Class XB - Subclass 202

Global Special Humanitarian Visa 202: the most common offshore humanitarian pathway.

The subclass 202 is the most frequently granted offshore humanitarian visa in Australia's program. It is for people living outside their home country who face substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of human rights. Unlike the 200, it does not require a UNHCR referral - but it does require an Australian proposer.

Permanent from grantNeeds an Australian proposerNo UNHCR referral requiredMost common offshore humanitarian visa

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What the 202 Covers

Outside your home country, facing serious human rights violations.

The subclass 202 Global Special Humanitarian visa is designed for people who are living outside their home country and face substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of human rights in that country - or who are subject to serious persecution. You do not need to be registered with the UNHCR and you do not need to be in a formal refugee camp. What you do need is a proposer: an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who agrees to support your application and settlement in Australia.

The 202 is the most commonly granted offshore humanitarian visa because it covers a broader range of situations than the refugee-specific subclasses, and because the proposer mechanism allows Australian families and communities to actively advocate for people they know or are connected to.

Eligibility Requirements

What you need to qualify.

Outside your home countryYou must be living outside your country of nationality or habitual residence and unable or unwilling to return because of the serious treatment you face or fear.

Substantial discrimination or persecutionYou must face substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of human rights, or be subject to persecution based on a Convention ground. General disadvantage or hardship is not enough - the treatment must be serious and documented.

An Australian proposerYour proposer must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over who is ordinarily resident in Australia. The proposer submits a separate form (Form 681) and takes on certain obligations regarding your settlement.

Proposer eligibilityYour proposer must themselves hold a qualifying visa - the proposer's own status matters and is checked. The proposer does not need to be a family member, though family members and community connections are common proposers.

Four compelling reasons testThe Department assesses the severity of treatment you face, your connection to Australia, whether other countries can protect you, and Australia's capacity to accept and settle you.

Health, character and securityAll applicants and included family members must meet health, character and national security requirements.

The Proposer's Role

What proposing someone actually involves.

Proposing a 202 application is a formal commitment. The proposer completes a separate form (Form 681 / the online proposer declaration in ImmiAccount) and takes on certain obligations - including providing assistance with the applicant's initial settlement in Australia and being a source of support after arrival.

The proposer's own circumstances are also assessed: their visa status, character, and whether they are actually in a position to support settlement. Proposers cannot be in immigration detention or have recent character issues.

Community Support Program (CSP). The CSP is a separate, proposer-funded stream within the 202 framework. It operates through Approved Proposing Organisations (APOs) rather than individuals. CSP applicants must be aged roughly 18-50 and outside both their home country and Australia. The CSP is heavily oversubscribed and costly - proposing organisations pay significant settlement costs. If you are considering the CSP pathway, speak to us first about whether it is realistic for your situation.

Fees. What an application costs depends on your circumstances, your family composition, and whether you proceed through the standard stream or the Community Support Program, which carries substantial proposer-funded settlement costs. We quote our professional fees in writing before you commit - see how we quote. Government charges are set by the Department and may change, so we confirm the current figure for your situation rather than publishing a fixed number here.

202 Compared

How the 202 sits against nearby pathways.

The offshore humanitarian subclasses overlap, and one application can be assessed against more than one. The comparison below is a general guide only - which subclass fits depends on your circumstances, and the Department decides which applies.

Feature	Subclass 202 Global SHP	Subclass 200 Refugee
Who it is for	People outside their home country facing substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of human rights	Refugees with a well-founded fear of persecution on a Convention ground
Australian proposer	Required - the key feature of the 202	Generally not required
UNHCR referral	Not required	Usually UNHCR-referred
Where you apply	Outside Australia (Class XB)	Outside Australia (Class XB)
Visa on grant	Permanent, with a pathway to citizenship	Permanent, with a pathway to citizenship

A single offshore humanitarian application is assessed against the available subclasses, so you do not have to choose the subclass yourself. If you would like to learn how the 200 differs from the 202, or compare all humanitarian visa pathways, those pages set out each option in more detail. If you cannot leave your home country, the subclass 201 may be relevant, and where there is immediate danger the subclass 203 carries the highest processing priority.

Common Questions

Global SHP 202 questions answered.

Does the proposer need to be a family member?

No. Any Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen aged 18 or over can propose a 202 application, as long as they meet the proposer eligibility requirements. Church groups, community organisations and friends commonly act as proposers. The key requirement is that the proposer is ordinarily resident in Australia and holds a qualifying visa.

Can I have more than one proposer?

A 202 application typically has a single proposer, but the proposer can be an organisation as well as an individual. If proposing through the Community Support Program, the APO takes on the formal proposer role.

What is the difference between the 202 and the 200?

The 200 is specifically for refugees - people with a well-founded fear of persecution based on Convention grounds, usually UNHCR-referred. The 202 covers a broader category: substantial discrimination amounting to gross human rights violations, not necessarily limited to Convention grounds. The 202 also requires an Australian proposer, while the 200 generally does not. One application covers both - the Department decides which applies.

How long does a 202 take to process?

Processing times vary significantly and change over time, so any figure should be checked against the current Department guidance. Priority is generally given to split family applications and the most compelling cases. Wait times for standard 202 applications can extend to several years, depending on your circumstances. The volume of applications far exceeds the available places in Australia's humanitarian programme each year.

What does the proposer actually have to do?

The proposer is the key requirement of the 202. They complete a separate proposer declaration (Form 681 or the online equivalent in ImmiAccount) and formally commit to helping with your initial settlement in Australia - things like arranging accommodation, orientation, and practical support after arrival. The proposer's own status, character and capacity to provide that support are assessed as part of the application, so it is a genuine commitment rather than a formality. We can walk both you and your proposer through what is involved before anything is lodged.

What counts as "substantial discrimination" or a "gross human rights violation"?

This is a higher threshold than general hardship, poverty or disadvantage. It refers to serious, sustained mistreatment that strikes at fundamental human rights - for example, being denied the ability to earn a living, access education or healthcare, or practise your faith because of who you are, or facing threats to your safety and liberty. UNHCR guidelines and Australian policy both inform how the threshold is assessed. Because every situation is different, whether your circumstances meet the threshold depends on the specific facts and the evidence you can provide. We can help you understand how your situation might be characterised.

Can my proposer be someone I just met, or do they need to know me well?

There is no legal minimum period that a proposer must have known you. Church groups, community organisations and friends commonly act as proposers, not only close family. What matters is that the proposer meets the eligibility requirements and is assessed separately on their character and their capacity to support your settlement. The Department may seek to verify the connection and could ask questions about how you know each other, so the relationship should be genuine and able to be explained.

What happens if my proposer's circumstances change while my application is pending?

The proposer's situation can be relevant at the time the decision is made, not only when the application is lodged. If your proposer loses their qualifying visa status, develops a character issue, or is no longer able to support your settlement, it may affect the application. It is generally important to keep the Department informed, and in some cases a new proposer can be put forward. If your proposer's circumstances change, speak to us promptly so we can advise on your options - we cannot promise any particular outcome, but the position can usually be managed if it is dealt with early.

Can I apply for a 202 if I am already in Australia on another visa?

No. The 202, like the other Class XB humanitarian subclasses, is an offshore visa - you must be outside Australia when you apply and when it is decided. If you are already in Australia and fear returning home, the relevant pathways are usually the onshore protection options, such as the Subclass 866 Protection visa. Which pathway applies depends on your circumstances and how you arrived, so it is worth getting advice before lodging anything.

Related Help

Where to from here.

UNHCR-referredRefugee Visa 200If you are registered with the UNHCR, the 200 may be the right subclass. Immediate dangerEmergency Rescue 203If your life is under immediate threat, the 203 carries the highest processing priority. 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.

Have a proposer? Start here.

The 202 requires careful preparation - both your situation and your proposer's circumstances are assessed. We help both sides understand what is required.