Class XB - Subclass 204

Woman at Risk Visa 204: protection for women without a male relative's support.

The subclass 204 recognises the specific vulnerabilities faced by women in certain persecution situations - particularly those who are outside their home country, are subject to persecution or serious harm, and do not have the protection of a male relative. It is a permanent visa and specifically acknowledges gender as a persecution context.

Permanent from grantFor women and female-led familiesOutside home countryNo UNHCR referral required

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What the 204 Covers

Women facing persecution without a male relative's protection.

The subclass 204 Woman at Risk visa is for women who are living outside their home country, are subject to persecution in that country, and do not have the protection of a male relative. It also covers women who are in danger of victimisation, harassment or serious abuse because of their gender or specific circumstances.

The visa recognises that in certain cultural and conflict contexts, women without a male relative's protection - widows, women whose husbands are absent or deceased, women in female-headed households - face heightened risks that are distinct from those faced by men in similar situations. The 204 specifically acknowledges and addresses that vulnerability.

Children and dependants can be included. The Woman at Risk visa can include dependent children and other dependants of the primary applicant. It is not exclusively for women travelling alone - female-led families with children are commonly included in 204 applications.

Eligibility Requirements

Who qualifies for the 204.

A womanThe primary applicant must be a woman. Dependent children and family members of any gender can be included as secondary applicants.

Outside your home countryYou must be living outside your country of nationality or habitual residence at the time of application and at decision.

Subject to persecutionYou must face persecution in your home country based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. Gender may be the basis of the social group claim.

Without the protection of a male relativeYou must not have the protection of a male relative. This means you are genuinely without the support, protection or advocacy of a father, husband, brother or other male relative who would typically provide protection in your cultural or social context.

In danger of victimisation or serious abuseYou must be in danger of victimisation, harassment or serious abuse because of your specific situation - widowhood, abandonment, displacement, or gender-based vulnerability.

Four compelling reasons testSeverity of persecution, connection to Australia, availability of other protection, and resettlement capacity are assessed.

What You Receive

If a 204 is granted.

The 204 is a permanent visa from the date of grant. If your application succeeds, the entitlements below would generally apply. Whether the visa is granted, and any conditions placed on it, depend on your individual circumstances and the Department's assessment.

Entitlement	What this generally means
Permanent residence	A permanent visa from grant, with the right to live in Australia indefinitely.
Work and study	The right to work and study in Australia, without the restrictions that apply to most temporary visas.
Medicare	Access to Medicare, Australia's public health system.
Settlement support	Access to humanitarian settlement services, which may include orientation, English language and community support.
Travel	The ability to travel to and enter Australia within the visa's validity, and to apply for travel facilities as a permanent resident.
Citizenship pathway	A pathway towards Australian citizenship over time, if you meet the residence, character and other requirements that apply when you apply.

Fees. There is no fixed schedule for this kind of work. Government charges and our professional fees depend on your circumstances, and we quote in writing before any work begins - see fees and how we quote. Free legal information may also be available through community legal centres while you prepare.

Choosing the Right Pathway

How the 204 sits among the offshore humanitarian visas.

The 204 is one of several offshore Class XB humanitarian visas. The right subclass depends on your circumstances - whether you have been referred by UNHCR, whether you have a proposer in Australia, and whether you are a woman without a male relative's protection. The comparison below is a general guide only.

Visa	UNHCR referral	Australian proposer	Typically suits
Subclass 204 Woman at Risk	Not required	Not required	Women outside their home country without a male relative's protection.
Subclass 200 Refugee	Generally required	Not required	People referred by UNHCR who face persecution and are outside their home country.
Subclass 202 Global Special Humanitarian	Not required	Required	People with an eligible proposer already in Australia who can support the application.

You do not need to pick a subclass yourself. A single offshore humanitarian application is assessed against the relevant subclasses, and the Department decides which one, if any, fits your circumstances. This table is general information, not advice about your individual case.

Common Questions

Woman at Risk questions answered.

Does my husband need to be deceased for me to qualify?

Not necessarily. The requirement is that you do not have the protection of a male relative - this includes situations where a husband is absent, missing, unable to protect you, or where the family structure means no male relative is available or willing to provide protection. Widowhood is one situation, but not the only one that can qualify.

Can I include my children?

Yes. Dependent children can be included as secondary applicants in a 204 application, regardless of gender. Female-led families - a mother and her children - are commonly included together.

Is the 204 different from the 200 if I face gender-based persecution?

The distinction is less about the type of persecution and more about the specific circumstances. The 200 requires UNHCR referral in most cases. The 204 specifically identifies women without male relative protection as a distinct category. One application covers both - the Department determines which subclass applies based on your specific situation. If you qualify for either, you will be granted one of them.

Do I need a proposer for the 204?

No. Unlike the Subclass 202 Global Special Humanitarian visa, the 204 does not require an Australian proposer. However, if you do have a family member or connection in Australia, a split family arrangement may be possible and may improve the priority given to your case.

Will my family be split if I apply for the 204?

Generally not for the dependants travelling with you. Dependent children and other dependants included on your application would normally travel and be granted with you as the primary applicant. Where a family member is already in Australia, split family provisions can in some cases allow them to propose family members offshore, and family members who arrived separately may, depending on their own circumstances, be eligible for onshore protection or sponsorship pathways. How this applies depends entirely on your situation, so it is worth talking it through before you lodge.

How does the 204 compare to applying under the 200 if I was referred by UNHCR?

The main practical difference is that the 204 does not require a UNHCR referral, whereas the Subclass 200 Refugee visa generally does. If you have been referred by UNHCR, the 200 and 204 are assessed together within the one application, and the Department determines which subclass fits your circumstances. You do not apply for them separately, and a referral does not stop you being considered under the 204 if its specific criteria are met.

Is there a time limit to lodge a 204 application?

There is no formal cut-off date by which you must lodge. However, offshore humanitarian places are capped each program year and demand consistently exceeds the places available, so timing can affect when, and whether, a place is reached. Lodging earlier rather than later, and presenting a well-evidenced case, may help the priority given to your application. Where your circumstances are severe or urgent, that is something to raise with us as early as possible.

What evidence helps support a 204 application?

Every case is assessed on its own facts, so there is no fixed checklist, but applications are generally stronger when the claims are documented. Material that can help may include identity and family documents, a detailed personal statement, evidence of the absence of a male relative's protection, country and situation information, and any medical, police or organisational reports relevant to the harm faced. We work with you to identify what is available and how to present it. Some applicants also access free legal information through community legal centres while preparing their case.

Related Help

Where to from here.

With a proposerGlobal Special Humanitarian 202If you have a connection in Australia, the 202 is another offshore pathway. All offshore visasRefugee Visa 200UNHCR referral stream - covers all Class XB subclasses in one application. All humanitarian visasHumanitarian Visas OverviewCompare every offshore and onshore humanitarian pathway.

Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)

Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.

Talk through your situation.

Woman at Risk cases require sensitive handling and precise evidence. We work through these applications with care, and we will tell you honestly what the realistic path is.