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A Protection (subclass 866) visa allows a person who is at real risk of significant harm or persecution in their home country to live in Australia permanently. This visa is not for people who just want to stay longer in Australia to work.
You cannot apply for a Protection visa if you are outside Australia. You must have arrived in Australia on a valid visa and have been immigration cleared on your arrival.
Big changes are now in effect for the Protection visa application process leading to faster processing times. Most new applications now have a decision made almost 8 times faster, compared to recent years. This means a quicker grant of Protection visas to those in need, and a swift refusal for those who are not eligible.
Do not apply for a Protection visa if you do not need asylum in Australia. We quickly refuse applicants who do not meet Protection visa criteria.
If you are considering applying for a Protection visa, we strongly encourage you to seek the right advice before you apply.
