Humanitarian visas: how Australia's refugee program actually works.
Australia runs two parallel programs, one for people outside the country seeking resettlement, and one for people already here seeking protection. Both are heavily capped, and most cases succeed or fail on their evidence. Here is every pathway in one place.
Two separate programs, offshore and onshore.
Australia's refugee and humanitarian program runs on two entirely separate tracks. Where you are when you apply decides which one applies, and they operate under different legal frameworks with different visa outcomes.
Offshore is for people outside Australia seeking resettlement. All offshore applications sit under Class XB and are assessed across five subclasses (200 to 204) at once. If you qualify under any of them, that's what you're granted, and all offshore humanitarian visas are permanent from grant. Onshore is for people already in Australia seeking protection, where the visa you can access depends largely on how you arrived.
Places are capped and demand far exceeds supply. Australia sets an annual humanitarian ceiling, and both programs are heavily oversubscribed. Most applicants wait years. We'll always give you an honest read on the realistic timeframes and prospects for your situation.
Browse the full list.
Each visa below links to a detailed page covering eligibility, requirements, and how we can help. Not sure which fits? Book a consultation and we'll point you to the right one.
Which humanitarian or protection visa might apply to you?
No two situations are the same, and the right pathway depends heavily on where you are now and how you arrived. The decision aid below is a starting point only, not advice on your case. Where you sit, and which subclass may fit, can only be confirmed once a registered agent has looked at your full circumstances.
Yes - offshore. Your application sits under Class XB and is assessed across five subclasses at once. You do not pick one; the Department decides which, if any, you may be granted.
- Referred for resettlement (often by UNHCR) and outside your home country - the Subclass 200 Refugee visa may be the pathway considered.
- Persecuted in your home country and unable to leave it - the Subclass 201 In-country Special Humanitarian visa may apply. Very few are granted.
- Outside your home country with an Australian proposer supporting you - the Subclass 202 Global Special Humanitarian visa is the most common offshore route.
- Facing an immediate threat to life or security - the Subclass 203 Emergency Rescue visa carries the highest processing priority.
- A woman outside your home country without the protection of a male relative - the Subclass 204 Woman at Risk visa may apply.
Yes - onshore. Here the visa you can access depends largely on how you arrived and when.
- You arrived lawfully and are found to be a refugee or owed complementary protection - the Subclass 866 Protection visa is the permanent onshore route.
- You arrived without authorisation - protection has historically run through the temporary Subclass 785 Temporary Protection visa (three years) or the Subclass 790 Safe Haven Enterprise visa (five years, with a regional work pathway).
- You hold or held a 785 or 790 and, generally, arrived before 14 February 2023 - you may now be eligible for the permanent Subclass 851 Resolution of Status visa. Whether this cutoff applies to you depends on your circumstances.
Not sure where you sit? This is the single most common reason people get stuck, and getting the pathway wrong can cost time you may not have. A confidential conversation with a registered agent can help you understand which track, if any, may be open to you. Speak with an agent.
How the two programs compare.
The two tracks operate under different legal frameworks and lead to different visa outcomes. The table below sets out the broad differences. It is a general guide only and does not replace advice on your own situation.
| Offshore - Class XB (200-204) | Onshore protection (866, 785, 790, 851) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you are | Outside Australia | Already in Australia |
| What it seeks | Resettlement from overseas | Protection for people already here |
| How you apply | One application assessed across five subclasses at once | The subclass you can access depends largely on how and when you arrived |
| Typical outcome on grant | Permanent from grant | The 866 and 851 are permanent; the 785 and 790 are temporary, with the 851 the transition route for eligible holders |
| Application charge | Most offshore humanitarian visas carry no visa application charge; this can vary, so we confirm in writing | Charges can apply depending on the subclass and your circumstances; we quote in writing |
| Typical processing | Generally lengthy and capped; offshore queues commonly run for years depending on your case | Generally measured in months to several years depending on the subclass and your case |
| Capacity | Both programs sit under an annual humanitarian ceiling and are heavily oversubscribed. Most applicants wait years. | |
Fees depend on your circumstances. The firm does not publish a fixed price list. Where a visa genuinely carries no government charge we say so; otherwise government charges and our professional fees depend on the scope of your case, and we quote in writing before any work begins. See fees and how we quote. Processing-time ranges shift with policy and caseloads, so treat any timeframe as indicative and check the current position for your subclass.
Questions about this category.
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.
Uncertain about your options?
Humanitarian cases are complex and outcomes depend heavily on the evidence. A frank conversation with a registered agent can help you understand what is realistic.