Overview
Subclasses 200, 201, 203, 204 (Refugee) and 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) are Australia’s offshore humanitarian visas — permanent resettlement places within a capped annual program.
Defining features:
- Permanent residence on grant, with resettlement support.
- Referral-driven: UNHCR referral (Refugee) or an Australian proposer (202).
- Capped: annual Humanitarian Program levels set the pace; the Woman at Risk visa (204) is prioritised.
- Cost: nil for the Refugee category; ~AUD 570 for the 202.
This area is sensitive and individual. Seek advice early — VisaAffairs will refer matters outside our practice scope to appropriate specialists and community legal services.
Key eligibility
- Outside your home country, facing persecution (Refugee category) or substantial discrimination amounting to gross human rights violations (Special Humanitarian)
- Refugee applications are usually UNHCR-referred; the 202 requires an eligible Australian proposer
- Health, character and security requirements
Process
- 01
Referral or proposer
UNHCR referral for the Refugee category; an Australian proposer for the Global Special Humanitarian (202).
- 02
Application within the program
Assessed within the capped annual Humanitarian Program; the Woman at Risk visa (204) is prioritised.
- 03
Grant — permanent residence
Resettlement support applies on arrival.
Estimated cost
| Department of Home Affairs fee (per immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) | Nil (Refugee); AUD 570 (202) |
| VisaAffairs service fee | Quoted after initial consultation |
| Third-party costs (health, AFP check, translations, etc.) | Varies by case |
How VisaAffairs helps
Clear eligibility assessment
VisaAffairs reviews your full situation against current rules — no boilerplate templates.
Document set reviewed item-by-item
Every piece of evidence is checked before lodgement — minimising the risk of request for further information.
Case officer tracking
VisaAffairs monitors ImmiAccount and responds to case officer requests on time.