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Resolution of status visa 851

Onshore Protection - Subclass 851

Resolution of Status Visa 851: permanent residence for TPV and SHEV holders.

The subclass 851 Resolution of Status visa is a permanent visa for people who held or applied for a Temporary Protection Visa (785) or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (790) before 14 February 2023. Introduced in 2023, it converts temporary protection to permanent residence - no new protection assessment required.

Permanent from grantFor TPV/SHEV holdersArrived before 14 Feb 2023No new protection assessmentUp to 20,000 people eligible
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What the 851 Means

Ending years of temporary uncertainty - permanently.

On 13 February 2023, the Australian Government announced a significant change: people who held or had applied for a Temporary Protection Visa (subclass 785) or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (subclass 790) before 14 February 2023 would be eligible for a permanent Resolution of Status (RoS) visa (subclass 851).

For the up to 20,000 people in this group, the 851 ends years of living on temporary status - with the uncertainty of renewals, travel restrictions, and the inability to sponsor family members. The 851 is permanent from grant. It does not require a new assessment of protection claims. The assessment done at the time the TPV or SHEV was granted is sufficient.

Many applications have been automatically converted. If you had an application for a new TPV or SHEV pending on or after the policy change date, it may have been automatically converted to an 851 application. This means you may already be in the process without needing to take any additional steps - but it is worth confirming your status through ImmiAccount or with professional advice.

Eligibility Requirements

Who qualifies for the 851.

Held or applied for a TPV (785) or SHEV (790) before 14 February 2023This is the primary eligibility gate. You must have been in the TPV/SHEV system before this date. The visa itself does not need to still be current - having held one previously is sufficient.
First arrived in Australia before 14 February 2023Your first arrival in Australia must have been before this date. People who arrived after this date are not eligible for the 851 pathway.
Health requirementsAll applicants must meet health requirements. This may involve a medical examination. The specific health requirements are assessed against applicable standards.
Character requirementsAll applicants aged 16 or over must meet character requirements and cannot have had a visa cancelled on character grounds.
Security requirementsNational security assessment is required. ASIO conducts this assessment.
Australian Values StatementAll applicants aged 18 or over must sign the Australian Values Statement.
What You Get With the 851

The difference permanent residence makes.

Permanent residence - indefinitelyYou can live, work and study in Australia permanently. No renewal required. No more uncertainty about your ongoing status.
Medicare and Centrelink accessFull access to Medicare and eligible Centrelink payments as a permanent resident.
Sponsor family membersOnce you hold the 851, you can sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence through the offshore humanitarian program. This was not possible on a TPV or SHEV.
5-year travel facilityThe 851 grants a 5-year travel facility, allowing you to leave and return to Australia as a permanent resident. The TPV and SHEV had no outward travel rights.
Pathway to citizenshipAfter 4 years of lawful residence and at least 12 months as a permanent resident, you can apply for Australian citizenship.
From Temporary to Permanent

What changes when you move from a 785 or 790 to the 851.

If you held or applied for a Temporary Protection Visa (subclass 785) or a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (subclass 790), the 851 is the permanent visa that may follow. The comparison below is a general guide to how your position can change - it is not advice about your specific case. Whether the 851 applies to you depends on your circumstances, including when you first arrived in Australia.

What changes On a 785 / 790 (temporary) On the 851 (permanent)
Status length Temporary, with renewals and ongoing review Permanent from grant; no renewal required
Protection assessment Assessed when the 785 or 790 was granted No new protection assessment - the earlier one is generally sufficient
Overseas travel No outward travel rights 5-year travel facility from grant
Family sponsorship Not available May sponsor eligible family through the offshore humanitarian program after grant
Citizenship Not available while on temporary status May apply after 4 years lawful residence, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident
First-arrival cutoff The 851 pathway is generally for people who first arrived in Australia before 14 February 2023. If you arrived after that date, the 851 may not apply and other pathways would need to be considered.

What it costs to apply. Government application charges and any professional fees depend on your circumstances, and we quote in writing before any work begins. You can read how we set fees on our fees and how we quote page. If you need lower-cost help, free community legal centres and community organisations also assist some people with protection and status matters.

If your 851 application is refused. A refusal is not necessarily the end of the matter. Depending on your circumstances, options can include merits review, judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court, or a request for ministerial intervention. Strict deadlines apply and they run from the date on your decision letter, so it is important to act quickly and get advice. See options if your 851 application is refused.

Common Questions

Resolution of Status questions answered.

Yes. You do not need to currently hold a TPV or SHEV - having previously held one and first arrived before 14 February 2023 is sufficient. If your visa has expired and you have no current bridging visa, you may be unlawful - this needs to be addressed immediately. When you lodge an 851 application, a bridging visa is usually activated to cover you while it is processed.
No. The 851 does not require a new protection obligations assessment. The assessment done when your TPV or SHEV was originally granted is sufficient. What you do need to satisfy are health, character and security requirements.
The Department indicated most eligible applicants would be processed within 12 months of processing commencement. Processing has been ongoing since the policy change. Application volumes are significant given the size of the eligible cohort.
Yes - and in many cases, these pending applications have been automatically converted to 851 applications without you needing to do anything. Check your ImmiAccount to see the current status of your application.
The 851 pathway is generally for people who first arrived in Australia before 14 February 2023. If you arrived after that date, the 851 may not be open to you, and a different pathway would usually need to be considered - for example the onshore Subclass 866 Protection visa, depending on your circumstances. Because the outcome turns on your individual situation, it is worth getting advice before assuming you are excluded. You can also explore all humanitarian visa pathways.
Family members who are overseas are not added to your 851 application itself. Once the 851 is granted and you hold permanent residence, you may be able to propose or sponsor eligible relatives through the offshore humanitarian program. This is a separate process with its own requirements, and whether a relative is eligible depends on their circumstances. It is sensible to plan this step early, but it generally happens after grant rather than alongside the 851.
A refusal is not necessarily final. Depending on your circumstances, options can include merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART, which replaced the AAT and IAA on 14 October 2024), judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court, or a request for ministerial intervention. Strict deadlines apply and they run from the date on your decision letter, so check that letter and act quickly. See options if your 851 application is refused.
Citizenship by conferral generally requires 4 years of lawful residence in Australia, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident, along with meeting character and other requirements. Time spent on your earlier protection visa may count towards the residence requirement, depending on your circumstances. Once you are eligible, you would lodge a citizenship application; processing times vary and change, so check the current guidance. There is no guaranteed timeframe, and eligibility is assessed on the facts of your case.
Some people lodge their own 851 application, and the conversion process has been straightforward for many. Others prefer help, particularly where their visa has lapsed, their status is unclear, or there are character or detention issues. A registered migration agent can review your evidence, check your eligibility and reduce avoidable errors, though no one can promise a particular result. If cost is a concern, free community legal centres and community organisations also assist some people. You are welcome to book a consultation to assess your 851 eligibility.
Related Help

Where to from here.

Your current visaTPV 785The TPV is one of the visas that feeds into the 851 pathway. Your current visaSHEV 790The SHEV is the other visa that feeds into the 851 permanent pathway. 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.

Check your 851 eligibility today.

Up to 20,000 people are eligible for permanent residence through the 851. We can confirm your position quickly and help with the application.

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