Class XB - Subclass 200

Refugee Visa 200: resettlement for people referred by the UNHCR.

The subclass 200 is Australia's primary offshore refugee visa. It is for people outside their home country who face persecution and are referred for resettlement - most often through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It is a permanent visa from the date of grant.

Permanent from grantOutside Australia at applicationUsually UNHCR-referredClass XB - covers all 5 subclasses

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What the 200 Covers

Who the Refugee visa is for.

The subclass 200 is for people who are outside their home country, cannot return because of a well-founded fear of persecution, and are referred to Australia for resettlement. In practice, the overwhelming majority of 200 visa holders are identified and referred by the UNHCR or are certified as locally engaged employees (LEEs) - people who worked for Australia or Australian organisations in conflict zones and whose safety is at risk as a result.

A well-founded fear of persecution means more than general danger. The fear must be based on a specific Convention ground: race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. The situation must be serious enough that return to the home country is genuinely impossible.

One application, five subclasses. When you lodge a Class XB application, the Department assesses you against all five offshore humanitarian subclasses simultaneously (200, 201, 202, 203 and 204). If you meet the criteria for the 200, that is what you will be granted - but if your circumstances better fit another subclass, you may be granted that instead. You do not need to specify a subclass when applying.

Eligibility Requirements

What you need to qualify.

Outside AustraliaYou must be outside Australia at both the time of application and at decision. The 200 is an offshore visa - there is no onshore equivalent under this subclass.

Outside your home countryYou must be outside the country of your nationality (or former habitual residence if you are stateless) and unable or unwilling to return because of persecution.

Well-founded fear of persecutionYour fear of persecution must be based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. The fear must be well-founded - supported by evidence, not speculative.

UNHCR referral or LEE statusMost subclass 200 applicants are referred by the UNHCR for resettlement in Australia, or are certified as locally engaged employees by the Australian Government. Without this, access to the 200 stream specifically is very limited.

Four compelling reasons testThe Department weighs: the severity of persecution you face; your connection to Australia; whether any other country can protect you; and Australia's resettlement capacity. All four factors are considered.

Health, character and securityAll humanitarian visa applicants must meet health and character requirements and pass national security checks.

What You Get

Rights and entitlements.

The subclass 200 is a permanent visa. On grant, you can:

Live, work and study in Australia indefinitelyFull permanent residence rights from the date of grant. No renewal required.

Access Medicare and social servicesEligible for Medicare and most welfare and social support services from arrival.

Sponsor eligible family membersOnce you have the visa, you may be able to propose immediate family members for offshore humanitarian visas through the split family provisions.

Travel documentReceive a travel document valid for 5 years from grant (or until your passport expires, whichever comes first).

Pathway to citizenshipAfter 4 years of lawful residence and at least 12 months as a permanent resident, you can apply for Australian citizenship.

Places are limited and demand is high. Australia sets an annual ceiling for the humanitarian programme. Demand far exceeds the available places, and most applicants wait years from referral to decision. Processing is not sequential - urgency and compelling circumstances determine priority. We cannot speed up the process, but we can make sure your application presents the strongest possible case.

How to Apply

The application process.

Class XB applications (including the Subclass 200) are generally lodged online via ImmiAccount, and the Department has been moving away from paper lodgement. Lodgement requirements can change, so we confirm the current process with you before you apply.

The single application covers all five offshore subclasses. You do not choose a subclass - the Department determines the most appropriate one based on your circumstances. If you have an Australian proposer (an immediate family member already in Australia holding a qualifying visa), a split family application can be lodged under the same framework.

No visa application charge. There is generally no visa application charge for the offshore humanitarian programme, including the subclass 200. You may still face other costs - for example medical examinations, police certificates, document translations and travel - and if you engage us, our professional fees are separate. We do not promise an outcome, and we quote our fees in writing before any work begins. See how we quote.

Offshore vs Onshore

How the 200 compares to onshore protection.

The subclass 200 is part of the offshore humanitarian programme - it is for people who are outside Australia. If you are already in Australia and seeking protection, a different framework applies. The comparison below is general information to help you understand which side of the system fits your situation. It is not advice about your case.

Offshore - where the 200 sits

Class XB - Subclass 200

Where you are: outside Australia, and outside your home country.

How you are identified: usually referred by the UNHCR, or certified as a locally engaged employee.

Visa type: permanent from the date of grant.

Application charge: generally no visa application charge.

Processing: times vary widely and can run to several months or, depending on your circumstances and the annual programme, considerably longer.

Onshore - a different pathway

Protection Subclass 866 and related

Where you are: already in Australia when you seek protection.

How you are assessed: against Australia's protection obligations, not through UNHCR referral.

Visa type: the permanent Protection visa 866 for lawful arrivals; temporary streams apply to some unauthorised arrivals.

Charges and processing: these differ from the offshore programme - see the relevant onshore page for current detail.

You cannot switch between the two by choice. Whether the offshore or onshore framework applies depends on where you are and how your situation arose, not on which you would prefer. If you are unsure which pathway fits you, a registered migration agent can help you understand your options before you lodge anything. Compare every route on our humanitarian visas overview.

Common Questions

Refugee visa questions answered.

Do I need to be registered with the UNHCR?

Most subclass 200 applicants are UNHCR-referred. The UNHCR identifies and registers people who meet refugee criteria and refers cases to resettlement countries including Australia. If you are not UNHCR-registered, you can still apply under the Class XB framework - but the 202 Global Special Humanitarian stream (which allows an Australian proposer) may be a more accessible route.

Can I apply for a 200 visa while I am in Australia?

No. The subclass 200 is an offshore visa. You must be outside Australia at the time of application and at decision. If you are in Australia and need protection, the onshore pathways (866, 785, 790, 851) apply instead.

How long does the 200 visa take to process?

Processing times vary enormously depending on your circumstances, country of origin, and where in the referral queue you sit. UNHCR-referred cases receive higher priority, but the wait from referral to final decision can still be years. We will always tell you the realistic picture rather than what you want to hear.

What happens to my family?

If you are granted a 200, your spouse and dependent children included in the application are granted the same visa. If family members could not be included initially - for instance, because they were in a different location - split family provisions may allow you to propose them for an offshore humanitarian visa once you are in Australia with a qualifying visa.

What documents do I need to show a well-founded fear of persecution?

Every case is different, and what helps will depend on your circumstances. Typically, evidence may include identity and travel documents, country-of-origin information such as reputable country reports and news articles, any police, court or threat records, witness or community statements, and medical or psychological reports where relevant. We cannot tell you in advance whether your evidence will be accepted, but a registered migration agent can help you identify what is realistically available and how to present it clearly.

How much does a subclass 200 application cost?

There is generally no visa application charge for the subclass 200. That does not mean the process is cost-free overall - you may need to pay for medical examinations, police certificates, document translations and travel, and these vary by country. If you choose to engage us, our professional fees are separate from any government costs and depend on the complexity of your case. We quote our fees in writing before any work begins. See how we quote.

Can I stay in a third country while my 200 decision is pending?

There is no requirement to remain in any one specific country once you have lodged offshore, provided you stay outside your home country and continue to meet the eligibility criteria. In practice, your ability to remain where you are will depend on your visa or residence status in that host country, which is a separate matter from your Australian application. It is worth keeping the Department informed of any change in your location or contact details while you wait.

What is a locally engaged employee, and how does it relate to the 200?

A locally engaged employee (LEE) is a person who worked for the Australian Government or for Australian organisations in a conflict-affected setting, and whose safety may be at risk because of that work. The Australian Government can certify LEEs, which is one of the routes - alongside UNHCR referral - through which people are commonly considered under the subclass 200. Whether certification applies to you depends on your specific role and circumstances, and is assessed case by case.

Related Help

Where to from here.

With a proposerGlobal Special Humanitarian 202If you have a family member in Australia who can propose you, the 202 may apply. Immediate dangerEmergency Rescue 203If your life is under immediate threat, the 203 has 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.

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