200, 201, 203 and 204 Refugee category visas (subclasses 200, 201, 203 and 204)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Refugee category visas
Subclasses	200, 201, 203 and 204
Stay	Permanent
Cost	No visa application charge
Apply from	Outside Australia
Grant location	Outside Australia
Eligibility timing	Must enter by specified arrival date
Purpose	Resettlement for people facing persecution
Work rights	Work permitted
Study	Study permitted
Medicare	Eligible to enrol
Travel facility	Five years from grant
Citizenship	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	May propose permanent-residence family members
Visa record	Check conditions in VEVO
Processing	Many months or years
Application method	ImmiAccount from 29 November 2025

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Purpose

These permanent visas are for people needing resettlement because they face persecution in their home country. The Department usually grants them to people referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Department considers each application against these subclasses:

• Refugee (subclass 200)
• In-country Special Humanitarian (subclass 201)
• Emergency Rescue (subclass 203)
• Woman at Risk (subclass 204)

Eligibility

You must:

• Be living outside Australia when applying and when granted the visa.
• Need resettlement because you face persecution in your home country.
• Meet health requirements, unless the Department waives them for compassionate and compelling circumstances.
• Meet character requirements.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over.
• Repay, or arrange to repay, Australian Government debts owed by you or relevant family members.

Priority policy generally covers applicants outside their home country who are:

• Assessed and referred by UNHCR for resettlement; or
• Proposed by specified immediate or close family holding eligible humanitarian visas.

Due to limited places, the Department accepts applicants in the most compelling circumstances only.

Stay and rights

This is a permanent visa. You become a permanent resident when you enter Australia. For citizenship purposes, permanent residence begins on that entry date.

You can:

• Live in Australia permanently.
• Work and study in Australia.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Attend free English classes through the Adult Migrant English Program.
• Propose eligible family members for permanent residence.
• Apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.
• Receive Australian workplace-law protections.

Family members

You may add certain family members before a decision is made:

• Partner.
• Dependent children.
• Your partner’s dependent children.
• Other dependent relatives.

A non-dependent child must apply for their own visa.

Declare all family members, including those not applying. If you do not declare a family member, you may be unable to propose them for a Humanitarian visa after arrival.

Applying family members must meet health and character requirements. Non-migrating family members might also need to meet health and character requirements.

For visas granted based on vulnerability as a woman:

• Spouses or parents should be sponsored under the Family stream of the Migration Program.
• Their applications will not receive priority processing.
• A false claim of being a single woman may lead to visa cancellation and prevent future sponsorship.

Cost and processing

There is no visa application charge.

Processing may take many months or years. Processing depends on circumstances, location, travel ability, document availability, access to officials, verification needs, and health-related testing or treatment.

Processing may take longer if forms are incomplete, documents are missing, further information is needed, or information requires verification. The Department will contact you at key processing stages and when a decision is made.

Required evidence

Provide certified copies of relevant documents, including:

• Passport identity pages, if available.
• National identity card, if available.
• Evidence of name changes.
• A statement explaining missing identity or travel documents.
• Evidence of UNHCR or other refugee-organisation registration.
• Full UNHCR resettlement registration form, if referred.
• An English statement explaining why you left your home country.
• Visas or residence permits held.
• Marriage certificates or relationship registrations.
• Two recent 45 mm × 35 mm photographs.
• Military service records or discharge papers, if applicable.

For non-English documents, provide originals and English translations. Translations completed outside Australia must state the translator’s name, contact details, qualifications and experience.

Partner evidence

Provide the partner’s identity, character, relationship, visa, residence-permit and photograph evidence.

Provide either:

• A current marriage certificate; or
• Evidence of a de facto relationship lasting at least 12 months before application.

De facto evidence may include joint bank accounts, joint bills, joint leases or mortgages, and proof of living together.

Child and dependant evidence

For each dependant under 18, provide identity, relationship, visa or residence-permit, relationship, character and photograph evidence as applicable.

For a child travelling without a person with parental responsibility, provide:

• Form 1229 or a statutory declaration of consent.
• Identity evidence for the consenting person.
• Form 1257 if the child will not stay with a relative or legal guardian.

For dependants aged 18 or over, provide evidence of financial, physical or psychological dependence.

How to apply

From 29 November 2025, apply through ImmiAccount. This does not apply to Community Support Program applications.

1. Create or log in to ImmiAccount.
2. Select New application.
3. Select Refugee & Humanitarian.
4. Select Offshore Humanitarian Visa (200, 201, 202, 203, 204).
5. Complete and submit the application.
6. Submit family applications and supporting documents together.

Keep a copy of your completed application and submit each document only once.

Only registered migration agents, legal practitioners and exempt persons may provide immigration assistance. Use:

• Form 956 to appoint or withdraw an immigration representative.
• Form 956A to appoint or withdraw an authorised recipient.

After applying

The Department will acknowledge receipt of your application and documents. It may ask you to:

• Complete health examinations.
• Provide biometrics.
• Provide further documents or information.
• Attend an interview.

For an interview, bring your passport or other identification and requested documents.

Tell the Department promptly about errors or changes, including changes to contact details, passport, relationship status, a child’s birth, or withdrawal of the application. Use Form 1023 to notify incorrect answers.

You may be able to add family members before a decision using Form 1436.

Do not arrange travel to Australia until the visa is granted in writing.

Grant, arrival and obligations

If granted, the Department will provide the visa grant number, start date and any visa conditions. Keep a copy of the decision.

You must:

• Enter Australia before the initial arrival date in your grant letter.
• Comply with any signed health undertaking.
• Obey Australian laws.
• Keep the Department informed of relevant changes.

The Department arranges travel to Australia at no cost. If the initial arrival date has passed, it may issue a travel facilitation letter and may require another medical examination.

You and travelling family members may need a health check within 72 hours before departure. The Australian Government covers this cost. You must follow up health conditions after arriving.

Travel and visa records

You can travel to and from Australia for five years from visa grant. After that, you need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) to return as a permanent resident.

Use VEVO to check visa details, conditions and travel-facility expiry. You can request international movement records as proof of travel.