Visa for Afghan nationals | Refugee & Humanitarian visas

Visa for Afghan nationals, Australian government has made available refugee and humanitarian visa options to Afghan nationals, both within Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Visa for Afghan nationals – Afghan nationals wanting to apply for a visa from inside Australia can apply for:

• Protection Subclass 866 visa (click here to learn more) – this visa is for anyone who arrived in Australia on a valid visa. This is a permanent visa allowing you to live in Australia permanently and allows you to apply for Australian citizenship (click here to learn when you can apply for Australian citizenship). To be eligible for Protection Subclass 866 visa, you must engage Australian’s protection obligations and meet all other visa grant criteria.
• Temporary Protection Subclass 785 visa (click here to learn more) – this visa is for anyone who arrived in Australia without a visa. This is a temporary visa allowing you to live in Australia for up to 3 years. You must engage Australia’s protection obligations and meet all the visa grant criteria.
• Safe Haven Enterprise Subclass 790 visa (click here to learn more) – this visa is for anyone who arrived in Australia without a visa. This is a temporary visa allowing you to live and work or study in regional Australia for up to 5 years. You must engage Australia’s protection obligations and meet all the visa grant criteria. If you hold this visa, you may be able to apply for certain visas, including a permanent visa, if you meet the Safe Haven Enterprise Subclass 790 visa pathway requirements and the visa grant criteria for your subsequent visa.

Visa for Afghan nationals – if you are having difficulty contacting the Department of Home Affairs, you can appoint another person to apply for a visa on your behalf. If you are in Afghanistan and you need to contact the Australian government, you may call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305.

Visa for Afghan nationals who are in Afghanistan or outside of Afghanistan, you can apply for 1 of the following visas:

• Refugee Subclass 200 visa (click here to learn more) – this visa is for you to enter Australia if you are subject to persecution in Afghanistan. This is a permanent visa allowing you and your family to live, work and study in Australia. It is recommended that you are registered with the United Nationals High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as they can refer you for this visa. If you are granted this visa, the Australian government will pay for all your travel and other costs before arriving in Australia. There is no visa application charge. The processing time may take months, or even years and this visa is subject to annual capping or quota. You must be in Afghanistan to be eligible to apply for this visa.
• Global Special Humanitarian Subclass 202 visa (click here to learn more) – this visa is for you to enter Australia if you are subject to substantial discrimination or human rights abuses in Afghanistan. This is a permanent visa allowing you and your family to live, work and study in Australia. To be eligible for this visa, you must have a proposer. You must not be living in Afghanistan when you apply for this visa. If granted this visa, the Australian government will not pay for your travel costs. The processing time may take months, or even years and this visa is subject to annual capping or quota. There is no visa application charge unless you are proposed under the Community Support Program (CSP) by an Approved Proposing Organisation (APO). Some APOs are:
  • AMES Australia
  • Diversitat
  • Eastern Christian Welfare Australia
  • International Organisation for Migration
  • Assyrian Australian Association
  • Illawarra Multicultural Services (NSW)
  • Settlement Services International (NSW)
  • Brotherhood of St Laurence (Vic)
  • Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre (Vic)
  • Multicultural Australia Ltd (Qld)
  • Australian Migrant Resource Centre (SA)
  • Australian Refugee Association (SA)

Australian migration law is complex and difficult to understand, contact our immigration lawyer for a consultation (consultation fee applies).

This article is not intended to be or taken as migration legal advice. The author of this article disclaims any liability for any action or omission on the information provided or not provided in this article. You should always consult an immigration lawyer or a registered migration agent to form an informed opinion on your immigration matter.