substantial discrimination and gross violations of their human rights to resettle in Australia, provided they have an eligible proposer. Beneficiaries receive robust settlement support, including health screening and travel assistance through the Assisted Passage program delivered by Toll Remote Logistics and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Read on to find out if you qualify, what the visa covers, and how to prepare a strong application with your proposer to secure your future in Australia.
Quick Overview
| Provider | Department of Home Affairs, Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Program Type | Humanitarian Visa / Permanent Residency |
| Funding | No Visa Application Charge |
| Open To | Individuals facing human rights abuses outside their home country |
| Deadline | Rolling (Apply anytime) |
Important Dates
| Application Opens | Currently Open |
| Application Deadline | Rolling |
| Process Update | From 1 July 2025, applicants must apply within 60 days of their proposal via ImmiAccount. |
Visa Benefits and Settlement Support
If you are granted the Global Special Humanitarian Visa, you and your included family members will receive a comprehensive support package to begin your new life:
Permanent Residency: Stay in Australia permanently. You become a permanent resident on the day you enter Australia on this visa.
Work and Study Rights: Full authorization to work and enroll in educational institutions across Australia.
Healthcare Access: Immediate enrollment in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
Language Support: Attend free English language classes through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).
Family Proposing: You can propose other family members for permanent residence once you are settled.
Citizenship Pathway: This visa counts toward your residency requirement for Australian citizenship.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Subclass 202 visa, you must meet all of the following requirements:
Humanitarian Circumstances
You must be living outside Australia and outside your country of origin. You must face substantial discrimination in your home country that amounts to a gross violation of your human rights.
The Proposer Requirement
You must be proposed for this visa by a person or organization in Australia. Your proposer must be one of the following:
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident
- An eligible New Zealand citizen
- An organization in Australia
Note: If you are applying as an immediate family member of a person granted this visa in the past 5 years (split-family criteria), your proposer must be that specific person.
Health and Character
You and all family members must meet strict Australian health and character requirements. You must declare all past criminal conduct and may be required to provide police or military certificates. If you are 18 or older, you must sign the Australian Values Statement.
Special Update for Afghan Applicants
The Australian Government has allocated 26,500 dedicated visa places for Afghans to migrate to Australia under the offshore Humanitarian Program through to 2026. If you are an Afghan national applying for this visa, please note the following critical updates:
- Document Challenges: Passports and travel documents must be genuine. If you cannot get genuinely issued Afghan Government documents (like a passport) through official channels, you should complete the Contact form for Afghanistan via the Department’s website.
- Biometrics & Exit Permits: Biometrics cannot be collected inside Afghanistan. Applicants in Pakistan without a valid visa must provide biometrics to get an exit permit or face deportation/exit fees. For applicants in Iran, Australian Embassy operations in Tehran are temporarily suspended, delaying ImmiCard and exit permit processing (which can normally take 40-60 business days).
- Vulnerable Women / Woman at Risk: To satisfy criteria as a vulnerable woman, you must not be living with a male person over 18 years of age or have a male relative residing in the same locality.
- Visa Scams Warning: There is no fee to fast-track a Humanitarian visa. Anyone offering this service is operating a scam. Always use registered migration agents or legal practitioners who do not charge fees for humanitarian applications.
Required Documents
When preparing your application, you will need to gather the following translated and certified documents:
- Identity Documents: Current passport pages, national identity card (if available), and proof of any name changes. If unavailable, provide a detailed explanatory statement.
- Humanitarian Proof: A detailed statement in English explaining why you left your home country, plus proof of registration with the UNHCR (if applicable).
- Relationship Evidence: Certified copies of marriage certificates or proof of de facto relationships (minimum 12 months), and birth certificates for dependents.
- Character Documents: Military service records/discharge papers and police clearance certificates for countries where you lived for over 12 months in the last 10 years.
- Consent Forms: Form 1229 or statutory declarations for migrating children under 18 if one parent is not travelling.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for the Subclass 202 Visa, follow these steps carefully:
- Secure a Proposer: Ensure your proposer in Australia is ready to submit their proposal via ImmiAccount.
- Gather and Translate Documents: Collect all required identity, humanitarian, and character documents. Ensure all non-English documents are translated by accredited translators.
- Submit via ImmiAccount: Create an ImmiAccount. Use the Transaction Reference Number (TRN) provided by your proposer.
- Important 2025 Update: From 1 July 2025, you must complete the application within 60 days of the proposal being submitted.
- Health and Biometrics: Wait for instructions from the Department of Home Affairs to undergo medical examinations and provide biometrics. Do not arrange travel until the visa is granted.
For more information, please visit the
Department of Home Affairs official website.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cost to apply for this visa?
There is no visa application charge for the Subclass 202 visa, unless you are proposed under the Community Support Program (CSP) by an Approved Proposing Organisation.
Can I include my family members?
Yes. You can include your partner, dependent children, your partner’s dependent children, and other dependent relatives (e.g., parent, sibling) in your application, provided they meet dependency requirements.
How long does the processing take?
Processing times are lengthy and vary depending on your circumstances. Priorities are given to split-family applicants where the proposer is an immediate family member who holds a Protection or Resolution of Status visa.
Who pays for my travel to Australia?
You and your proposer are responsible for arranging and paying for your travel. However, logistical assistance with booking flights and obtaining exit permits is available through the Assisted Passage program via Toll Remote Logistics and the IOM.
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