Know the facts

Protection visas are for asylum seekers

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. Find out if you are eligible by getting free legal advice.

Faster outcomes

We have made big changes so that we can process Protection visa applications faster. Most new Protection visa applications are now being decided almost 8 times faster compared to recent years. We are committed to helping genuine asylum seekers settle in Australia quickly.

Limits on travel

If you apply for a Protection visa, your application may be refused if you travel to the country you are seeking Australia’s protection from, even if your family lives there.

If you are granted a Protection visa, you will not be able to travel to the country you have sought protection​ from without permission from the Australian Government. You will need permission even if your family lives there.

Be careful who you trust

If you pay someone to help you apply, make sure the person is a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner. You can check if an agent is registered.

Some people who offer help with visas may give you the wrong information or encourage you to give us false or misleading information. Some charge a lot of money for this advice. If you give us false or misleading information when you apply for a Protection visa, there are serious consequences. You could be fined, jailed, or both. Check any information that someone submits on your behalf to make sure it is accurate.

If we refuse your visa application, information about the refusal will always be on your immigration record. This may make it harder for you and your family to visit Australia in the future. You might also have problems getting visas for other countries, depending on the type of visa you apply for.